For most women, a period drama doesn’t involve bodices, a cad and some gentle Sunday night viewing, it’s a painful, bewildering and often shameful memory of that moment when you bled but didn’t have any sanitary products. Every woman has a story. But imagine that wasn’t just a one-off nightmare but a regular occurrence? Well, sadly for many women and girls, the most basic sanitary protection is a luxury which they or their families just cannot afford, and they have to make do with tissue, socks and even newspaper. As well as cost, there is still also a lack of education and stigma around periods – big thumbs down to the new Borat movie btw.
That’s about to change in Scotland after Holyrood voted yesterday to pass legislation which will make period products free for anyone who needs them. The idea was championed by Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman Monica Lennon who has been fighting for this since 2016. She made the point that “periods don’t stop for pandemics and the work to improve access to essential tampons, pads and reusables has never been more important.”
Scotland will make history by being the first country in the world to do this and will be a beacon for others to follow suit.
She’s worked cross-party with other politicians including Nicola Sturgeon and with many grassroots campaigners. I even played a small part by chairing an event in the Scottish parliament although not sure my question about whether you could pop a moon cup in the dishwasher was quite the right vibe.
The campaign to end period poverty in Scotland is a fine example what can be achieved when women from all backgrounds and causes come together. I hope the UK parliament follows their lead - in so many ways.
