Omg my my horrible period story: i was applying for colleges(im the first in my family to go to college so everything about the application process was new). I was at my very rich at-the-time-boyfriends ski house. I was(and still am) very poor so i was already super uncomfortable around all their expensive stuff. With hours till the submission deadline on one of my college essays my period started and i didnt notice till i was already bleeding on their very expensive couch cushion and i couldn't take a break from writing the essay or else i wouldn't have time to finish the essay and apply. So as discretely as i could, i continued bleeding for a couple hours without moving and only got up after i submitted the essay a few minutes before the deadline. I spent all night after that (his parents had already went to bed) secretly scrubbing out that cushion to get it back to normal and it still had a mild stain. I told my partner about it while exhausted and in tears and he just flipped the couch cushion over and said 'problem solved'(which was a relief but also made me realize how little he had to value very expensive things cuz he could easily replace them). That college ended up being the only one i got into 🎉 (it was my second top choice but they ended up being evil so i transferred -- dont go to harvey mudd college if u can at all help it. They offer full ride scholarships but then do everything in their power to kick out poor or non-white students after the first year -- i say or cuz they dont accept poor and non white students in the first place). That was such a stressful experience that could have completely changed my life trajectory if i had decided to try and manage my menstruation in the moment. Period poverty is no joke😢
I would love to sit down with Elgin and talk about all of this. He is clearly so educated on the subject and shares it so eloquently. But since that won't happen this podcast is the next best thing! Thanks for a great video as always :)
Nonbinary and on my period right now. I need to use the accessible toilets because I need more space for my disabilities and also as a room to stim at school in privacy because I’m auDHD (so more disabilities). My school has multiple women’s, men’s and gender neutral accessible toilets, but only the women’s one have disposal units. They’ve also started to lock the gender neutral ones now, so I have to choose between the gendered ones, with the women’s toilet being the only real option. Even if they weren’t locked I’d still have to use the women’s bathroom when I’m my period because apparently ‘gender neutral’ means ‘menstruation doesn’t exist’. I hate it. The bathrooms are almost always trashed too, often being flooded, or they forget to refill the toilet paper and hand towels (not great for sensory issues, I tell you now!). Shows how much they really care about trans and gender diverse and disabled students, huh. It’s ridiculous! A lot of the time I just don’t change my pad all day long (from 7:30am till 4-5pm) because the facilities don’t accommodate me, which is so dangerous. I am already cautious of using the bathroom as now I don’t have access to the neutral ones, but it’s so insulting to have the only place I am able to go be the women’s room. I’ve had people stalk me to the bathroom and literally wait until I leave to stop. Sometimes they shout and bang on the doors. I’m too scared to stim when I need to, which leads to more damage and unsafty for everyone. I’m also too scared to change my pad when I do get the chance to because of the amount of times this happens. My peers seem to think I’m transfemme (which honestly, I’m honoured!), but the sound of unwrapping a pad would instantly clock me, which is even more terrifying. I’ve gotten UTI’s and other issues because it’s not safe for me to even pee at school, which isn’t fair. But I will give credit where it’s due. The way the bathrooms are set up is that there is a hall with individual rooms, each with their own sinks and stuff. I prefer that over two different rooms with a line of stalls or urinals seperated by gender. The fact that they have more than one accessible bathroom is also really cool. Though they have them all labeled as accessible when they’re really not: not enough room, no rails, door handles and sinks too high, etc. The only actually accessible ones are the gender neutral ones to be honest, so I can’t even have that anymore since they’re locked now. The gender neutral bathrooms also don’t have any disposal units for sharps, though I think there is a space for that at the sickbay (I don’t really know how that works as I don’t utilise them). They do have a sanitary vending machine, which is great, but because it’s out in the open, the boys keep taking them ALL and throwing them all around the halls/classrooms/school yard. That’s all I gotta say, I guess. Thanks for the video, I really appreciate it and love the channel! Keep going with what you’re doing because it’s so important that people understand and learn about this. They don’t teach it in schools, an it’s actually so maddening! Hopefully my story helps too(?). Stay strong guys!
