Recently, Republican lawmakers in Idaho blocked a bill that would have made Idaho the sixteenth state to mandate schools provide period products to students.
Republican Rep. Barbara Ehardt took issue with the terms “period poverty” and “menstrual equity” used to describe the inability to access period products.
"They understand that (period products) are basic medical necessities, and the adults who are in positions of power are keeping (free access) from happening.”.
According to a 2021 national study, 1 in 5 teens say they can’t afford or don't have access to period products.
"Period poverty is defined as the inability to afford or access period products to manage your menstruation," Bedard says.
A reported 1 in 4 U.S. teens say they’ve missed time at school because they don't have access to period products.
Manasi Gajjalapurna, 17, goes to high school in California, where schools provide period products for free. »