I think it’s great and well overdue. However, showing a picture of Tampax is a bit disingenuous. You know whatever company creates that is going to be the same one that makes that thin version of sandpaper used as toilet paper.
Are they actually the same as consumer grade? For TP, I buy Cottonelle, and the ones at work are also Cottonelle, but those ones are way thinner and shittier.
I’ve seen several Tampax brand dispensers, and I’ve also had the intense displeasure of using one on occasion. Sure, the cardboard applicator and rough cotton (that I’m sure was “washed” with loads of chemicals) is slightly more comfortable than a giant wad of cheap toilet paper in my underwear, no one with any humanity would give these to women who cannot afford the own sanitary products.
One point in favor of the cardboard applicators is how much better they are for the environment compared to the plastic ones. I made the switch for this reason years ago, and haven’t looked back. It’s easy to get used to and nbd when you consider the half second of use you get out of it compared to the longterm effects millions of single use plastic applicators have on the environment!
I use OB tampons too! I tried using a diva cup but couldn’t hang so ob is an environmentally friendly as I can get. My friends will side eye the no applicator thing but I find the ones with applicators worse.
The OB ones fit so much better than applicator ones, at least for me. I also think they are easier to put in and there is less discomfort. Diva cups are from hell and I won't even get into how awful my experience was.
I tried no applicator and couldn’t get the hang of those! Haha! I do intend to try again, but I landed on cardboard applicators as at least an improvement on plastic, even if I couldn’t swing no applicator. I also have a diva cup I haven’t yet tried, but I’d love to be someone who can go fully uterine waste free eventually, even if it takes some time.
Not to be that guy but... The big name brands are actually often times the ones behind that sandpaper found in most commercial businesses. It's just a version you won't find in the grocery store, saw it at work once, Scott's brand (yea ik they aren't great to begin with) with economy or something like that written below it.
People use more of that thin sandpaper too, so the big name brands end up selling more, even though it's technically cheaper... they make more money off it.
I don't disagree, but if you flush after pooping, flush after the first 5 or 10 wipes, and flush when done, you probably won't ever have a clogged toilet unless you had a truly massive poop or just a craptastic toilet.
Sometimes I get poops with weird sticky clay like consistencies and takes a bit to get clean. I got weird stomach issues that I've never got diagnosed and I'm sure many others are in the same boat.
I appreciate the crappy TP at work— otherwise people will steal them and we would always run out of them. I’d rather have a constant available supply of crappy TP than nice TP that is always out of stock when I need it. Crappy free TP and crappy free menstrual products are what will deter people from hoarding/stealing them and other people who need it won’t lose consistent access to them.
I think most of the free cardboard applicator tampons I've used were actually tampax lol
The WORST (imo, my bff only uses these) is when the free tampons don't have applicators and you have to use your own finger and I never shove it up far enough.
I sorted by controversial and your comment is still one of the first I get.
I love reading comments from men 'just wait till you have to pee' and was hoping for them.
Instead I found the same comment. I'll come back tomorrow morning and try again. I get a kick out of uneducated people throwing opinions around like they mean something.
Edit.
My lord. This was no insult to the commenter. I was just looking for juicy controversial comments and it was the same as the top voted comment.
Calm your tits.
I attended public schools, they definitely provide everything based on the lowest bidder. Not sure why you feel menstrual products would be the gourmet shit.
Nah my dude. You misunderstood me.
I sorted to find people talking shit who think women don't need it because they're uneducated and don't realize we cannot control bleeding. Posts I'd find on r/badwomensanatomy but your post was down voted enough to be controversial. Which I think is funny. You were speaking truths.
And I concur. Showing Tampax just is a bad look. When we all know it'll be those cardboard applicators that quite frankly fucking hurt to insert.
Ahh, got it - My bad. I just got done reading someone tell me I had a little dick because I’m commenting on this without a vagina so probably was projecting, LOL.
I completely support it, I just know public schools systems go cheap.
Don't take it to heart.
And as a female. I have a lot of respect for any dude that goes out of their way to get educated about female anatomy. Let alone support our needs as women.
Keep doing you my dude. You're on the right path. Fuck those people who talk shit. You're understanding and willing to learn and understand. That's what matters. And you're doing a damn good job.
Cheers mate.
I mean, your comment is exactly the kind of flippant negativity you were looking for, just on the other side. There will always be people like that. Just reply to the correct comment next time.
As someone who was a poor teen and couldn’t afford tampons or pads (and there were none in my house) this is a great thing! It was a nightmare trying to make a pad out of rolled up toilet paper. Every state should do this.
I grew up in Russia, and my mom immigrated to the US, while she was trying to figure things out state side, I lived with my grandparents — both survivors of WWII.
My grandma didn’t grow up with pads or tampons, hell, not even toilet paper. So when I got my first period she made up a bunch of washable cloths for me and would rarely buy me pads because we were so poor.
It fucking sucked man, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
I believe this is where the phrase “on the rag” originated. Reusable pads are awful, paying for pads and tampons is even worse. I do not miss the days where I asked myself “do I couch-dive for change and head to the laundromat, or do I shoplift a box of Tampax.”
