Period Poverty Project
A team of students, faculty, and staff from Gender Studies and the Culture of Respect grant have developed and maintained the Period Poverty Program to stock restrooms across campus with feminine hygiene products. Period poverty is a serious issue on college campuses across the country: studies show that about 25% of menstruating college students cannot afford products during at least one point in a given year (Cardoso et al., 2021). College students already manage stress, anxiety, and depression, but having access to the basic need of hygiene products contributes to greater mental and physical health (Coakley et al., 2022). Just as we provide other essentials for our students, we can support them by working towards economic justice as we acknowledge needs and address them with compassion.