Scotland to make period products such as tampons and pads free

[laylalex 7,293]

 

Scottish MPs have backed plans to make products such as tampons and sanitary pads free at designated public places such as community centres, youth clubs and pharmacies.

The plan passed its first vote in the devolved Scottish Parliament.

The Period Products (Free Provision) Scotland Bill was proposed by Scottish MP Monica Lennon, who first submitted a draft proposal in 2017. The annual cost is expected to be around 24.1 million pounds ($47.5 million).

"These are not luxury items," Ms Lennon said, adding that the bill was about "period dignity".

 

https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-26/scotland-to-approve-free-sanitary-products-for-all-women/12000882?pfmredir=sm

 

Quite right -- these are NOT luxuries. They are necessary products for most women* to live productive lives in the world. It's not like they're inviting people to clean out the shelves at the supermarket. Just that these products will be available for free in certain locations. 

 

*Due to the sensitivities of some on here, I include in this definition all people capable of menstruating.

[Neonred 3,576]

Sounds like something Bernie should be pushing here in his campaign.  LOL

[laylalex 7,293]

The sad reality is that so many times when you're caught out without one in your handbag, most of the time the machines in ladies' rooms aren't working so you can't even just get an emergency one for a quarter. 

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

[arken 4,197]

12 hours ago, laylalex said:

*Due to the sensitivities of some on here, I include in this definition all people capable of menstruating.

🤣🤣

[Neonred 3,576]

I suppose Depends should be free too because, as you know.....

[Dashinka 24,609]

Why is not food and water free?

[yuna628 9,682]

12 hours ago, laylalex said:

The sad reality is that so many times when you're caught out without one in your handbag, most of the time the machines in ladies' rooms aren't working so you can't even just get an emergency one for a quarter. 

I don't think I've ever had a time where I've left home without various options in my purse. It's just something you do, especially when you're one of millions of women who never knows when you're going to be 'visited'. But then again I'm the sort that will carry all sorts of stuff - snacks, various medications, kleenax, pens, water, tiny first aid kit, cough drops, etc. It's always good to be prepared.. no good to get yourself into poor hygiene situations.

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

3 minutes ago, yuna628 said:

I don't think I've ever had a time where I've left home without various options in my purse. It's just something you do, especially when you're one of millions of women who never knows when you're going to be 'visited'. But then again I'm the sort that will carry all sorts of stuff - snacks, various medications, kleenax, pens, water, tiny first aid kit, cough drops, etc. It's always good to be prepared.. no good to get yourself into poor hygiene situations.

As always, you are the voice of reason Yuna.

 

Just the other day, we went out.  My wife, who was in-cycle, left the house without any protection.  In a foreign country.  Without a vehicle.  Ermagherd, what to DO?  When she felt that a particular red substance was about to flow, we found a local super Mercado, bought a cheap box for less than $2, and the problem was solved.

Normally, she carries spares in our vehicle, purse, etc.  But we are in hiding in Hispaniola from the pandemic that is about to sweep the rest of you off the face of the earth, so she was without her regular “stash”.  

 

Food and water are NECESSITIES.  Tampons and pads are conveniences (Sorry ladies, I know this won’t wash with most of you, but it’s true).  My MIL still uses cotton cloths and washes them, prefers that over disposables.  To each her own.  But free?  I just don’t see the need.

[yuna628 9,682]

4 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

As always, you are the voice of reason Yuna.

 

Just the other day, we went out.  My wife, who was in-cycle, left the house without any protection.  In a foreign country.  Without a vehicle.  Ermagherd, what to DO?  When she felt that a particular red substance was about to flow, we found a local super Mercado, bought a cheap box for less than $2, and the problem was solved.

Normally, she carries spares in our vehicle, purse, etc.  But we are in hiding in Hispaniola from the pandemic that is about to sweep the rest of you off the face of the earth, so she was without her regular “stash”.  

 

Food and water are NECESSITIES.  Tampons and pads are conveniences (Sorry ladies, I know this won’t wash with most of you, but it’s true).  My MIL still uses cotton cloths and washes them, prefers that over disposables.  To each her own.  But free?  I just don’t see the need.