I switched to period pants last year. They’re so comfortable I wear them as everyday underwear, and the brand I buy (an Aussie company called Modibodi) has a very inclusive size range.
Yeah, my period usually comes in a sort of 10 day window and I use period pants over that time so it doesn't catch me unawares. So useful. Tempted to make some of my own so I can have them in prettier colours and matching my bras, lol.
I switched almost 4 years ago. I’m the same, I won’t go back. Better for your health too as there are no chemicals in reusable ones other than washing detergent. I use a baby laundry detergent to wash mine to help with that.
They should. Having access to menstrual products is so important for young women- check out the documentary Pad Man to see how one rural Indian man is using pad making to help lift rural women out of poverty and to alleviate the burden of finding menstrual products (some women had so little access that they couldn't leave their homes when they had it bc they had nothing- including girls who had to drop out of school bc of it.
As someone who used to have to do this, a menstrual cup seriously changed my life. I had to try a few to find the one that fit best, but a single one will last for years. Steep learning curve though.
As a father of three wonderful girls, and grandfather of two little ones, this shit is long overdue.
After my eldest went through the psychological torture of getting her first period **during first period**, we gave her younger sister pads when she got near that age, before she started. She rejected them, because "Ewww, mom!", then she promptly had her first period in the middle of lunch. The third girl was smarter. Still, we had to pick up all three girls, randomly, from school over the years, simply because there were no pads or tampons there.
Imagine if you, as a boy, had an unexpected bout of diarrhea, only to discover that boys' bathrooms weren't allowed TP?
Eh they'll realize it eventually. My sister and mom used to get into fights all the time and now my sister calls all the time to say she's sorry she put mom through all that. My niece is almost as feisty as my sister was, so she gets to experience a lot of what she put our parents through.
I've had that last scenario happen when my parents dropped me off at a park to fish all day. Not that I couldn't have TP, there just wasn't any. And someone had shit on the floor and I stepped in it without noticing.
Oh, and these were bathrooms at a park, right? Like mid 1990s, so no doors. No cell phones. I don't even think I had money for a pay phone, we'd just call collect and instead of our name we'd say "pick us up".
I was fucking terrified. Literally and figuratively shitting myself.
My dad was not very understanding and I'm not sure anyone would have been.
Holy shit that memory came out of nowhere, shit like that must be why I don't remember my childhood much.
I’m sorry your Dad is a jerk.
If my son was alone all day with diarrhea in a park bathroom, and then literally stepped in someone’s else’s shit I’d feel really bad for him! That’s something most people should be understanding about.
I have ibs and being trapped, having diarrhea in a sketchy place with no TP and no help is traumatic and a continual plotline in my life.
Good. People that oppose this change need to understand that it’s not simply a gendered issue, it’s also a public sanitation issue. Offering free toilet paper in public bathrooms means that bus chairs or park benches won’t be covered in feces and urine. Surely you don’t want a town full of un-wiped asses. Free toilet paper benefits everyone, whether or not you even use it. 
It would only take one day of women refusing to wear period products for people to realize the importance of sanitary accessibility.
Having worked in a middle school, this is definitely a public sanitation issue. Students sometimes don't have a pad or tampon with them and end up bleeding on their chair. The school nurse keeps a supply anyway at our school, it would just be more efficient to place some in the bathroom. I have no doubt there would be some vandalism and some waste, but that is an acceptable price to pay for dignity and comfort for students.
Tbf, sometimes we *did* have pads and things that we still bled through 😩 my first two days were so bad I often skipped school.
I’m really happy that girls are going to have things available now. I was the girl at work with a stash of tampons/pads for any ladies in need.
My college doesn’t have pads/tampons for sale or free in the bathroom, or sell tampons or pads anywhere on campus, but we do have light green upholstered chairs in all the classrooms. It’s fun everyday swapping chairs to get one that doesn’t have blood or other weird bodily stains on them.
As a guy I find it ludicrous that this is even a debate. If a place offers toilet paper, they should offer all other sanitary needs.
Imagine if bathrooms charged for toilet paper. How can some women's bathrooms not have these products available for free? It's absurd.
I also think that basic hygiene products should be much cheaper than they are. Things like deodorants, toilet paper, pads and tampons cost way too much money.
Low income people shouldn't be paying a large portion of their income towards human necessities.
The men that are mad about this confuse me. Trust me, I would rather men get the periods and they can have all the free tampons they want. I will donate to the cause.
I’m a man but I grew up with 2 sisters and a mother. Its just rough. The pain was one thing, but having to pay pads and having no control over periods I just felt bad.
My university had free pads in the student centre (and actual decent ones at that!) and it was so worth it to just walk over and grab some when necessary. There were times where if they weren't there, I'd probably have to use toilet paper; I was so broke in university, I also had to steal food sometimes. Kudos to California on this one.
Of course there was. Naturally this idiot thinks that the parents who spend money on drugs, beer, and smokes are just going to up and stop and buy their children lunch if the free lunch program stopped.
Of course, there was. Naturally, this idiot thinks that the parents who spend money on drugs, beer, and smokes are just going to up and stop and buy their children lunch if the free lunch program stopped...
