Should feminine hygiene products be free?

[PeasOff]

What do you think?

Obviously that would then bring up the logistical side of things such as how to get them/how often you get them ect...

🤣 Could you tell me the next winning lotto numbers then please because clearly you can see into the future. You already know if you will or won't need nappies in old age. Quite some skill!

Big difference between a man not shaving for 6 months and a woman not shaving for 6 months though

Absolutely not. Pay your own way in life and if you need help, apply for it. Too many freebies as it is.

Nothing's free.

Who would pay for them? Tax payer?

Why? When things are free people will grab them whether they are needed or not. I used to work in a pharmacy and the amount of waste that goes on is sickening. People just ordering and ordering and no one caring whether they are stock piling them. I found out my own elderly Mum was doing it.

My son worked in a supermarket during COVID. People were stealing toilet rolls, pumping out hand wash and taking bars of soap.

They should be free in schools and food banks. I also think all toilets the public can use should have a selection, like toilet paper is.

None of the essentials we need are free Housing, water, food, clothing etc.
It should not be taxed, but it should not be free either

No. Because then there would be no impetus to make them nicer/more comfortable (although who on earth thought adding scent is beyond me) and we'd probably get less or no choice.

I'm in Scotland and they are available to everyone in my council area - both businesses and individuals. You order from a website. There's a choice of disposable or reusable products available. My employer has them freely available in the work loos too and so do the local schools, leisure centres etc. You need to be organised enough to order well in advance and there's no brand choice. If you want a specific brand you are at absolute liberty to buy them from the supermarket but I've always found the council supplied options perfectly good. I am, of course, aware that I'm paying for it via taxation, but I'm perfectly happy to do so.

I’m a lecturer in Scotland and all our toilets on campus have baskets filled with products - a person goes round with a cart and replenishes them every day. If students want reusable products they can ask the Students’ Association and those are available too. I think the majority of people just pick up something because they are caught short, but there is nothing to stop someone having bags or boxes (there are brown paper bags by them for this purpose). Places like art galleries and community centres have similar. I used to always carry pads and tampons to dish out to students if they asked so I kind of paid that tax previously - but I think it’s a good thing.

Not government funded but most restaurants/bars/hair salons here will have a dish with tampons, deodorant spray etc too.

Because there are also women who understand how industry works and that free is not actually free, also that even on a very low income it should be possible to budget 60p a month for a pack of sanitary towels.

Schools and workplaces often provide them free.

No. Ffs. They entitlement of some people has gone mad.

No.

There is one: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/period-products-in-schools-and-colleges/period-product-scheme-for-schools-and-colleges-in-england

Why? Parents need to pay, you can't expect the tax payers to pick up the tab for everything. Toilet paper isn't free, nappies aren't free.

I think they should. At DD's school (all girls) they do every few months have sanitary protection available including period pants available to collect. I think that's a good idea. They aren't in the toilets though to help themselves to.

They are free in schools in my county. And they’re in my workplace which is frankly ridiculous as we can afford to pay for them.

theyre in abundance in the loos. Not just for emergencies but shitloads.

I think they should be free in toilets (for the same reason that toilet paper, soap and water are provided).

Yes, but only the basic pads as periods are not a choice for women. Men dont have anything with which to compare and it is unfair we have to pay out for things that they don't. Free pads makes things equal.

Anything extra (tampons/mooncups/ reusables) that people want should be paid for as those are a choice.

I've already answered this question.

Also toilet roll is free in public toilets/toilets in schools/workplaces/restaurants ect.

I’m really surprised at the responses on this thread, and wonder what sort of periods posters have suggesting cheap basic sanitary pads. I have a Mirena coil now so don’t have regular periods, or just very very light, but when I did they were heavy and horrible - I was using tampons and pads some days, and having to change really frequently. (I was first at gynae aged 12, after flooding all over school!) Then there’s pain medication, extra washing, maybe having particular knickers - big pants instead of thongs or whatever - for that TOTM. Basic 62p towels wouldn’t have done it for my periods, and I am so grateful to have the coil now.

I was lucky as a kid, my parents could afford all of those things, and it was fine to ask - but not all girls are in that position.

This 100 fold

You sail ALL will need nappies in old age…that is untrue. Not sure why you are arguing with a previous poster who has corrected your statement, by asking if she can see the future, when you yourself made a sweeping statement about the future 🤣

Yeah, people would be revolted by my beard 🤣😂🤣

Why would they? Because you can bet if men got periods they bloody would be.