Period. at URI is a club that hopes to end stigmas around menstrual cycles and provide a safe environment for women. Contributed by Period. at URI.
This year, the Period at URI club was created to end the stereotypes and stigmas surrounding women’s menstrual cycles, as well as allow them to feel secure and listened to in a safe and inclusive environment.
Founded by President Paige Desjardin, with the help of her leadership team, Period at URI is fighting to make sure every “menstraturer” has access to period products, and to further spread the message of ending the shame and taboo surrounding periods.
The club focuses on ending “period poverty” while bringing awareness to it.
“About one in 10 women around the world are unable to afford menstrual products and end up using their own clothes, socks, toilet paper and other miscellaneous items,” said Desjardin.
Furthermore, she said nearly a quarter of female students in the U.S. have had to leave school at times because they lacked menstrual products.
“About 20 percent of school-aged girls in America have reported missing or leaving school due to a lack of availability of menstrual products or that they could not afford them,” she added.
The inspiration behind the club was found within an idea manifested by Harvard graduate Nadya Okamono. Her desire to fight against period poverty, her disgust in surging prices of various menstrual products and her knowledge of the many women suffering every day because of inability to purchase these products birthed her very own nationally-recognized organization, PERIOD. It is based in Washington, D.C.
“I read Nadya’s book, Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement this past summer and became immediately inspired and began to create the club,” said Desjardin.
Desjardin is pleased with how the club has been received thus far on campus.
“The club happened so organically and I can’t believe how many people show genuine interest in the cause, as it is one that plagues almost every single woman,” Desjardin said.
According to Desjardin, Period at URI is a “judgement free zone” and everyone is welcome. Its members are ready to fight for change.
Desjardin makes it clear that “you do not have to have a period in order to support your sisters in the fight.”
Period at URI hopes to work alongside various organizations on campus like the Women’s Center, the Gender and Sexuality Center and Women in STEM. They have also partnered with Crossroads Homeless Women Shelter in Providence, where they will be donating all menstrual products collected during their “Period Parties” that are being planned for throughout the school year.
In addition to these events, there will also be a variety of seminars hosted by the club.
“We will be holding educational seminars about menstruators of all shapes, sizes, genders, menstrual hygiene and reusable menstrual products.” said Desjardin.
The club will also fight for changes at URI. According to Desjardin, they plan to petition for free tampon and pad dispensers in public restrooms on campus, and will attend various statewide rallies to repeal the pink tax that is placed on period products.
Desjardin explained that the importance of the club stems from the taboo surrounding periods overall, and the guilt and shame women inherently feel because of it.
“Menstruation is a natural and beautiful thing, and it should not be looked down upon with disgust and stigma that it does in the present day,” said Desjardin. “Women shouldn’t be hindered to live their lives because of a “luxury tax” on period products. Menstruators of all kinds should feel comfortable in their body, and be able to care for it in a loving and hygienic way without a large price tag on.”
For more information on the club, email [email protected] or search PERIOD at URI on Facebook.
Watch a video on PERIOD at URI here!