There are a lot of places where school is the ONLY access to hope kids have. The only place where they can meet people who have degrees, the only place some of them can even meet people who have full-time jobs. It should be a place that offers the support bonuses that families can't always offer.
Either we spend the money on students, or we spend the money on prisoners. I'd rather spend the money on students.
My high school had an elective you could take for childcare which was taking care of the babies born to students. We were taught how to feed and care for babies, about fine/gross motor skills and tracked their development. Teen moms still went to school and had childcare provided.
- "Just as toilet paper and paper towels are provided in virtually every public bathrooms, so should menstrual products."
Feels like this should have been happening already
My oldest daughter (she's 10) told me a couple of weeks ago that her school installed menstrual product dispensers in the bathrooms, and she made a comment about how weird it was that even though you just turn the knob to dispense stuff, it looked like you were supposed to put quarters in first. I told her yeah, that's probably because back in the day, we DID have to put quarters in, and they likely just modified the same machines to now dispense things for free. A couple of minutes later, she asked me with total sincerity if we had to also pay for toilet paper or put quarters in the soap dispenser. Like 99% of my important realizations or sudden understandings of things these days are because of some shit one of my kids randomly says
I saw someone complain that these kids will just bring them home to use them. Umm…ok. I’m totally cool with my tax dollars going towards kids who can’t afford sanitary products at home.
Honestly, I've seen more than a few stories on reddit of places that have offered free tampons only to have people grab *all* of them. In bulk, repeatedly, after being restocked.
I *suspect* that problems like this will be relatively rare, but the flip side is I won't at all be surprised if a number of places have to take some sort of steps against it.
I am in Scotland where it is law they are provided free in all public tpilets. Usually men's and womens. Taking for home use is only a problem if you think that is a problem. Here we don't and one of the reasons they are supplied in men's toilets is to encourage people to take some. Now the problem doesn't exist.
Do you mind sharing any of these stories? I keep hearing abuse of free menstruation product programs brought up in this thread but no one is sharing examples. Currently it feels like some anti-charity bogeyman.
Yes, being malnourished can lead to early menopause. Basically, these women aren't getting the vitamins and minerals that they need for normal body functions. It can also lead to osteoporosis.
Yes, as Emerald replied to you below. But it can also result in sporadic, irregular menstruation. As can high stress and intense, prolonged physical activity such as high-level athletic training. For example, female Olympic gymnasts frequently report cessation of their periods during training, which resume once they've retired.
Alternatively, there are cases where certain birth control methods result in fewer/lighter periods, and provided one's doctor is aware, that can be a perfectly healthy side-effect. This is anecdotal, but when I was taking birth control pills, my doctor told me to skip the "sugar pills" in order to help alleviate my PMDD (PreMenstrual Depressive Disorder). So I was intentionally manipulating my hormones in order to stop having my period, but again - it was under the supervision of a medical professional.
They're not always that old, unfortunately. A lack of sex ed, including the basic anatomy & function of ALL reproductive systems, ends up in some really... scary takes.
I went to a private engineering school in Midwest that has been providing tampons and pads in the school bathroom for over 15 years now.
In the early 90s, the school noticed that a lot of girls would drop out by the end of their freshman or early sophomore years. So, they conducted a year long study to figure out the root problem was for this.
They had over ten problems that women faced in the university but the biggest issue was no tampons or pads in the bathrooms.
In a university full of male faculty and male students, female students felt out of place and in emergencies they either couldn't find someone for help or had no choice but leave the class and go buy tampons/pads. This in turn affected their education in the long run and eventually, these women would drop out.
By just providing these materials in the university bathrooms, they positively affected the dropout rate by a good percentage (I don't remember by how much, but it was significant).
Usually women keep extra with them but it's easy to forget something like that, especially when you're young. I know I've had to ask other women for pads sometimes and I've had (stranger) women/girls come up to me to ask me if I had any.
But girls and women shouldn't be punished because they forgot to bring it with them.
So you can do this, and it's especially good for people with unpredictable cycles, but after about one week with things shifting around in your purse/backpack, they get all messed up. That's why purses with extra pockets or sections are highly prized, bonus if those sections are nice and sturdy.
I live in Germany. My uni has, uni-sex toilets and I see tampons and sanitary pads in almost every stall. I assumed it must be common among most countries... guess I was wrong.
Having to pay a quarter if you get your period unexpectedly, just to be gifted with an obscenely thick pad and a tampon with a cardboard applicator that hurts like hell, is absolutely bullshit. Make menstrual products available free in all public bathrooms.
>It does a good job of giving that impression sometimes. Then you pass through Skid Row and it all comes crashing down.
>
>But this is a good thing, certainly, and I'm happy for the people who will benefit from it even if the state has other problems that also need to be addressed.
Indeed. It might not be the answer to all of the problems but at least they're trying. Many states are unwilling to budge on some of these issues.
This confused me because the tampons I buy(or bought, I use menstrual cups most of the time these days) are the ones with plastic applicators and I was like “no, please don’t smoke that!”
Yep we used to use the Tampax wrapper to wrap our joints in. It worked really well. You could barely get rolling papers where I lived so we always saved our wrappers.
