Schools Providing Sanitary Products

[Sansastark45]

Don't get me wrong periods aren't nice at the best of time but don't our schools have enough on their plates without now having to take on this??

Am i being unreasonable to think that if you have a daughter you should be having the conversation with her?? Basic own brand sanitary products are cheap enough to buy - our schools shouldn't be left to deal with this too!

I shouldn't be necessary and yes, the schools don't need anything else on their plate, but sadly it is necessary.

Different levels of neglect affects all sorts of children and I think schools have an opportunity to open up conversations and provide support to young girls in these situation. I understand that sometimes its poverty but in my case it was simple neglect. We had a decent house growing up and what appeared to be a normal family but from around 14 my parents became neglectful and just stopped parenting. My DM didnt talk about periods and didnt buy me sanpro products. I eventually plucked up the courage to buy my own babysitting money I was earning at the weekends. I had taken hers but she didnt replace them when they ran out. I remember counting pads to see how often i could afford to change. Schools always had bits for emergencies but I think if I could have spoken to staff about regularly needing maybe someone would have started to rightly question why I wasnt being bought them at home.

That LK tweet is ghastly. And I make reusables for my dd who loves them and refuses disposables. Because we talk and I help her manage the reusables. Can LK not conceive of a situation where either the dialogue, the time or the investment isn't there for a young girl. Disposables should, obviously, be free and readily accessible in schools . Because, even with the best will and love and support in the world, reusables aren't for everyone.

Because we talk and I help her manage the reusables

I think this is key, bellinisurge. I hate single use products of any kind and try to avoid them, so of course I have reusable sanpro. But I am an adult and I understand how to use them. I'm sure that if you gave a bunch of 11yo girls some reusable sanpro there would be plenty who wouldn't understand how to clean them, and they may not have parents who would teach them. Or what if they have a pig of a father (or mother) who is disgusted with the whole process, and would react very badly to her putting them in the washing machine? I mention this because I had a live in partner like this in my late teens. He was abusive and anything to do with my periods was dirty and had to be kept out of his sight. So it wasn't possible for me to have anything reusable that needed to be washed and dried at home.

Reusable sanpro should definitely be the first choice wherever possible, but it isn't always the best choice for young girls.

My 12yo is very environmentally conscious and is very keen to use washable sanpro when the time comes. I use pads myself and I’ve made her familiar with the process (the snaps, putting them in the wet bag etc), I’ve said she can leave them to me to wash as normal or if she prefers the privacy of washing them herself she has been shown the right settings on the machine!

Again, @Emmelina , that is with a loving supportive parent who gives time and space freely.

Or who has the time and space to give. Not all loving parents can. Not all parents are loving.

Reusable ones have to be worn with certain types of underwear. Disposables can be stuck on to some degree with most types besides a thong. They also have to he washed a couple of times first to be up to their full absorbancy .

No good for a girl whis just been caught short and gets huge a brand new one. And certainly no good fir parents whi are neglectful and not even prepared to buy or wash clothes properly let alone put a machine on for effectively a clean item to get it ready to use

I know of a couple of families where a girl wouldn’t be allowed to put her reusable pads in the wash.

It fixes the immediate issue but won’t resolve anything in the child’s life

And don't you think its worth fixing the immediate issue? Because I sure as heck can't get worked up about an initiative that might make one issue in a young girl's life easier.

DD's secondary has baskets available to all girls in every toilet. I sometimes send DD with supplies to stock it up. I don't begrudge a single girl/woman in that school a pack of towels whether they want one/three or two packs to take home.

Just to correct you - you can wear specially created reusable liners with a thong but, to be absolutely clear: ready access to disposable sanitary products in school is absolutely vital. No girl or woman who, for whatever reason, has difficulty accessing sanitary products , should be able to get them. No question. No ifs. No fecking means test. No humiliation. Sure, they probably have all kinds of other difficulties and challenges, but this should be one less.

Unable , not able. Double negative fail .

There are plenty of ways to change your life to be eco-friendly. Periods is not one of them, unless you want to. They are a pain (literally for many women) and if using disposables makes your life easier, do so. And certainly don't make teens feel guilty for using disposables.

Exactly.

Reusable sanpro should definitely be the first choice wherever possible but it isn't always the best choice for young girls

I'm 31 and its not the first or a good choice for me.
Extra washing and carrying dirty stuff when out and about? No thanks.
Only certain underwear? Nope, I wear one type, they make thong liners, tampons work well and cups just have an ick factor i dont wanna deal with.

I won't deny there probably some hang ups due to my experiences but I'd rather be comfortable and secure in what I use over anything else.
I certainly won't be pushing reusables on dd either, I know and trust single use, that's what I,feel I can best educate her in to use properly and to avoid any embarrassing situations. I don't have that trust with reusable nor the desire to risk embarrassment trying it out.

@squeekums , your choice, obviously. And it's brilliant your dd has a supportive family.

You don't really need special knickers but if it's not for you it's not for you.

What is not for anyone is girls being humiliated out of a proper education. Free disposable sanitary protection for schools. Now. No questions. No means test.

You don't really need special knickers but if it's not for you it's not for you

Well they do need to be snug, preferably with some degree if lycra. Boy short types and big baggy pants dont really work with reusables. Its probably best not to assume that girls who need the free pads the most will be provided with decent underwear by their neglectful parents

I think you are misunderstanding me. Reusables don't really require "special knickers". Snug, yes , but not special. but this thread isn't about how to wear reusable pads.

This is about the importance of ensuring girls and women in schools have ready access to disposable sanitary products. Which they should have. I doubt anyone disagrees with that.

Maybe they are talking about period pants that are used instead of towels /tampons. Still need washing facilities and a generous outlay as youd need more than 1 pair

Again, which is why disposables are the best option for this scheme.
I'm a reusable maker. I absolutely don't think girls/women should feel pressurised into reusables when they have enough shit to deal with. Hence needing easily accessible free sanitary products.

Bell
I think we are pretty much in agreement. I'm a.reusable user myself bit I was pointing out to other posters who say that they should be providing reusables that disposables would likely suit girls better on schools due to needing less adaptations.

I agree disposable stuff is what to provide. I use disposable tampons/towels anyway

Am i being unreasonable to think that if you have a daughter you should be having the conversation with her??

Of course they should, kids shouldn’t be abused or neglected either, but guess what? It happens.

Out of interest, do you have a problem with schools arranging jabs for kids too? That should be a parents job too right? What about arranging school dinners, providing loo roll, having spare t shirts etc for kids that may need a change of clothing, and all that other stuff schools do? Or is it just stuff that’s for girls that you resent?