To end period poverty: Scotland first in the world to make products free
- Scotland has made Period Products freely available to everyone in need after a landmark legislatory approval.
- The initiative makes Scotland the first country in the world to provide free sanitary products, part of a global effort to end "period poverty".
Significance of the Move:
- A massive culture change, where period stigma is no longer being tolerated
- Gives more emphasis on menstrual well-being and a renewed focus on tackling medical misogyny.
- Period products would be available at libraries, swimming pools, public gyms, community buildings, town halls. pharmacies and doctors offices.
- People can find the nearest location with free period products through a mobile app called PickupMyFeriod.
Other Countries with similar measures:
- Northern Ireland is considering a similar measure,
- New Zealand and Seoul offer free menstrual products in schools.
Periods and Accessibility to Sanitary Products:
- The coronavirus pandemic only compounded those issues, according to a 2020 study by the nonprofit Plan International UK The group found that almost a third of girls and women age 14 to 21 had problems that year with either being able to afford or gain access to sanitary products during the first national lockdown.
- In the US, a 2021 study by George Mason University showed that 14 per cent of women attending college experienced period poverty in 2020.
- The study found that Latina and Black women were disproportionately affected.