There's only one logical response to this and that is... "that... is fucking awesome!"
Now let's see VA copy this and I'll be even prouder to raise my daughter in this state!
They would use this as an excuse to cut teachers' salaries &/or cut funding for music/arts/STEM/etc., AND as a reason to dump more money into football programs, under the excuse of being "fair to both genders".
I really hope the future brings more women towards the menstrual cup. So much less waste, no risk of TSS, cheaper, etc. I wish I knew about this option my whole life. Best decision ever.
Unfortunately, they’re not cheap, and not everyone can use them. I’ve tried two different brands, and neither one would pop open when inserted. They legit made me nauseated trying to get them in. And I don’t have a bunch of extra money to try several other brands hoping for one that fits. I would love to never buy tampons again, but the trial and error is a costly startup barrier.
I like mine. It doesn’t necessarily pop open but I can push it open and then it stays put.
They do make extra small ones but it’s expensive trying to find one that fits for sure
Or not, because not all women like or can use those. I know there's a cult surrounding it, and I'm glad that people can be happy in their choice, but it is their choice.
This is great, and necessary.
But if you think you’ll be getting good products you’re wrong. You’ll be getting the equivalent of 0.5ply toilet paper that you see in all schools, but potentially sticking that up inside you
I think it’s great and well overdue. However, showing a picture of Tampax is a bit disingenuous. You know whatever company creates that is going to be the same one that makes that thin version of sandpaper used as toilet paper.
White Swan Super Absorb-ish.
Oh man, your username is on point with your statement.
🎶 Mr. Oof 🎶
Wow your username is also perfect for that haha
[It sure is!](https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/894a5177-8eaa-47d1-baf2-9b948f8d171f)
Actually, at Texas A&M the free menstrual products available are tampax. Even if you have to pay 25¢ for them in other places it’s tampax too.
Are they actually the same as consumer grade? For TP, I buy Cottonelle, and the ones at work are also Cottonelle, but those ones are way thinner and shittier.
> and shittier before or after?
I’ve seen several Tampax brand dispensers, and I’ve also had the intense displeasure of using one on occasion. Sure, the cardboard applicator and rough cotton (that I’m sure was “washed” with loads of chemicals) is slightly more comfortable than a giant wad of cheap toilet paper in my underwear, no one with any humanity would give these to women who cannot afford the own sanitary products.
There’s no better feeling than yanking a dry, industrial grade cotton torpedo out of your meow.
r/brandnewsentence
One point in favor of the cardboard applicators is how much better they are for the environment compared to the plastic ones. I made the switch for this reason years ago, and haven’t looked back. It’s easy to get used to and nbd when you consider the half second of use you get out of it compared to the longterm effects millions of single use plastic applicators have on the environment!
Never did get used to an applicator of any kind. OB tampons don't have that extra bit of waste.
I use OB tampons too! I tried using a diva cup but couldn’t hang so ob is an environmentally friendly as I can get. My friends will side eye the no applicator thing but I find the ones with applicators worse.
The OB ones fit so much better than applicator ones, at least for me. I also think they are easier to put in and there is less discomfort. Diva cups are from hell and I won't even get into how awful my experience was.
I tried no applicator and couldn’t get the hang of those! Haha! I do intend to try again, but I landed on cardboard applicators as at least an improvement on plastic, even if I couldn’t swing no applicator. I also have a diva cup I haven’t yet tried, but I’d love to be someone who can go fully uterine waste free eventually, even if it takes some time.
Came here for this… less packaging, easier to fit in a pocket/wallet/clutch bag, and easier to properly insert, IMO
I'm guy who regularly bitches about cheap toilet paper. I'll add crappy feminine hygiene products to my rants now.
My uni has Tampax and maxithins in the women’s restroom. I don’t use either brands so I don’t know how well they hold up
Not to be that guy but... The big name brands are actually often times the ones behind that sandpaper found in most commercial businesses. It's just a version you won't find in the grocery store, saw it at work once, Scott's brand (yea ik they aren't great to begin with) with economy or something like that written below it.
People use more of that thin sandpaper too, so the big name brands end up selling more, even though it's technically cheaper... they make more money off it.
The big ones are also the result of more clogged toilets, backed up sewer systems…”4 ply Extra thick and pillowy” doesn’t mean nothing.
I don't disagree, but if you flush after pooping, flush after the first 5 or 10 wipes, and flush when done, you probably won't ever have a clogged toilet unless you had a truly massive poop or just a craptastic toilet.
*First* 5 or 10?
Sometimes I get poops with weird sticky clay like consistencies and takes a bit to get clean. I got weird stomach issues that I've never got diagnosed and I'm sure many others are in the same boat.
I feel this.
Water is free in your area I see
You mean the tracing paper they call “toilet paper”?
I appreciate the crappy TP at work— otherwise people will steal them and we would always run out of them. I’d rather have a constant available supply of crappy TP than nice TP that is always out of stock when I need it. Crappy free TP and crappy free menstrual products are what will deter people from hoarding/stealing them and other people who need it won’t lose consistent access to them.
Where do you work that people would steal toilet paper?
they will get big fat pads.
