Louisville City Wire

Dispensers carrying free menstrual products have been installed in 18 public-facing restrooms, both men and women’s, at the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) and Metro Hall. This pilot project is a joint effort between LMPHW and the Office for Women to promote gender equity and address barriers to health that impact women and people who menstruate. The Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) will also be donating period product disposal bins to Louisville Metro Parks to improve hygiene and prevent products from entering the water system.

“This is a first small step in what we hope will be a wave of schools, workplaces and sporting and entertainment facilities providing free period products,” said Gretchen Hunt, director of the Office for Women. "This not only helps alleviate period poverty, but it also sends a clear message to women, girls, and people who menstruate that you belong and are welcome in public spaces.”

Period poverty is the lack of access to menstrual products due to financial constraints. Period equity refers to the affordability, accessibility and safety of menstrual products and laws and policies that acknowledge the impact of menstruation. In Louisville Metro, period poverty affects people who menstruate in school ages 9 to 17, college students and those who are low income. In Kentucky, about 20% of women live in poverty and 1 in 5 teens cannot afford period products.

The lack of period products and supportive policies harm those who menstruate. When you take roughly 450 total menstrual cycles in a lifetime and multiply that by a cost of about $20 per cycle, the average person who menstruates spends around $9,000 on period products in their lifetime. To put it in perspective, that money could help pay for higher education, a car, or a down payment on a house.

“Lack of access to period products can lead to lowered productivity by workers and students missing school. It can also lead to mental health issues, like depression. This is due, in part, to stigma and the feeling of embarrassment and shame,” said Connie Mendel, interim chief health strategist for Louisville Metro. “Additionally, those who lack access to period products may try to extend the life of a tampon, for instance, which could lead to health complications including toxic shock syndrome, a life-threatening infection.”

Louisville is part of a national effort, addressing period equity. Both Utah and Indianapolis are providing free period products in all public buildings. Ohio, Boston and New York provide free period products in schools. These policies have measurable benefits. New York City saw a 2.4% increase in attendance after providing free period products in schools.

To also address period equity, the Office for Women has worked with the Metro Council Women’s Caucus in supporting an ordinance that urged the Kentucky legislature to remove the “pink tax” on period products and diapers.  

To recognize period needs and inequities, Mayor Craig Greenberg has proclaimed Oct. 14 as Period Action Day.

Original source can be found here.