How A Fake Cereal Brand Is Highlighting Period Poverty

Despite its lack of visibility, period poverty is a public health crisis. Nearly 1 in 4 US students have experienced period poverty. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 16% of US students have had to choose period products over food or clothes. Period poverty and menstrual inequity also affect incarcerated individuals and detainees, as many prisons charge for and restrict period product access, forcing many individuals to reuse single-use period products.

To directly combat these inequities, ME4ALL aims to provide students — in schools, colleges, and universities — with free menstrual products; ensure incarcerated individuals and detainees have access to free menstrual products; and allow homeless assistance providers to use grant funds that cover shelter necessities to purchase menstrual products.

Other components of the bill include requiring Medicaid to cover menstrual products; directing large employers with more than 100 employees to provide free menstrual products in the workplace; and requiring public federal buildings to provide free menstrual products in restrooms.