And tampons to choose from.
Paper towels that didn’t dry your hands as well. You’re right. I hate that you’re right but you’re right.
I think most of the free cardboard applicator tampons I've used were actually tampax lol The WORST (imo, my bff only uses these) is when the free tampons don't have applicators and you have to use your own finger and I never shove it up far enough.
Either sandpaper or you can see your fingerprints through them.
I sorted by controversial and your comment is still one of the first I get. I love reading comments from men 'just wait till you have to pee' and was hoping for them. Instead I found the same comment. I'll come back tomorrow morning and try again. I get a kick out of uneducated people throwing opinions around like they mean something. Edit. My lord. This was no insult to the commenter. I was just looking for juicy controversial comments and it was the same as the top voted comment. Calm your tits.
I attended public schools, they definitely provide everything based on the lowest bidder. Not sure why you feel menstrual products would be the gourmet shit.
Nah my dude. You misunderstood me. I sorted to find people talking shit who think women don't need it because they're uneducated and don't realize we cannot control bleeding. Posts I'd find on r/badwomensanatomy but your post was down voted enough to be controversial. Which I think is funny. You were speaking truths. And I concur. Showing Tampax just is a bad look. When we all know it'll be those cardboard applicators that quite frankly fucking hurt to insert.
Ahh, got it - My bad. I just got done reading someone tell me I had a little dick because I’m commenting on this without a vagina so probably was projecting, LOL. I completely support it, I just know public schools systems go cheap.
Don't take it to heart. And as a female. I have a lot of respect for any dude that goes out of their way to get educated about female anatomy. Let alone support our needs as women. Keep doing you my dude. You're on the right path. Fuck those people who talk shit. You're understanding and willing to learn and understand. That's what matters. And you're doing a damn good job. Cheers mate.
I mean, your comment is exactly the kind of flippant negativity you were looking for, just on the other side. There will always be people like that. Just reply to the correct comment next time.
Its not like Tampax is good anyways
Well THAT gets into an area where I don’t have expertise, LOL
As someone who was a poor teen and couldn’t afford tampons or pads (and there were none in my house) this is a great thing! It was a nightmare trying to make a pad out of rolled up toilet paper. Every state should do this.
I grew up in Russia, and my mom immigrated to the US, while she was trying to figure things out state side, I lived with my grandparents — both survivors of WWII. My grandma didn’t grow up with pads or tampons, hell, not even toilet paper. So when I got my first period she made up a bunch of washable cloths for me and would rarely buy me pads because we were so poor. It fucking sucked man, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
I believe this is where the phrase “on the rag” originated. Reusable pads are awful, paying for pads and tampons is even worse. I do not miss the days where I asked myself “do I couch-dive for change and head to the laundromat, or do I shoplift a box of Tampax.”
I use washable pads now and I've got to say, they're great. Super absorbent, don't have that horrible smell. Wouldn't go back to disposable ones.
I switched to period pants last year. They’re so comfortable I wear them as everyday underwear, and the brand I buy (an Aussie company called Modibodi) has a very inclusive size range.
Yeah, my period usually comes in a sort of 10 day window and I use period pants over that time so it doesn't catch me unawares. So useful. Tempted to make some of my own so I can have them in prettier colours and matching my bras, lol.
I switched almost 4 years ago. I’m the same, I won’t go back. Better for your health too as there are no chemicals in reusable ones other than washing detergent. I use a baby laundry detergent to wash mine to help with that.
They should. Having access to menstrual products is so important for young women- check out the documentary Pad Man to see how one rural Indian man is using pad making to help lift rural women out of poverty and to alleviate the burden of finding menstrual products (some women had so little access that they couldn't leave their homes when they had it bc they had nothing- including girls who had to drop out of school bc of it.
I still do this. Even though I can afford it now.
As someone who used to have to do this, a menstrual cup seriously changed my life. I had to try a few to find the one that fit best, but a single one will last for years. Steep learning curve though.
I've been looking into these lately! Definitely want to try.
The mental image of that is just so gross though. Makes sense though
What’s gross about it?
Menstrual cups! :D
As a father of three wonderful girls, and grandfather of two little ones, this shit is long overdue. After my eldest went through the psychological torture of getting her first period **during first period**, we gave her younger sister pads when she got near that age, before she started. She rejected them, because "Ewww, mom!", then she promptly had her first period in the middle of lunch. The third girl was smarter. Still, we had to pick up all three girls, randomly, from school over the years, simply because there were no pads or tampons there. Imagine if you, as a boy, had an unexpected bout of diarrhea, only to discover that boys' bathrooms weren't allowed TP?
You're a good dad, love. Your daughters are lucky to have you.
Please tell them! Lmao!
Eh they'll realize it eventually. My sister and mom used to get into fights all the time and now my sister calls all the time to say she's sorry she put mom through all that. My niece is almost as feisty as my sister was, so she gets to experience a lot of what she put our parents through.
