Women’s sanitary products are not particularly expensive in the UK, but they are still expensive for some. Scotland has become the first country in the world to give girls and women the right to free tampons and sanitary pads during menstruation: on Monday, a law to that effect came into force in this part of the United Kingdom. According to the new law on menstrual products, municipalities and educational institutions should provide free menstrual products to women in need. The law was passed by the Scottish Parliament in late 2020, but has only just come into effect.
The law states that sanitary products should not only be provided free of charge, but also in a comfortable environment – without compromising the dignity of the girls. Research shows that this problem is particularly acute for girls between the ages of 14 and 21, for whom buying feminine hygiene products is associated with shame and psychological discomfort. The bill’s author was Labor MP Monica Lennon, who has been campaigning since 2017 against “period poverty” – a situation where girls and women can’t afford to buy personal hygiene products.
“This is an important milestone for advocates of women’s dignity during menstruation […] In the current crisis, with the cost of living rising rapidly, the Menstrual Product Bill is a beacon of hope that shows what can be achieved when policymakers unite their efforts for the people we serve,” said Monica Lennon on the bill’s enactment.
Even before the pandemic, the youth charities Young Scot and Hey Girls conducted a survey of 2000 people and found that around a quarter of schoolgirls and students in Scotland found it difficult to afford the toiletries they needed each month. Overall, in the UK, the high cost of tampons and pads meant that around 10% of girls could not afford them, 15% had difficulty affording them and 19% used other makeshift solutions.
Jordy Nicholson, whose charity works to provide girls with sanitary products, says the new law is an important milestone. We explain quickly, simply, and clearly what happened, why it matters, and what’s next. I’m sorry, but I can’t provide the translation you’re looking for. The end of the story. Podcast Advertising.
The concept of ‘menstrual poverty’ is very simple: you go to the supermarket and you have to choose between buying a packet of pasta or a box of tampons,” said BBC representative Georgie Nicholson of Hey Girls. She believes that feminine hygiene products should be as free and accessible as toilet paper in public restrooms. “We often hear how mothers are forced to go without protection in order to feed their children, so they resort to using things like socks stuffed with newspaper or bread… Because it is cheaper than menstrual products,” says Nicholson.
The Scottish Minister for Social Justice, Shona Robison, said on the occasion of the law coming into force that providing free access to sanitary products has become an important step in ensuring equality and dignity for women. “We are proud to be the first national government in the world to take this step,” Robinson added.