Scotland Becomes the First Country To Make Sanitary Products Free

Pictured above: Scottish Parliament. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

By Jocelyn Zhou ’23

Staff Writer

Scotland passed the Period Products Free Provision Bill on Nov. 25, 2020, to make sanitary products free to all who need them. 

As The New York Times reported, under this legislation, the government will set up a countrywide initiative in collaboration with local authorities to allow anyone who needs period products to get them free of charge.

The bill aims to tackle the issue of “period poverty,” which refers to the inadequate access many have to sanitary products when they need them. 

People who experience menstruation often regard it as a difficult experience because of poverty, homelessness, abusive relationships and some health conditions, according to The New York Times. Gender identity is also a barrier to access, as some transgender people cannot obtain sanitary products, especially given that they are statistically more likely to experience poverty, according to a report by the National LGBTQ Task Force. According to The Guardian, these disparities have only increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I think this is great support for low-income [people] who can’t afford sanitary products,” Gerel Battogtokh ’21, an international relations major, said.

“I believe everyone who is in need of daily necessities like disposable sanitary products should have access to it,” Jamie Day ’22 said. “Making it free will stop users from having to compromise [for] their health and overall comfort.”

The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill requires local authorities and education providers to ensure period products are obtainable free of charge. The bill’s financial memorandum states that “it is intended to remove any barriers which stop women, girls and trans people accessing period products.” However, it will be up to local authorities to decide how and to whom these resources are made available — a discrepancy that may allow transphobia to make this distribution inaccessible. 

According to NPR, the Scottish government has estimated the measure will cost 24 million pounds (about $32 million) a year.

After the vote, Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, remarked on Twitter, “Proud to vote for this groundbreaking legislation, making Scotland the first country in the world to provide free period products for all who need them. An important policy for women and girls.”

Two years ago, Scotland made another first by providing free period products in schools, colleges and universities through a government program. 

“This can be really a good example for other developed countries [on] how to help marginalized women. [The] next step would be free contraception products,” Battogtokh said.

In response to the bill’s passage, Mount Holyoke students reflected on their experience of obtaining free sanitary products in school.

“I have seen free access to sanitary products provided in the MHC bathrooms and appreciate the College’s efforts in making sanitary products available to everyone. MHC seems to be aware of the different backgrounds of each student and [evens] the [gap] in terms of availability to resources, and I admire that,” Day said. 

Practice Your Spanish With Tus Amigos

Graphic by Anjali Rao-Herel ‘22

By Jocelyn Zhou ‘22

Staff Writer 

Every Monday and Wednesday, members of the Spanish department, Spanish speakers and Spanish learners gather around the virtual Cafecito de Espanol, or Spanish Language Table.  This table is held for Spanish learners of all levels to come together and embrace the Spanish language, according to one organizer, Emma Sullivan ’22. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the table meeting is being held over Zoom this year. 

During the meeting, students meet one another and practice conversational Spanish, as opposed to the more formal and academic Spanish spoken in the classroom.  

Sullivan talked about how the Spanish Table tries to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome when speaking the language. “We make sure that we speak slowly and that we have a cheat sheet with key words and phrases,” Sullivan said. “Usually one of us will work more closely with the student[s] who are at a lower level to make sure they understand and can get something out of … Spanish Table.” Along with Sullivan, Elizabeth Belka ’22, Katie Milligan ’22, Rahael George ’21, Cydney Hambrick ’22 and Allie Benguiat ’22 attended this week’s table.

“I attend the cafecitos to practice and strengthen my Spanish in an informal setting,” Hambrick said. “I could not fit [a] Spanish [class] in my first module so this was a great way to keep my skills up. I also plan on studying abroad, so this is an awesome opportunity to learn more colloquial phrases and vocabulary beforehand,” she added.

The table usually starts with iceberg questions to help everyone engage in the conversation. There are no specific topics to discuss, but this year, there is a lesson plan for each Zoom call.

“We have talked about music from the Spanish-speaking world, the evolution of beauty [and] hairstyles in different Spanish-speaking countries, Indigenous peoples in Latin America, Mexican Independence Day, different styles of dance, slang from different countries,” and more, Sullivan said.

Benguiat encouraged people to come have fun at Spanish Table. “It's just fun to talk and watch videos together,” Benguiat said. “I hope we can play games like Pictionary together in Spanish in the future.” 

Cafecito de Espanol meets from 4:30 p.m to 6 p.m. EST every Monday and Wednesday. More information about the event can be found on the Mount Holyoke College events calendar.