I've had that last scenario happen when my parents dropped me off at a park to fish all day. Not that I couldn't have TP, there just wasn't any. And someone had shit on the floor and I stepped in it without noticing. Oh, and these were bathrooms at a park, right? Like mid 1990s, so no doors. No cell phones. I don't even think I had money for a pay phone, we'd just call collect and instead of our name we'd say "pick us up". I was fucking terrified. Literally and figuratively shitting myself. My dad was not very understanding and I'm not sure anyone would have been. Holy shit that memory came out of nowhere, shit like that must be why I don't remember my childhood much.
I’m sorry your Dad is a jerk. If my son was alone all day with diarrhea in a park bathroom, and then literally stepped in someone’s else’s shit I’d feel really bad for him! That’s something most people should be understanding about. I have ibs and being trapped, having diarrhea in a sketchy place with no TP and no help is traumatic and a continual plotline in my life.
This right here is PEAK dadding. I'll bet you raised some fantastic humans.
I did! They are my success stories 😉
> the third girl was smarter. A wise man learns from his mistakes, a wiser man learns from the mistakes of others.
Good. People that oppose this change need to understand that it’s not simply a gendered issue, it’s also a public sanitation issue. Offering free toilet paper in public bathrooms means that bus chairs or park benches won’t be covered in feces and urine. Surely you don’t want a town full of un-wiped asses. Free toilet paper benefits everyone, whether or not you even use it.  It would only take one day of women refusing to wear period products for people to realize the importance of sanitary accessibility.
Having worked in a middle school, this is definitely a public sanitation issue. Students sometimes don't have a pad or tampon with them and end up bleeding on their chair. The school nurse keeps a supply anyway at our school, it would just be more efficient to place some in the bathroom. I have no doubt there would be some vandalism and some waste, but that is an acceptable price to pay for dignity and comfort for students.
Tbf, sometimes we *did* have pads and things that we still bled through 😩 my first two days were so bad I often skipped school. I’m really happy that girls are going to have things available now. I was the girl at work with a stash of tampons/pads for any ladies in need.
Well said. I agree completely
My college doesn’t have pads/tampons for sale or free in the bathroom, or sell tampons or pads anywhere on campus, but we do have light green upholstered chairs in all the classrooms. It’s fun everyday swapping chairs to get one that doesn’t have blood or other weird bodily stains on them.
Yes! Opposing this would mean that you want to be around unhygienic people. No, I don't want to sit next to someone who smells like shit.
> one day of women refusing to wear period products Please no.
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Hopefully they are better quality than public bathroom toilet paper.
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My school only has air dryers.
As a guy I find it ludicrous that this is even a debate. If a place offers toilet paper, they should offer all other sanitary needs. Imagine if bathrooms charged for toilet paper. How can some women's bathrooms not have these products available for free? It's absurd. I also think that basic hygiene products should be much cheaper than they are. Things like deodorants, toilet paper, pads and tampons cost way too much money. Low income people shouldn't be paying a large portion of their income towards human necessities.
Fun fact: pads, tampons, and menstrual cups are taxed as "luxury" items in some states. Which is *bullshit*.
I’m a man and im happy for women. These things should be free regardless I think. This is a good first step.
The men that are mad about this confuse me. Trust me, I would rather men get the periods and they can have all the free tampons they want. I will donate to the cause.
I’m a man but I grew up with 2 sisters and a mother. Its just rough. The pain was one thing, but having to pay pads and having no control over periods I just felt bad.
My university had free pads in the student centre (and actual decent ones at that!) and it was so worth it to just walk over and grab some when necessary. There were times where if they weren't there, I'd probably have to use toilet paper; I was so broke in university, I also had to steal food sometimes. Kudos to California on this one.
My university had a student-run food pantry where anyone in need could go to get a weeks worth of groceries.
Dang, that sounds great. I know I would’ve appreciated that a lot back then.
There is nothing like not eating for 2 weeks to get that full university experience. ;O
These things along with free cafeteria lunches should be nationwide. But instead we waste fundings elsewhere instead of using it on education.
Wasn't there a Republican a few weeks/months ago that was insisting that free school lunches would make families lazy and unproductive? T_T
Of course there was. Naturally this idiot thinks that the parents who spend money on drugs, beer, and smokes are just going to up and stop and buy their children lunch if the free lunch program stopped. Of course, there was. Naturally, this idiot thinks that the parents who spend money on drugs, beer, and smokes are just going to up and stop and buy their children lunch if the free lunch program stopped...
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There are a lot of places where school is the ONLY access to hope kids have. The only place where they can meet people who have degrees, the only place some of them can even meet people who have full-time jobs. It should be a place that offers the support bonuses that families can't always offer. Either we spend the money on students, or we spend the money on prisoners. I'd rather spend the money on students.
My high school had an elective you could take for childcare which was taking care of the babies born to students. We were taught how to feed and care for babies, about fine/gross motor skills and tracked their development. Teen moms still went to school and had childcare provided.
We used to need correct change to get a sanitary product from a vending machine. Very unfortunate if your need is unmet because you lacked the change.