Well I don't quite consider them to be conveniences. I think they are necessary items essential to proper hygiene, as essential as soap maybe. Though I am against tax on them, and I don't think that they should be free - perhaps only in schools. If a large amount of our students are having to get their main meals in school or seeking out food pantries, you have to wonder if their parents are even providing them with those sort of essentials. I think if men were able to experience them in all their messy omg i'm-going-to-pass-out-from-the-blood-loss-and-has-there-been-a-murder-in-here? max flow as they can sometimes be, they might understand it a little better.

 

I'm never sure who uses those change boxes in ladies rooms. I rarely see them anymore and never seen anyone using them. No woman wants to be caught out without something. If they are going to be free in pharmacies, why not any other drug or important care item be free? Just seems weird to me.

 

[laylalex 7,293]

2 hours ago, yuna628 said:

I don't think I've ever had a time where I've left home without various options in my purse. It's just something you do, especially when you're one of millions of women who never knows when you're going to be 'visited'. But then again I'm the sort that will carry all sorts of stuff - snacks, various medications, kleenax, pens, water, tiny first aid kit, cough drops, etc. It's always good to be prepared.. no good to get yourself into poor hygiene situations.

Well, things happen. I'm not perfect. I don't have just one handbag, and sometimes those bags do not have room for a whole lot of stuff -- just cards and keys. Or I've run out in the house so I steal the one from my handbag to use until I can buy more, and then I don't replace it because it's just one other thing to remember to do. Once it's happening, sure. I have them in my bag. But I am not on the pill for health-related reasons at the moment so my cycle has gotten unpredictable as I settle into whatever "normal" is going forward. 

 

I don't really understand why access to free hygiene products is a bad thing for a government to promote. Sorry, just me.

[Crazy Cat 41,982]

I demand free toilet paper for all!!!!!

[Crazy Cat 41,982]

20 hours ago, Neonred said:

Sounds like something Bernie should be pushing here in his campaign.  LOL

Hey, I voted for Bernie today in the Texas primary election........😁

Edited February 28, 2020 by missileman

[laylalex 7,293]

2 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

As always, you are the voice of reason Yuna.

 

Just the other day, we went out.  My wife, who was in-cycle, left the house without any protection.  In a foreign country.  Without a vehicle.  Ermagherd, what to DO?  When she felt that a particular red substance was about to flow, we found a local super Mercado, bought a cheap box for less than $2, and the problem was solved.

Normally, she carries spares in our vehicle, purse, etc.  But we are in hiding in Hispaniola from the pandemic that is about to sweep the rest of you off the face of the earth, so she was without her regular “stash”.  

 

Food and water are NECESSITIES.  Tampons and pads are conveniences (Sorry ladies, I know this won’t wash with most of you, but it’s true).  My MIL still uses cotton cloths and washes them, prefers that over disposables.  To each her own.  But free?  I just don’t see the need.

As yuna said, they are NOT conveniences. As a man, sorry, you just do not understand. Bully for your MIL, but in America, that's just not how the VAST majority of women manage their period. Would you like me to talk about flow? Would you like me to talk about how heavy it can get? Or when you go out with two tampons in your bag for the day which normally will be just fine, but you use the second one and wow, things just got way more intense than normal. These things happen. You cannot plan for everything -- sure, there are probably women who carry an entire 40 pack of Tampax with them every month, but no, not me.

 

Also, when you are caught out, yes, obviously you go and buy a box. That's super if it's just a tiny amount and you can catch it in time. But that's not how it works for every woman, every time. I agree with yuna that if men experienced even ONE menstrual disaster, they might see this as less of a joke. Dysmenorrhea isn't a laughing matter.

[Crazy Cat 41,982]

3 minutes ago, laylalex said:

Dysmenorrhea isn't a laughing matter.

I don't see anyone laughing at dysmenorrhea.....I see people questioning the absurdity of supplying free supplies........is toilet paper free?