Menstrual Products: Airport Accessibility And Availability

Airports are busy, bustling places that can be both exciting and overwhelming. For individuals who menstruate, the availability of suitable facilities and resources to manage their periods comfortably is a significant concern. While airports are increasingly recognising the need to cater to diverse traveller needs, including those experiencing menstruation, the availability of menstrual products remains a challenge. This is evident from various testimonials of travellers who have struggled to find menstrual products in airport restrooms, often relying on vending machines that may not work or offer overpriced options. This has sparked a conversation about the need for free and easily accessible menstrual products in airport restrooms, just as toilet paper is provided. Some airports have started providing free menstrual products in employee washrooms, but there is still a long way to go in ensuring that these products are readily available to all travellers who need them.

Menstrual products should be free in airports

Airports should be inclusive spaces that accommodate the needs of all passengers. This includes providing free menstrual products in washrooms, as well as ensuring that their security procedures are respectful and considerate of menstruating travellers. Currently, the lack of access to period products in airports can cause stress and discomfort for passengers, as they may be caught off guard by their period and be unable to easily access the products they need.

Additionally, the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) body scanners can flag menstrual products as potential threats, leading to invasive and embarrassing physical searches. While the TSA's job is to ensure the safety of travellers, they should also be mindful of the privacy and dignity of menstruating individuals. They can improve their procedures by providing clear information about what to expect when travelling with period products and investing in training for their staff on how to properly conduct respectful searches.

By providing free menstrual products and improving security procedures, airports can create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all passengers. This small step towards equality will go a long way in supporting the needs of menstruating individuals and ensuring that they have a positive travel experience.

TSA body scanners can flag menstrual products

The Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) body scanners can flag menstrual products as potential threats, triggering additional searches. In a survey by The Fornix, 90% of respondents were unaware that period products could flag the body scanner. While most follow-up searches are brief, some extreme searches have led to headlines about lawsuits, with the TSA seemingly making some travelers' journeys feel less safe.

TSA scanners can detect period products such as pads and thicker period underwear. They can also detect menstrual cups, but this is debatable. There is some anecdotal evidence to suggest that tampons can be detected, but a TSA spokesperson has stated that "millimeter-wave imaging technology does not detect items inside a passenger's body or penetrate the skin."

If you are a menstruating person, it is worth knowing that the scanners may detect some hygiene products. Plan ahead and be prepared for additional screening.

If your menstrual product is flagged, you will be pulled aside for additional screening. This may involve a pat-down, which can be quite intrusive. During a pat-down, a TSA agent will touch close to your vagina. You will also be asked if you would like this to take place in a private room or out in the open.

How to avoid additional screening

To avoid additional screening, you could consider using "period panties" instead of pads or menstrual cups. These are absorbent underwear that can be worn while traveling through security. You can also apply for TSA PreCheck, which allows you to use the walkthrough metal detector instead of the body scanner.

The need for free menstrual products in airports

Airports are busy places, with people rushing to catch flights, and the last thing anyone wants is to be caught off guard by their period. Yet, this is a common occurrence, and it is made worse by the fact that many airports do not provide free menstrual products in their restrooms. This essay will discuss the need for airports to provide free menstrual products to ensure travellers' comfort, dignity, and equality.

The Panic of an Unexpected Period

The unexpected arrival of a period can cause panic, especially when one is about to board a long flight. This is a common experience, as half of the human population menstruates, and periods can be unpredictable. The stress of travelling can also cause periods to arrive early, adding to the traveller's worries. In such situations, the last thing one needs is to be scurrying around the airport in search of tampons or pads.

The Difficulty of Finding Menstrual Products

Despite the fact that a significant number of travellers are likely to need them, many airports do not stock menstrual products. Even when they do, they may be sold out, or the vending machines may be out of order. This was the case for a woman at Calgary International Airport, who was forced to pay $15 for a box of tampons because the vending machines in the restrooms were not working. At Vancouver International Airport, only one out of three bathrooms had a working dispenser for menstrual products. Such situations cause unnecessary stress and discomfort for travellers.

The Right to Menstrual Hygiene Products

Menstrual hygiene products are a necessity, not a luxury or a want. They are as essential as toilet paper, yet airports do not always provide them for free. This is despite the fact that three states in North America—California, Illinois, and New York—have introduced legislation requiring public schools to offer free menstrual hygiene products. If schools can provide them, why can't airports? After all, airports are probably one of the most important places to have menstrual products readily available.

The Impact of Not Having Access

Not having access to menstrual products when one needs them can have serious consequences. It can result in discomfort, embarrassment, and even health risks. Travellers may be forced to use inadequate substitutes, such as toilet paper or paper napkins, which are neither hygienic nor effective. This is unacceptable in today's society, where there is a growing movement towards menstrual equity and an end to period-shaming.

In conclusion, there is a clear need for airports to provide free menstrual products in their restrooms. This is a matter of equality, dignity, and basic hygiene. By providing free menstrual products, airports can ensure that travellers with periods can continue their journeys with comfort and confidence. It is time for airports to step up and make a positive change for their customers by providing this essential service.

The Friendly Airports for Mothers Act (FAM)

Expansion of the FAM Act

The FAM Act should be expanded to include the provision of period care products in airports. Menstrual hygiene products are a necessity and should be treated as such. Currently, there are reports of women having to pay exorbitant prices for period products at airports, and in some cases, not being able to find any at all. This is unacceptable, especially considering that half of the human race menstruates.

Solutions

Aunt Flow is one company that provides organic cotton pads and tampons through modern and sleek dispensers in airports. Their products are free for menstruators and are inclusive.

Another solution is for airports to install menstrual product vending machines in their restrooms.

By providing free and accessible menstrual products in airports, we can create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all travellers. It is time to end the stigma and ignorance surrounding menstrual health and treat period products as the basic and constant hygienic need that they are.

The stigma surrounding menstrual health

Menstruation is a natural process that half of the human race experiences. However, it is shrouded in stigma and shame. This stigma is a result of the negative perception of menstruation and those who menstruate. It is characterised by the idea that the menstruating body is abnormal and abject. This stigma is transmitted through powerful socialization agents in popular culture, such as advertisements and educational materials.

Menstruation is often associated with negative terms such as "dirty", "unclean", "disgusting", and "shameful". This is reflected in the language used to describe it, such as "on the rag" and "time of the month". Menstrual products are designed to be discreet, and women go to great lengths to conceal their menstruation to avoid being stigmatised. This concealment can be exhausting and negatively impact women's lives.

The stigma surrounding menstruation has important consequences for women's health, sexuality, and well-being. It can lead to self-consciousness, hypervigilance, and menstrual shame. Women may feel unattractive during their periods and experience their bodies as unruly or out-of-control. The stigma may also contribute to women's lower social status and power dynamics that reinforce misogynistic stereotypes.

To challenge the stigma, it is important to talk about menstruation more openly and celebrate it as a natural process. Educational materials and media representations should also be more positive and accurate. Additionally, providing free menstrual products in public spaces can help normalise menstruation and reduce the stigma.

Frequently asked questions