The term “feminine hygiene” attaches itself to the discomfort felt in the discourse of menstruation. The euphemism plays around the discussion of female anatomy which has historically been left unacknowledged. For many college students today, this alienation is felt through the difficulty in obtaining necessary products. This article is a guide for free and accessible tampons, pads, and everything in between.
The Menstrual Equity Pilot Project at UC Berkeley
The Menstrual Equity Pilot Project at UC Berkeley has made efforts to provide menstruation products in every public building. Even though the program is still underway, access to menstrual products has been available since May 2023 in the following buildings:
- Dwinelle Hall (Classroom Wing)
- Physics Building (North and South)
- Wheeler Hall
- Social Sciences Building
- Evans Hall
- Latimer Hall
- Stanley Hall
- Anthropology and Art Practice
- Sutardja Dai Hall
- Etcheverry Hall
Additionally, the Engineering Student Council and Coalition for the Institutionalization of Free Menstrual Products have collaborated on a product locator which you can find on google maps. Anyone can download the app, allowing easy access to stocked dispensers across campus!
Basic Needs Center
The Basic Needs Center is located in the MLK building. Luckily, the location’s on campus so you don’t have to go out of your way to obtain a necessity. They provide students with free tampons and pads upon request.
Despite the passing of Assembly Bill 367, requiring all public colleges/universities to provide free menstrual products, they’re not always accessible.
If your nearest building doesn’t have dispensers or you can’t go to the Basic Needs Center due to privacy or accessibility, there are other alternatives.
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood provides free menstrual products. The Free Menstrual Pantry at any Planned Parenthood location offers pads, tampons, and menstrual cups. In addition, the East Oakland location is a valuable resource whether you have insurance or not; aside from free menstrual products, they offer STD screenings, birth control, and other preventative services.
U by Kotex
If you visit the U by Kotex website and submit your address, the company will send you a limited amount of free sample pads by mail.
This is also a good resource if you’re interested in trying a new menstrual product.
While this isn’t a long-term solution, a couple extra pads can go a long way.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many resources even though menstrual products should be considered a basic human right. For many, the difficulty of finding period products is another monthly struggle on top of several others (e.g. sourcing food). Despite many efforts being made to create equal opportunity, menstrual products are far from readily available.
Within UC Berkeley, legislation has only recently passed to ensure that the school is required to have these products available. Sending an email to ucbcustodial@lists.berkeley.edu and requesting a building or location on campus to supply products makes a difference. For now, these resources are available to support.