In my junior year of high school, I qualified for a band competition. When we arrived on the college campus, my peers and I headed to the student center to change. As I waited outside for two friends, one of them came out clutching a handful of white packages, hurriedly stuffing them into her backpack while giggling. Confused, I asked her what they were. She told me they were tampons.
That moment stuck with me, but I didn’t fully grasp its significance until I started college years later. During an organization fair, I wandered through a ballroom with tables showcasing student groups, eventually stopping at the Student Government table. That chance meeting set me on a path that defined my next four years in college and introduced me to menstrual equity.
As a student government member, I began researching issues affecting our campus. One day, while reading a university newspaper from another school in our system, I learned they had started a pilot program offering free menstrual products in women’s restrooms. I was perplexed. Weren’t these products already freely available at all colleges? To my surprise, they weren’t.
I shared this revelation with two female colleagues, asking if they thought our campus should offer free menstrual products. They shook their heads. This led me to launch a pilot program using student government funds to place display boxes from Aunt Flow that offered free pads and tampons on campus. I collaborated with a graduate student to produce a survey and presented our findings to the administration, which ultimately sponsored the initiative to install coin-free dispensers from Aunt Flow.
Period poverty is the inability to access menstrual hygiene products, a reality for nearly a quarter of teens and one-third of adults. It’s not just about affordability—it’s also about education and policy. Menstrual equity, the solution to period poverty, ensures access to affordable, reliable products and comprehensive menstrual health education. However, this solution faces significant barriers, including the stigma and taboo surrounding menstruation.
Policies addressing menstrual equity are often pushed aside due to persistent stigma. With over two-thirds of U.S. state legislators being men, many lack the awareness or willingness to prioritize this issue. This lack of understanding hinders efforts to advocate for critical policies, such as removing taxes on menstrual products, mandating free access in schools and prisons, and ensuring comprehensive health education.
A striking example of this occurred in July 2023, when Florida’s Republican state Representative Stan McClain sponsored legislation—dubbed the “Don’t Say Period” law—passed, which bars instruction on topics such as human sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases, and menstruation before sixth grade.
Historically, men have played vital roles in advancing women’s rights. Frederick Douglass used his platform to support the Seneca Falls Convention, Thomas Paine advocated for women’s better treatment, and Daniel Anthony funded his daughter Susan B. Anthony’s activism. Similarly, men today can play a critical role in advancing menstrual equity.
Menstrual equity is not just a women’s issue—it’s a human issue. It affects people of all gender identities and speaks to fundamental human rights.
Men and allies can support menstrual equity through civic engagement, advocacy, and the support of organizations dedicated to advancing the movement. Civic engagement could include lobbying for policy changes, such as eliminating tampon taxes, mandating free products in public spaces, or integrating menstrual health into school curricula.
Additionally, systemic change requires funding and education. Supporting initiatives that provide menstrual products and health education can create a ripple effect that benefits entire communities.
Menstrual equity is about creating a world where everyone can access the resources they need, free from stigma or shame. It’s about recognizing that menstrual health is a fundamental human right. We can break down barriers and make meaningful progress by advocating for change, supporting impactful organizations, and engaging in conversations about menstruation.
Men have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to curate a more inclusive, supportive world for all.
