Period Poverty is no small problem. Two out of three teens say they have been stressed because of the lack of menstruation products available in their schools. This needs to change. Florida State University has a new organization on campus to help: PERIOD. FSU.
What is PERIOD.?
With chapters all over the world and covering almost every state in the country, PERIOD. fights to achieve menstrual equity. Chapters work toward their mission of ending period poverty and its stigma “by creating action plans that employ our three pillars of service, education, and advocacy in their own community.”
PERIOD. encourages people to take on new chapters and start them in new places. By completing the three simple steps to start a chapter, anyone can benefit countless women who experience period poverty and menstrual inequity. The steps are to attend a call, submit a chapter application, and register the chapter — it couldn’t be any simpler to help women in need!
FSU’s Chapter
There are a few PERIOD. chapters in Florida colleges and a local chapter in Tallahassee, but FSU senior Ariana White noticed the lack of one on our campus.
I wrote an article back in September about period poverty, a passion of mine that I have become dedicated to improving. About a month ago, White saw the article and reached out from the PERIOD. Instagram asking me if I would be interested in joining the organization. This was an immediate “Yes!” on my part, and I am now the club’s Education Chair.
At our first meeting, we set goals for our chapter. One of these included becoming an official Registered Student Organization (RSO) in the spring, as that is when registration opens again. We are currently a very small chapter but encourage anyone to join! We plan on hosting events for packing period packages to donate to shelters while also informing people about how much period poverty affects women.
Another goal of ours is to create a “period pantry” on campus. This would be a mailbox-like stand where women can take a product on the go if they are in need. A sign would encourage anyone to replace it when they have the resources again but would never require it. In order to do this, though, PERIOD. FSU needs volunteers and donations.
Ways to Get Involved with period. fsu
Period poverty is all around you and could affect a close friend who may be struggling without your knowledge. FSU has improved accessibility to menstruation products by adding a few pad and tampon dispensers in the Student Union and other spots on campus, but we want to expand this success to all bathrooms around campus.
Once PERIOD. FSU gets registered as an RSO, we will hold official events to encourage advocacy and education on the effects of period poverty, lack of education in schools and homes, and more. For now, smaller events may take place.
The PERIOD. FSU Instagram will update with upcoming events to achieve menstrual equity. On Period Action Day, we held an event on Landis Green where we packed over 240 products to give to a local shelter. With more donations and support, imagine how many more people we could help!
Being educated about this massive issue is important, and PERIOD. FSU is taking strides to fix it. Girls supporting girls is vital, and that’s on period.
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