“Need”: From their high school to the regional parliament, Teenage girls in Scotland continue to campaign for free tampons and sanitary pads, Is now a reality in Scotland. They expect that many countries will follow this example.
“Worldwide, there are women who need free access to feminine hygiene products. This is really a necessity “, All-Rose Farttingham, 17 years old, from Larbert High School in Stenhusimir, Middle Scotland.
The teenager formed the group “Lady Business” with her classmates Meredith Rai, Tillie O’Donnell and Abby Reid, after writing an article on menstrual insecurity for the school newspaper.
The four girls have made it their mission to raise awareness, speak in schools and even organize a rally outside the Scottish Parliament.
A “revolutionary” law
The Scottish Parliament unanimously adopted a law on Tuesday 24 November ” Revolutionary “ By Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon, For the purpose of providing tampons and sanitary napkins free of charge in all public buildings.
MP Monica Lennon, who introduced the bill, praised the role “First investigator” From Scotland, also praised the action of ‘Lady Business’ in her speech to Parliament.
He called on schools to dedicate education to the issue, in addition to tampons and sanitary napkins, to eliminate the stigma surrounding them.
“We were all happy to contribute such a big change to the world”, Welcomes Elle-Rose Frasingham. She and her classmates filled toilet dispensers at their school with hygiene products. And the barbarous act came to a halt when the girls’ message raided.
Meredith, 16, says she felt relieved when the bill passed: “We worked hard to get there”.
Legislation passed in Scotland goes beyond existing initiatives in schools in England and Wales or reducing VAT on these products in France and the United States.
In Scotland, schools, colleges and universities must provide a range of periodic protection in their toilets free of charge. The Scottish Government may force public bodies to provide these products for free.
Raise rule barred
More than half of teenage girls (52%) left school due to their duration, according to a May 2019 survey of 1,000 teenage girls in the UK. Activists insist that menstrual insecurity has a direct impact on girls’ education, widening inequalities.
The girls of “Lady Business” had to fight to overcome the stigma of surrounding time.“It was disappointing (…) because frankly, it’s not something that should be so taboo, Certifies Meredith. Since our inception, we have worked, we have intervened in classrooms and we have actually seen a change in attitude, especially among young boys and perhaps even older teachers.
Elle-Rose and Meredith are now preparing to study at university. He hopes the teens will talk about the rules in schools without embarrassment or shame.
13-year-old Lucy Clarke, who recently joined “Lady Business”, says she is ready to fight to lift this taboo. “Maybe little people will say ‘Yes, it’s disgusting.” But i think it’s natural, She says. Girls can’t help it. They need hygiene products to be healthy and happy. “