At university, menstrual insecurity at the heart of concerns

13% say they have already had to choose between periodic protection and another essential product and 33% feel they need help to get it.

This is one of the lessons of the unprecedented survey, broadcast this Monday, on menstrual insecurity among students.

Conducted by the Federation of General Student Associations (FAGE) and the National Association of Midwife Students (ANESF), the study tackles the taboo of rules and, in particular, the difficulty of access periodic coverage for financial reasons.

A reality for nearly 2 million women in France, many of whom are students.

Of the 6,518 menstruating people who responded, gender minorities were also taken into account such as transgender men or non-binary people.

The purchase of protection is the responsibility of the student in 55% of cases

“Before the IPSOS survey commissioned by FAGE during the first confinement, there was no data on student menstrual insecurity in France.

The fact that a third of the people who responded to the survey declared that they encountered financial difficulties in obtaining periodic protection was a real trigger for carrying out this second survey, the objective of which was to take stock of the situation at the home. student population in their relationship to menstruation, as well as in their daily needs ”, specifies, jointly, Paul Mayaux, president of FAGE and Fanny Toussaint, president of ANESF.

Superb initiative of our student associations @penserlemonde and @FACreteil which installs at the University of Paris-est Créteil @UPECactus distributors of free periodic protection.

💪 # menstrual precariousness @ valdemarne_94.

What will be the next #university to invest?

https://t.co/C5BshJoAmS

- Claire Bourdille (@clairebourdille) March 6, 2020

For the past twenty years, FAGE and its federations have been producing an indicator of the cost of the start of the student year which highlights the extent to which this public is affected by poverty.

In fact, 20% live below the poverty line in France and the figures obtained by this survey underscore the extent to which a natural phenomenon such as rules worsens this situation.

According to the document, the financial burden of purchasing protection falls on the student in 55% of cases.

The average expenditure for protections only costs between 5 and 10 € per month for 46% of responses.

For half of them, there are other charges related to menstruation (such as pain medication, purchase of underwear, etc.) up to more than € 20 per month.

1 in 20 uses toilet paper

“It's an expense that we would avoid when we have a tight budget.

I have already had to take a roommate, near the University of Nanterre (Editor's note: Hauts-de-Seine), to be able to follow my classes.

My parents cannot help me, I am a scholarship holder and give some support courses to get by, testifies Romane, 21, in the second year of a License in sociology.

I would have gone to period panties but they are too expensive.

I buy sanitary napkins but I cannot afford to buy organic ones.

This is where I am forced to give up on Spasfon (

Editor's note

: antispasmodic

) which relieves my cramps.

"

"It's probably full of pesticides, but I don't have the money to buy better quality protection," adds Jeanne, in her third year of the History License, also in Nanterre.

A situation that should soon change for these young women since the Ile-de-France Regional Council on Thursday, February 4, announced the deployment of distributors of free organic periodic protection in universities and student residences in Ile-de-France.

After equipping our high schools, we voted for a regional fund to support the equipment of # universities with distributors of free periodic protection to fight against the #PrecariteMenstruelle of students.

Ile-de-France is still a pioneer for #ChangerLesRegles!

pic.twitter.com/jsSTp8X2ZS

- Valérie Pécresse (@vpecresse) February 4, 2021

Single-use periodic protections are the most widely used according to the survey.

A non-negligible proportion still declares that they use reusable protections such as menstrual panties (21%) or menstrual cups (20%), or respectively on average, 30 € (for a single panty) and 24 € for a

cup

.

As for organic, its price scares people away.

Only 7% use it systematically.

58% never use it, 48% of which is for financial reasons.

Worse, 1 in 10 female students is forced to make their own protections for lack of resources, and 1 in 20 uses toilet paper.

Having your period with dignity is a human right, even in times of # COVID19. # GenerationEgality pic.twitter.com/QfLhOV6heQ

- UN Women (@UNWomen) January 29, 2021

In addition to the economic issue, the health and social aspect is also noted in the survey.

“The consequences of menstrual insecurity are serious and affect both physical health (itching, infections, toxic shock that can cause death) and mental and social health (strong feeling of ill-being, loss of confidence in oneself, socialization difficulties,…) ”, specifies the document.

Even today, one in 10 students admits having already missed work or school for fear of leaks.

5 M € released by the government

On the government side, on December 15, the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, and the Deputy Minister in charge of Equality between women and men, Élisabeth Moreno, announced that the 2021 budget dedicated to the fight against menstrual insecurity was 5 M € (against 1 million in 2020).

Goal ?

Strengthen the fight led by associations for women's access to periodic protection, particularly targeting imprisoned women as well as those in precarious situations.

5 years after the creation of our association, this decision recognizes that menstrual insecurity is a public health problem ⠀

⠀ # regleselementaires #changerlesregles #endperiodpoverty https://t.co/R6ckONb2ts

- Elementary Rules (@RElementaires) December 16, 2020

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If free for all is not considered, Scotland has, on the other hand, taken the plunge.

A first in the world on this scale.

"

 We all agree that no one should have to worry about their next reusable tampons or pads

,

"

Scottish Labor MP Monica Lennon, who was behind the bill passed in the

UK 

, told Parliament. unanimity in November.