Pictured above: Scottish Parliament. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.
By Jocelyn Zhou ’23
Staff Writer
Scotland passed the Period Products Free Provision Bill on Nov. 25, 2020, to make sanitary products free to all who need them.
As The New York Times reported, under this legislation, the government will set up a countrywide initiative in collaboration with local authorities to allow anyone who needs period products to get them free of charge.
The bill aims to tackle the issue of “period poverty,” which refers to the inadequate access many have to sanitary products when they need them.
People who experience menstruation often regard it as a difficult experience because of poverty, homelessness, abusive relationships and some health conditions, according to The New York Times. Gender identity is also a barrier to access, as some transgender people cannot obtain sanitary products, especially given that they are statistically more likely to experience poverty, according to a report by the National LGBTQ Task Force. According to The Guardian, these disparities have only increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think this is great support for low-income [people] who can’t afford sanitary products,” Gerel Battogtokh ’21, an international relations major, said.
“I believe everyone who is in need of daily necessities like disposable sanitary products should have access to it,” Jamie Day ’22 said. “Making it free will stop users from having to compromise [for] their health and overall comfort.”
The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill requires local authorities and education providers to ensure period products are obtainable free of charge. The bill’s financial memorandum states that “it is intended to remove any barriers which stop women, girls and trans people accessing period products.” However, it will be up to local authorities to decide how and to whom these resources are made available — a discrepancy that may allow transphobia to make this distribution inaccessible.
According to NPR, the Scottish government has estimated the measure will cost 24 million pounds (about $32 million) a year.
After the vote, Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, remarked on Twitter, “Proud to vote for this groundbreaking legislation, making Scotland the first country in the world to provide free period products for all who need them. An important policy for women and girls.”
Two years ago, Scotland made another first by providing free period products in schools, colleges and universities through a government program.
“This can be really a good example for other developed countries [on] how to help marginalized women. [The] next step would be free contraception products,” Battogtokh said.
In response to the bill’s passage, Mount Holyoke students reflected on their experience of obtaining free sanitary products in school.
“I have seen free access to sanitary products provided in the MHC bathrooms and appreciate the College’s efforts in making sanitary products available to everyone. MHC seems to be aware of the different backgrounds of each student and [evens] the [gap] in terms of availability to resources, and I admire that,” Day said.