Missing signs of period products float around, marking their last known location. Clarke Central High School students have had minimal access to menstrual products and are forced to walk long distances to find the few menstrual stations in the building. “Period products are a need, like the clothing on peoples backs and the food in their bellies, not a want. The lack of this necessity can be the difference between a student coming to school or not, as many menstuators don’t want to risk the chance of bleeding through their clothes,” Viewpoints Staffer Amya Hopkins wrote. Illustration by Sam Harwell
CCHS students need to advocate for more accessible period products around the school, as these products are mandatory for menstruators.
Every day, Clarke Central High School menstruators are forced to walk all around the school to find the period products they need, but it shouldn’t be this way: period products should be way more accessible.
So far, the CCHS student population has access to at least one period station, where menstruators can find period supplies, on each floor. These stations are found in locations ranging from teachers’ classrooms to the school library, but in terms of convenient accessibility, this still isn’t enough.
No student should have to risk the embarrassment that comes with stained clothes to grab inconveniently placed toiletries.
To solve this problem, the first step CCHS administration should take is to expand the number of period product stations throughout the school.
Furthermore, additional stations should be self-serving so students can grab what they need with minimum interaction to enhance the accessibility to every menstruating student.
However, while period stations in the bathrooms would be ideal, administrators and custodians alike are concerned that students wouldn’t use the resources properly.
“(Students) don’t take care of the stuff they already have in there. We put bags (for the period products) in there for them, and they still throw them and tissue on the floor. They demolished the whole first-floor bathroom,” CCHS custodian Pamela Harris said.
Period products are a need, like the clothing on people’s backs and the food in their bellies, not a want. The lack of this necessity can be the difference between a student coming to school or not, as many menstuators don’t want to risk the chance of bleeding through their clothes.
According to a survey conducted by period product producing companies Thinx and PERIOD, 84% of menstruators have reportedly missed a class or know someone who missed it because they don’t have access to menstrual products.
The same survey found that 66% of menstuators stated they don’t want to be in school during their period because of the lack of accessibility to period products.
The only question left is how CCHS can take a step forward in providing period products while also supporting students and staff.
The answer to that question is through increased advocacy from students in regards to widening the reach of the menstruation stations.
“There needs to be some students in the school population that are going to take the charge because the district will listen to them. As much as the adults can help facilitate the donations and everything, getting the word out is going to (have to) be a student-led effort,” English department teacher Molly Dorkey, period station sponsor, said.
Student menstruators need to advocate for their need for period products now more than ever.
At the end of the day, the Clarke County School District is here to serve and provide for its students, so menstruators should take advantage of CCSD’s open ear and truly get their needs met.
