Federal Prisons Made Menstrual Products Free. Now Some States May Follow Suit.
Last summer, the Federal Bureau of Prisons announced that women in its facilities would be guaranteed free menstrual pads and tampons. But because the majority of incarcerated women are housed in state prisons and local jails unaffected by the policy change, fewer than 10 percent of female inmates stood to gain anything.
In recent weeks, several states have introduced legislation or proposals that address that discrepancy. The latest is Arizona, where lawmakers are considering a bill that would give incarcerated women an unlimited supply of menstrual products, including tampons, pads, cups and sponges. It would cost the state an estimated $80,000.
Currently, women incarcerated in Arizona’s state and local institutions are allowed 12 free pads a month and may only possess up to 24 at any given time. If they want more, they must ask an officer and pay for them. There are no free tampons.
“I can’t imagine something more uncomfortable than not having the menstrual products you need for your period,” the bill’s author, state Rep. Athena Salman (D), said during a Monday vote on the legislation. “So my heart goes out to these women.”
A 16-count box of pads for inmates requires 21 hours’ worth of pay, and a 20-count box of tampons requires 27, Salman told the all-male committee voting on her bill.
The indignity of spending several days’ pay on adequate menstrual products, evidently, fell on deaf ears. After Salman began listing those numbers, the committee chair, state Rep. Jay Lawrence (R), interrupted her, asking her to “keep [her] conversation to the bill itself,” Phoenix public radio station KJZZ reported.
The bill narrowly passed out of the committee by one vote.
The issue of adequate menstrual supplies is a growing issue for state and local prisons. Though most prisoners are men, the population of incarcerated women has been growing for decades. The vast majority of them ― 99,000 in state prisons and 96,000 in local jails ― are not in institutions operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which houses 14,000 female inmates.
Arizona isn’t the only state where lawmakers want to help menstruating inmates who don’t benefit from the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ new policy.
A Maryland bill introduced last week would ensure women in the state’s jails and prisons receive pads and tampons at no cost. While it does not specify whether that amount would be limited per inmate, it mandates that the facilities provide a “sufficient supply.”
“Menstrual hygiene products should not be considered a luxury, and Maryland must do more to prevent dehumanizing situations where women inmates don’t have sanitary necessities,” the bill’s chief sponsor, state Sen. Susan Lee (D), said in a statement last week.
Virginia’s Del. Kaye Kory (D) introduced a similar bill last month.
“It could be a week before you get any supplies,” she told The Washington Post of Virginia’s incarcerated women seeking menstrual products.
In Nebraska, the Department of Correctional Services bypassed the legislative process when it announced last month that all generic tampons and pads will be provided for free and that it will only charge inmates for name-brand supplies. The decision came after the Nebraska ACLU chapter raised concerns last October about incarcerated women’s access to such products in the state.
The policy isn’t just about comfort and dignity; it’s also about health, Nebraska Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks (D), who helped push through the policy change, told The Omaha World-Herald.
“Clearly, tampons and other feminine hygiene products are not luxury items,” she said. “Women need these products to avoid health complications, including infections.”
Before the federal prison policy changed, Colorado and New York City had already passed legislation requiring free menstrual supplies for female inmates in state and local institutions.
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MYTH: Don't exercise when you are on your period
MYTH: Don't go swimming
MYTH: People can tell when you're on your period
MYTH: Teens shouldn't use tampons
MYTH: During your period, you lose a lot of blood
MYTH: A tampon can float away inside your body
MYTH: Don't wear tampons overnight
MYTH: During your period, only sleep on your side
MYTH: PMS is not real
MYTH: Inserting a tampon hurts
But what you're actually referencing: There are cramps, and yes, blood to deal with, but getting your period isn't a curse of any sort — it's part of being a woman of a certain age. Periods involve our ovaries releasing eggs, while hormonal changes prepare our uteruses for pregnancy. See ... not so scary.
But what you're actually referencing: Aunt Flo only visits once a month (a 28-day cycle to be exact). She is kind of uncomfortable, annoying and her conversations never stops flowing...
But what you're actually referencing: Similar to her sister Aunt Flo, Aunt Rose seems to be the nicer of the two: Because we all know things like rose petals and rose bushes resemble menstruation.
But what you're actually referencing: You're being pretty literal here, but yes, a period means you're bleeding from your vagina.
But what you're actually referencing: The dot/dots that appear on your liner, pad and sometimes on your bed sheets and underwear. Also, dot = period.
But what you're actually referencing: Sometimes we try to make the best of what life throws at us by staying positive and remembering our periods can be our friends.
But what you're actually referencing: Again, the leak refers the constant flow of blood coming out of your body. We also assume people are referring to leaks they get on their pants or bedsheets. The worst.
But what you're actually referencing: TOTM refers to time of the month when your period is taking place — just so we're all on the same page.
But what you're actually referencing: To add emphasis that everything is cool with your flow and your period only happens once a month.
But what you're actually referencing: PMS actually stands for premenstrual syndrome, and isn't a synonym for your period at all.
But what you're actually referencing: The rag is closely related to the pad or tampon we wear during periods... and how uncomfortable it is. It's also an unfortunate visual.
But what you're actually referencing: We're not sure with the obsession of words like "river," "water" or "flow" when it comes to describing your period. Our best guess? The assumption that when a woman is on her period, she is forever bleeding.
But what you're actually referencing: Periods are scary and women bleed and if you see/talk about this blood, something terrible will happen. Get a grip, people — the only thing frightening about periods is using phrases like "the shining" to describe it.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
