Club - Menstrual Equity at Northeastern

Our proposed organization will be called the “Menstrual Equity Club,” which will work to address period poverty in Boston, and beyond through spreading awareness and spearheading menstrual health-related events. This is pertinent as one in seven menstruators in Boston face period poverty, meaning they are unable to afford menstrual products. This is very dangerous as it could have severe adverse health consequences including reproductive issues, urinary tract infections, and mental health impacts. We must address this issue and engage the Northeastern community to create a sustainable impact on our campus, our community, and on a global scale. Our organization will have three pillars: service, education, and advocacy (SEA). We plan to do this by holding drives that allow community members to donate period products to distribute in the Roxbury community. The organization will hold informative workshops to teach students about the importance of menstrual equity in the community and how we can best support the menstrual health of our community members, especially those of low socioeconomic status who face heightened risks of period poverty, people who face homelessness, and in prison systems. The goal of this is to decrease the stigma that is associated with discussing menstruation. We also will hold events that will empower students to share their own experiences with menstrual equity and brainstorm potential ways to decrease period poverty within the community. This organization will also join the Massachusetts Menstrual Equity Coalition (MME), allowing a greater network of resources aimed at decreasing period poverty along with showing student support for the “I AM Bill.” The I AM Bill will ensure “access to free menstrual products, without stigma, to all menstruating individuals in all public schools, homeless shelters, prisons, and county jails”(MME) Furthermore, the MME has worked with various Boston-based universities, including Boston University, and has vast experience empowering student organizations focused on combating period poverty. The intended audience for this organization is individuals who are passionate about menstrual equity and want to be involved in increasing education and reducing period poverty in our community.