Scotland becomes the first country in the world to make menstrual product free. This is one of the major and positive way to provide women their rights and also to consider them equal in the society.
Scotland made a progressive decision with enacting the ‘Period Products Act’ which distributes free period products such as tampons and sanitary pads to ” who needs them”. All the products are to be distributed through councils and education providers. MSPs unanimously approved the Period Products (Free Provision) Scotland Bill in November 2020. This law came as fresh wave to the campaign against “Period Poverty” which was initiated by Monica Lennon, Labour MSP in 2016.
“As the Cost-of-living crisis takes hold, the Period Products Act is a beacon a ray of hope that shows what can be achieved when politicians come together for betterment of people”, these were the words by Monica Lennon after the act came into force. So lets see how this has been achieved.
What is Period Poverty?
Period poverty is when those on low incomes can’t afford, or access, suitable period products. With average periods lasting about five days, it can cost up to euro 8 a month for tampons and pads, and some women struggle to afford the cost. Many countries consider period products as luxury goods and apply extra charges on it. People on the poverty line account afford these products and has to use the unhygienic means on their periods.
How big a Problem is it?
In 2018, a survey of more than 2,000 people by Young Scot found that about one in four respondents at school, college or university in Scotland had struggled to access period products. And in 2018, the Scottish government made history by becoming first in the world to make period products free to students. This bill will enable students not to drop out of school due to period poverty. Researchers say period stigma is also an issue for young girls, with the majority feeling embarrassed when buying menstruation products.
What difference will the bill make?
This bill puts a legal duty on local authorities to ensure anyone who needs period products obtain them for free. Practical arrangements are put in place, but they must give “anyone who needs them” access to different types of period products. These products will be “reasonably easily available” and with “reasonable dignity”. This act will be neither “complex nor bureaucratic”.
This is a stepping stone in the world where women have always been degraded and biased. Women movement have been suppressed by the patriarchy but where in some countries period is a myth and always talked about in hushed-hushed tone, Scotland becomes the exemplar in this remarkable Act of law. This law also reflects the gender equality and women rights as this becomes an example for women safety and protection.
