Free tampons for students: Boston latest to tackle 'period poverty' with $100K program

BOSTON — Girls from low-income households have long struggled to pay for feminine hygiene products, igniting some states and cities to improve access for "menstrual equity."

Now, Boston is set to become the latest to offer public school students free tampons and sanitary pads.

"Nearly one in five girls in the U.S. have left school early, or missed school all together because they didn't have access to menstrual products," Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said in a statement. "I'm proud BPS continues to be a leader in equity, ensuring our students have the resources they need, and access to the same opportunities."

Walsh, a Democrat, has included $100,000 in funding for a pilot program in his proposed budget for the next fiscal year that will be voted on by the Boston City Council.

The program, set to begin in the fall, will stock nurses at the 77 Boston public schools with students in grades 6 to 12 with menstrual products at the beginning of the year and as needed, according to the mayor's office. Nurses are expected to later partner with selected teachers who will give out menstrual supplies.

Boston's move to combat "period poverty" comes after schools in neighboring cities of Cambridge and Somerville already offer free menstrual products. Earlier this month, Brookeline, Massachusetts became the first municipality in the country to start providing free tampons and pads in all public buildings.

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Some area "menstrual equity" advocates say the Boston program doesn't go far enough, arguing the goal should be to equip restrooms with tampons and pads – so that students don't have to visit a nurse to get the products.

The Boston Globe quoted Manikka Bowman, a school committee member in Cambridge, calling Walsh's plan "a bit antiquated" while still commending the intent.

“Our young people did not want to be in a situation where they had to go to an educator, particularly a male educator," Bowman told The Globe. "It was uncomfortable for them. We are trying to put girls in a position where they can take care of themselves on their own terms.”

According to Education Week, New York City started offering free menstrual products in schools in 2016, followed two years later by New York State, which requires free products in girls' restrooms of schools that teach grades 6 through 12. Illinois has a similar law, the publication reported, and California has a law mandating free feminine hygiene products in schools with large low-income populations.

Advocates for women and youth have organized to push for similar laws. The group United for Access, has urged U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for federal funding to expand access and launched a petition effort to demand that every student in the U.S. – grade school through college – has "free and easy access to period products."

"No one should have to miss out on an education because of their period," the petition reads.

Laura Perille, interim Boston Public Schools superintendent, applauded Boston's new program, saying it will ensure that girls in the city's public schools "don't have to choose between taking care of their health and going to class.

"Offering free, easily accessible menstrual supplies means that more students will have access to the supplies they need, and are able to stay in class and focus on their education."

Research has shown that poor women often have difficulty purchasing period products when needed.

In a recent study in St. Louis, led by Saint Louis University, two out of three women were found to have gone without menstrual products at least once during a year while 21% went without the products on a monthly basis.

Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Free tampons for students: Boston latest to tackle 'period poverty' with $100K program