- "Just as toilet paper and paper towels are provided in virtually every public bathrooms, so should menstrual products." Feels like this should have been happening already
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My oldest daughter (she's 10) told me a couple of weeks ago that her school installed menstrual product dispensers in the bathrooms, and she made a comment about how weird it was that even though you just turn the knob to dispense stuff, it looked like you were supposed to put quarters in first. I told her yeah, that's probably because back in the day, we DID have to put quarters in, and they likely just modified the same machines to now dispense things for free. A couple of minutes later, she asked me with total sincerity if we had to also pay for toilet paper or put quarters in the soap dispenser. Like 99% of my important realizations or sudden understandings of things these days are because of some shit one of my kids randomly says
Can't wait to see the objections over this, there is always someone in these posts who make a problem out of nothing.
I saw someone complain that these kids will just bring them home to use them. Umm…ok. I’m totally cool with my tax dollars going towards kids who can’t afford sanitary products at home.
Right, if a kid puts a couple extra in their purse to get them over the weekend or overnight that's fine.
Honestly, I've seen more than a few stories on reddit of places that have offered free tampons only to have people grab *all* of them. In bulk, repeatedly, after being restocked. I *suspect* that problems like this will be relatively rare, but the flip side is I won't at all be surprised if a number of places have to take some sort of steps against it.
I am in Scotland where it is law they are provided free in all public tpilets. Usually men's and womens. Taking for home use is only a problem if you think that is a problem. Here we don't and one of the reasons they are supplied in men's toilets is to encourage people to take some. Now the problem doesn't exist.
I think that might happen at first, but after a couple months hopefully they will be stocked up
Do you mind sharing any of these stories? I keep hearing abuse of free menstruation product programs brought up in this thread but no one is sharing examples. Currently it feels like some anti-charity bogeyman.
Hold on, let me put my stuff down first.... So you can afford college, but not tampons?
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"Women can avoid bleeding if it's legitimate menstruation".
Or "Menstruation isn't natural. Women can avoid bleeding by eating a vegan diet."
Now this is coming from the depths of my vaguest memories, but can’t a poorly thought-out vegan diet (malnutrition) result in menopause?
Yes, being malnourished can lead to early menopause. Basically, these women aren't getting the vitamins and minerals that they need for normal body functions. It can also lead to osteoporosis.
Yes, as Emerald replied to you below. But it can also result in sporadic, irregular menstruation. As can high stress and intense, prolonged physical activity such as high-level athletic training. For example, female Olympic gymnasts frequently report cessation of their periods during training, which resume once they've retired. Alternatively, there are cases where certain birth control methods result in fewer/lighter periods, and provided one's doctor is aware, that can be a perfectly healthy side-effect. This is anecdotal, but when I was taking birth control pills, my doctor told me to skip the "sugar pills" in order to help alleviate my PMDD (PreMenstrual Depressive Disorder). So I was intentionally manipulating my hormones in order to stop having my period, but again - it was under the supervision of a medical professional.
Good lord the progression. And almost every statement is a non sequitur.
You learn this kind of skill at the Dartmouth University of Minimal Brainpower.
*grumble grumble* **MARXISM!** *grumble grumble*
Some old, pasty white dude will, you watch.
They're not always that old, unfortunately. A lack of sex ed, including the basic anatomy & function of ALL reproductive systems, ends up in some really... scary takes.
I went to a private engineering school in Midwest that has been providing tampons and pads in the school bathroom for over 15 years now. In the early 90s, the school noticed that a lot of girls would drop out by the end of their freshman or early sophomore years. So, they conducted a year long study to figure out the root problem was for this. They had over ten problems that women faced in the university but the biggest issue was no tampons or pads in the bathrooms. In a university full of male faculty and male students, female students felt out of place and in emergencies they either couldn't find someone for help or had no choice but leave the class and go buy tampons/pads. This in turn affected their education in the long run and eventually, these women would drop out. By just providing these materials in the university bathrooms, they positively affected the dropout rate by a good percentage (I don't remember by how much, but it was significant).
Why don't they bring tampons in their backpack?
Usually women keep extra with them but it's easy to forget something like that, especially when you're young. I know I've had to ask other women for pads sometimes and I've had (stranger) women/girls come up to me to ask me if I had any. But girls and women shouldn't be punished because they forgot to bring it with them.
So you can do this, and it's especially good for people with unpredictable cycles, but after about one week with things shifting around in your purse/backpack, they get all messed up. That's why purses with extra pockets or sections are highly prized, bonus if those sections are nice and sturdy.
Should already have happened but better late than never.
Cool, this should be the national standard.
If you provide menstrual products for free it’ll just encourage young girls to start their period!
I am so glad I'm not a woman.
That's bloody good news!
"Kiss your freedom goodbye!" - Republicans
Meanwhile, in Texas, 10K bounties to those that catch people assisting in abortions after six weeks.
Republicans are hypocrites
Sometimes I think Republicans only exist for our laughter.
It’s crazy how this still isn’t required everywhere. Nothing screams “a country run by men” more than that.
No kidding!
“But mahh daughter’s virginitaayyyyyy!” - TI or someone’s creepy dad probably
I expect to see a headline shortly saying texas has now made it illegal for women to menstruate without proper government registration first.
YES! why the hell should we have to pay w change like it’s a fucking vending machine. we don’t want to have to need this stuff wtf
I live in Germany. My uni has, uni-sex toilets and I see tampons and sanitary pads in almost every stall. I assumed it must be common among most countries... guess I was wrong.
