Rethink pink
May 12, 2020
When it comes to making these products accessible, head of the music department and choir teacher John Myszkowski said he believes it is a good idea for teachers to provide menstrual products for students.
“I think it kind of takes the stigma away from it. It is natural, most women go through it, and for centuries they have,” Myszkowski said.
Stephenson said she agrees providing these products openly would allow for a discussion and help reduce the stigma around menstrual products.
“The more it is discussed just removes that stigma and makes things more equitable. It removes the shame from it,” Stephenson said.
Nylander said once communities break the taboos concerning the pink tax, we can move forward in providing more knowledge and not being afraid of the issues females face.
“Once you educate kids about anything that definitely breaks that stigma and makes people more comfortable to speak about certain things,” Nylander said.
French teacher Kyle Sweeney said when emphasizing on menstruation products, the restrooms would be a good place to hold them and more convenient than always going to the nurse’s office or a friend.
“It would be a lot easier if there was a basket of various things in the bathroom, I don’t know why we don’t do that, it seems like something (Park) could do,” Sweeney said.
Nylander said Period is making efforts within schools to change the current situation, including starting chapters for those who seek change in attitudes inside their local communities.
“We’re trying to push a lot of policy changes in schools and universities and we have chapters across the nation,” Nylander said.
Stephenson said vending machines stocked with these supplies would be a great solution to encourage students to take action themselves.
“There’s still always people in your school that need the products, no matter where you live. You can make it a fundraising effort to purchase the machine and purchase the products to go in it. That to me would be huge,” Stephenson said.
According to Potter, the pink tax on women’s products should be taken away if in reality they are the same as men’s.
“I think that the extra tax should definitely be taken away and that companies that make products for men and women should make them the same price if they’re really the same product,” Potter said.
Freshman Pema Dolkar is a firm believer in that feminine hygiene should come at no cost at all, that they are simple necessities.
“Pads and tampons should be free in public places, just like they have toilet paper because it’s not something that we can really control and we shouldn’t have to pay just to be hygienic,” Dolkar said.