Live in the U.S. I know many who attend college here are struggling financially too. Was wonderful that the last college I attended supplied a food pantry for the students that had some fresh veggies and toiletries (including sanitary products). Most places I have seen that have sanitary products available for free are that way because other women working there provided them. The VA hospital also has them for free in the bathrooms. The JCC (Jewish Community Center) also provided them without question through their food pantry. Don't have to be in the Jewish community to access the pantry, and they make sure to be considerate of dietary restrictions. They also provided toilet paper and other basic needs people don't think about unless struggling financially. I no longer have a period (hysterotomy) and rarely have anyone in my home. Though, it still feels odd to not keep such items on hand just in case. Can say it has been a relief to no longer have to deal with my period in so many ways.
I tried several free menstrual cups and all of them have caused me a lot of pain. I cant afford to get any myself and i have been using toilet paper pads most of my life due to lack of affordability. I now have a friend financially supporting me and i can buy menstrual products but im shocked every time i have to buy them at how expensive they are. When i couldn't afford them at all I never checked prices. (Im a trans man currently menstruating)
I’m so sorry to hear your struggle. Period poverty is such a huge issue! We have a huge imbalance of priorities when it comes to tax payer dollar’s distribution and even simply the cost of the product itself. It’s really doing a disservice to something that is so essential in our everyday lives and companies profit billions from it
I am from Norway and live in Denmark. I would suggest you not to share incorrect information, we DO NOT have a more socialist approach. We are capitalist , same as Canada and the United States. Inform yourself
I self-identify as a settler to demonstrate my commitment to combatting settler-colonialism and show solidarity with Indigenous communities across Turtle Island and Inuit Nunavut.
Love to see these critical discussions getting a platform. Thank you Elgin, the period purse & queer collective💗💗💗
Omg my my horrible period story: i was applying for colleges(im the first in my family to go to college so everything about the application process was new). I was at my very rich at-the-time-boyfriends ski house. I was(and still am) very poor so i was already super uncomfortable around all their expensive stuff. With hours till the submission deadline on one of my college essays my period started and i didnt notice till i was already bleeding on their very expensive couch cushion and i couldn't take a break from writing the essay or else i wouldn't have time to finish the essay and apply. So as discretely as i could, i continued bleeding for a couple hours without moving and only got up after i submitted the essay a few minutes before the deadline. I spent all night after that (his parents had already went to bed) secretly scrubbing out that cushion to get it back to normal and it still had a mild stain. I told my partner about it while exhausted and in tears and he just flipped the couch cushion over and said 'problem solved'(which was a relief but also made me realize how little he had to value very expensive things cuz he could easily replace them). That college ended up being the only one i got into 🎉 (it was my second top choice but they ended up being evil so i transferred -- dont go to harvey mudd college if u can at all help it. They offer full ride scholarships but then do everything in their power to kick out poor or non-white students after the first year -- i say or cuz they dont accept poor and non white students in the first place). That was such a stressful experience that could have completely changed my life trajectory if i had decided to try and manage my menstruation in the moment. Period poverty is no joke😢
I LOVE how informative your videos are! I never considered not having access to period products so I appreciate you guys bringing this issue to light.
So glad it was informative 🥰
I would love to sit down with Elgin and talk about all of this. He is clearly so educated on the subject and shares it so eloquently. But since that won't happen this podcast is the next best thing! Thanks for a great video as always :)
You can always reach out to him as well (details in description).
Nonbinary and on my period right now. I need to use the accessible toilets because I need more space for my disabilities and also as a room to stim at school in privacy because I’m auDHD (so more disabilities). My school has multiple women’s, men’s and gender neutral accessible toilets, but only the women’s one have disposal units. They’ve also started to lock the gender neutral ones now, so I have to choose between the gendered ones, with the women’s toilet being the only real option. Even if they weren’t locked I’d still have to use the women’s bathroom when I’m my period because apparently ‘gender neutral’ means ‘menstruation doesn’t exist’. I hate it. The bathrooms are almost always trashed too, often being flooded, or they forget to refill the toilet paper and hand towels (not great for sensory issues, I tell you now!). Shows how much they really care about trans and gender diverse and disabled students, huh. It’s ridiculous!