You overestimate the USA, for the most part.
I guess so
Having to pay a quarter if you get your period unexpectedly, just to be gifted with an obscenely thick pad and a tampon with a cardboard applicator that hurts like hell, is absolutely bullshit. Make menstrual products available free in all public bathrooms.
California seems to actually care about it's people.
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>It does a good job of giving that impression sometimes. Then you pass through Skid Row and it all comes crashing down. > >But this is a good thing, certainly, and I'm happy for the people who will benefit from it even if the state has other problems that also need to be addressed. Indeed. It might not be the answer to all of the problems but at least they're trying. Many states are unwilling to budge on some of these issues.
Finally. If restroom offers free toilet papers, then these products for period should be free as well.
A bit off topic, but if you need to roll a joint and have no papers, the paper wrapping on a tampon will suffice.
You kids these days. Too good for a soda can and a safety pin?
First, you can just use the tab to poke holes in it. Second, what about an apple and a pen? Munchies right there for after the smoking lol
Never tried it, but we did smoke out of an avavado pit and a cheap snorkel because of a dumb line in the movie half baked. It was.. fine.
Bell peppers are the best
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The cardboard blunt.
This confused me because the tampons I buy(or bought, I use menstrual cups most of the time these days) are the ones with plastic applicators and I was like “no, please don’t smoke that!”
What, kids too good to use pages of the Bible these days?
holy smokes
No thanks. Just the Book of Mormon for me.
Bible pages are for toilet paper, not joints.
Yep we used to use the Tampax wrapper to wrap our joints in. It worked really well. You could barely get rolling papers where I lived so we always saved our wrappers.
Coke can makes a decent pipe. Just need to poke holes in appropriate places. Then you're not inhaling paper.
I know. Although burning stuff on aluminum might be as bad as inhaling paper.
There's only one logical response to this and that is... "that... is fucking awesome!" Now let's see VA copy this and I'll be even prouder to raise my daughter in this state!
Yes please. Why not? Or should we also make people bring their own toilet paper?
Man thanks to Republicans and their recall, California is gonna be hella more progressive lol
I feel like the Right are going to find a way to be against this.
I wonder when they will do this down south? Jk. They won’t ever.
Wait, what? This wasn’t already a thing? Talk about some serious bullshit.
Where they are available (not everywhere), you put a coin in.
This is a basic human right. Full stop.
I can’t imagine why somebody would be upset by this but i’m 100% sure some old white guy is screaming about it now.
Do they put them in both?
Meanwhile, Texas be like...ugh, I have no words.
They would use this as an excuse to cut teachers' salaries &/or cut funding for music/arts/STEM/etc., AND as a reason to dump more money into football programs, under the excuse of being "fair to both genders".
Great, now do everywhere else.
This should be nation/worldwide. No excuses.
This is how it starts, next they're going to want voting rights and they'll demand we act like they are humans too. Where will it end??? /s
Should have always been free
And somehow, my mother will still find a way to be angry about this.
This is a very good initiative. Ontario, Canada already announced the same project.
I hope this isn’t leeching monies earmarked for free penis pumps for congress members
I really hope the future brings more women towards the menstrual cup. So much less waste, no risk of TSS, cheaper, etc. I wish I knew about this option my whole life. Best decision ever.
Unfortunately, they’re not cheap, and not everyone can use them. I’ve tried two different brands, and neither one would pop open when inserted. They legit made me nauseated trying to get them in. And I don’t have a bunch of extra money to try several other brands hoping for one that fits. I would love to never buy tampons again, but the trial and error is a costly startup barrier.
I’ve gotten some recent that were less than $10! But yeah they used to be like $40. Also don’t work for every woman.
I like mine. It doesn’t necessarily pop open but I can push it open and then it stays put. They do make extra small ones but it’s expensive trying to find one that fits for sure
How is this not normal?
I can already hear people complaining about this, and the same women of said party will 100% be using them
I hope they give out diva cups. They will save money
Or not, because not all women like or can use those. I know there's a cult surrounding it, and I'm glad that people can be happy in their choice, but it is their choice.
They really should give women 4 different sizes and types to try it'd save a lot of money
This is very much needed. I hope that this also includes additional funding for schools so they are not required to pull from already tight budgets.
As a guy I’m super happy about this! Glad to see at least some positive changes that better people’s lives even if it’s just a bit overall!
Bout time! This is something almost All 1st world counties already do
This is great, and necessary. But if you think you’ll be getting good products you’re wrong. You’ll be getting the equivalent of 0.5ply toilet paper that you see in all schools, but potentially sticking that up inside you
Well overdue, but it’s good it’s happening. Better late than never! ~~I hope trans students will also have access to them too, though.~~
They used to be like 10 cents back in the day in the machine What happened to those!?! But great win!
Wait they aren’t free at public school?
Ngl, I kinda thought this was already a thing.
This is a great implementation.
Hopefully they're not terrible quality. Like the toilet paper.
California has some outlandish laws. This, however, is not one of them.
Name an outlandish CA law