A lot of the time I just don’t change my pad all day long (from 7:30am till 4-5pm) because the facilities don’t accommodate me, which is so dangerous. I am already cautious of using the bathroom as now I don’t have access to the neutral ones, but it’s so insulting to have the only place I am able to go be the women’s room. I’ve had people stalk me to the bathroom and literally wait until I leave to stop. Sometimes they shout and bang on the doors. I’m too scared to stim when I need to, which leads to more damage and unsafty for everyone. I’m also too scared to change my pad when I do get the chance to because of the amount of times this happens. My peers seem to think I’m transfemme (which honestly, I’m honoured!), but the sound of unwrapping a pad would instantly clock me, which is even more terrifying. I’ve gotten UTI’s and other issues because it’s not safe for me to even pee at school, which isn’t fair.
But I will give credit where it’s due. The way the bathrooms are set up is that there is a hall with individual rooms, each with their own sinks and stuff. I prefer that over two different rooms with a line of stalls or urinals seperated by gender. The fact that they have more than one accessible bathroom is also really cool. Though they have them all labeled as accessible when they’re really not: not enough room, no rails, door handles and sinks too high, etc. The only actually accessible ones are the gender neutral ones to be honest, so I can’t even have that anymore since they’re locked now. The gender neutral bathrooms also don’t have any disposal units for sharps, though I think there is a space for that at the sickbay (I don’t really know how that works as I don’t utilise them). They do have a sanitary vending machine, which is great, but because it’s out in the open, the boys keep taking them ALL and throwing them all around the halls/classrooms/school yard.
That’s all I gotta say, I guess. Thanks for the video, I really appreciate it and love the channel! Keep going with what you’re doing because it’s so important that people understand and learn about this. They don’t teach it in schools, an it’s actually so maddening! Hopefully my story helps too(?). Stay strong guys!
Both eloquent and informative. Thank you for shedding light on a topic that needs more of this kind of discussion. 😍.
Thank you for listening 💕 so glad it resonated
Live in the U.S.
I know many who attend college here are struggling financially too. Was wonderful that the last college I attended supplied a food pantry for the students that had some fresh veggies and toiletries (including sanitary products).
Most places I have seen that have sanitary products available for free are that way because other women working there provided them.
The VA hospital also has them for free in the bathrooms. The JCC (Jewish Community Center) also provided them without question through their food pantry. Don't have to be in the Jewish community to access the pantry, and they make sure to be considerate of dietary restrictions. They also provided toilet paper and other basic needs people don't think about unless struggling financially.
I no longer have a period (hysterotomy) and rarely have anyone in my home. Though, it still feels odd to not keep such items on hand just in case. Can say it has been a relief to no longer have to deal with my period in so many ways.
Thank you for sharing! 💕 we appreciate hearing stories like yours, sharing your experience helps give more perspective
I tried several free menstrual cups and all of them have caused me a lot of pain. I cant afford to get any myself and i have been using toilet paper pads most of my life due to lack of affordability. I now have a friend financially supporting me and i can buy menstrual products but im shocked every time i have to buy them at how expensive they are. When i couldn't afford them at all I never checked prices. (Im a trans man currently menstruating)
I’m so sorry to hear your struggle. Period poverty is such a huge issue! We have a huge imbalance of priorities when it comes to tax payer dollar’s distribution and even simply the cost of the product itself. It’s really doing a disservice to something that is so essential in our everyday lives and companies profit billions from it
I love y’all’s work and content so much
Thank you 💕✨
I am from Norway and live in Denmark. I would suggest you not to share incorrect information, we DO NOT have a more socialist approach. We are capitalist , same as Canada and the United States. Inform yourself
I disagree with much of this video.
Fair enough. Care to elaborate?
@@QueerCollective Trust me. You would be offended if I did.
All bark , no bite.Your opinion was not needed
@@arions15days No opinion is really needed.
Did they really describe him as a settler??? Lmaoooo is it 1500?
It’s an important distinction to make when living on stolen Indigenous lands.
I self-identify as a settler to demonstrate my commitment to combatting settler-colonialism and show solidarity with Indigenous communities across Turtle Island and Inuit Nunavut.