Owais Crawford
It's a situation many women have found themselves in: that moment of panic when your period arrives unexpectedly and you realise you don't have any tampons. This is stressful enough, but what happens when you're at the airport, or even on a plane? Unfortunately, it seems that many airports and airlines are failing women in this regard, with reports of tampons being unavailable or overpriced at several airports, including Barcelona, Calgary, Vancouver, and Istanbul. While some airports are taking steps to improve the situation, such as installing vending machines or providing free products in bathrooms, there is still a long way to go to ensure that menstrual hygiene products are easily accessible and affordable for all women who need them when travelling.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tampons sold at airports | Yes, but not always easily accessible |
| Free tampons at airports | No, but some people think they should be |
What You'll Learn
Tampons and pads are a basic hygienic need
Unfortunately, many airports do not sell tampons or pads, or if they do, they are often overpriced and difficult to locate. This can lead to stressful situations, where individuals have to resort to makeshift solutions, such as using toilet paper or napkins, which are neither comfortable nor sanitary. It is worth noting that some airports, such as the one in Barcelona, have female employees who carry extra tampons and pads in their bags to offer to those in need. However, this should not be the norm, and airports should be expected to provide these basic hygiene products.
The lack of readily available and affordable menstrual products in airports can be frustrating and inconvenient for travellers. It is important to note that some airports, such as the Calgary International Airport, have been criticised for selling tampons at extremely high prices, with a box of tampons costing $15. This is a common issue, as airport prices are typically much higher than regular retail shops. However, for a product that is a basic hygienic necessity for a significant portion of the population, this pricing practice is unfair and prejudicial.
To address this issue, some companies, such as Aunt Flow, are working towards providing complimentary period supplies in airports. They offer modern and sleek dispensers that are easy to refill and use, ensuring a positive bathroom experience for individuals who need access to menstrual products. Additionally, their products are made with organic cotton, reducing their environmental impact. Aunt Flow has partnered with several airports, including Houston Airports and O'Hare, to provide free and sustainable period products for travellers.
It is important to recognise that menstrual hygiene products are a necessity, not a luxury. Just as toilet paper is readily available in airport restrooms, so should tampons and pads. By ensuring that these products are easily accessible and affordable in airports, we can create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all travellers.
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Menstrual products should be free
Menstrual products are a necessity, not a luxury. Yet, in many places, they are treated as such. This needs to change.
First, it's stressful and distracting to be caught without a menstrual product. No one should have to line their underwear with toilet paper, miss work, or skip class because they don't have access to these essential items.
Second, menstrual products are expensive. In some places, there is a "tampon tax," which further increases the cost. For low-income individuals and families, this can be a significant financial burden, forcing them to choose between spending their limited funds on menstrual care or other necessities like food.
Third, free access to menstrual products can help reduce waste. Without access to proper menstrual products, individuals may be more likely to ruin their clothing, resulting in unnecessary waste and additional costs.
Finally, it's a matter of equality and dignity. Just as toilet paper is provided for free in public restrooms, so should menstrual products. No one should have to ask for something they need to manage their basic bodily functions.
Some places are already taking steps towards making menstrual products more accessible and affordable. For example, California, Illinois, and New York have introduced legislation requiring public schools to offer free menstrual hygiene products. Additionally, the Canadian government plans to make menstrual products free for federal workers, which will positively impact over 480,000 people.
However, more needs to be done. Menstrual products should be freely available in public restrooms, schools, airports, and other places to ensure that everyone who needs them can access them without stigma or financial burden.
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The struggle to find tampons at airports
Airports are a hub of shops, restaurants, and services, but when it comes to feminine hygiene products, many fall short. Despite being a basic necessity for half of the world's population, tampons and pads can be surprisingly difficult to find at airports, as many travellers can attest to. This lack of accessibility to menstrual products can cause significant inconvenience and stress, leading to a call for change.
A Common Dilemma
Many women have shared their struggles of searching for tampons or pads at airports, often to no avail. From Barcelona to Vancouver, women have recounted their experiences of frantically checking bathrooms, newsstands, and retail shops, only to find that these products are not stocked. In some cases, women have had to resort to makeshift solutions, such as using toilet paper or paper napkins, which are neither comfortable nor hygienic.
Overpriced and Inaccessible
In some airports, tampons and pads are available, but often at a steep cost. At the Calgary International Airport, for example, a box of tampons was priced at $15, almost double the regular price. This price gouging is especially egregious when considering that these products are a basic hygienic necessity. Additionally, some airports only offer these products through coin-operated vending machines, which can be inconvenient if one doesn't have the required change.
A Call for Change
The struggle to find affordable and accessible feminine hygiene products at airports has sparked a global dialogue and a call for change. Travellers and advocates argue that menstrual products should be readily available in all public institutions, including airports, schools, and workplaces. Some companies, such as Aunt Flow, are working towards this goal by providing free, sustainable, and easily accessible period products in airport restrooms. However, there is still much work to be done to ensure that all airports prioritize the needs of their female travellers and employees.
A Basic Right
Access to menstrual products is a basic human right, and it should not be a luxury or a nice-to-have. Airports, as major public spaces, have a responsibility to provide these essential products to their customers and staff. By installing vending machines or dispensers in restrooms and ensuring that retail shops carry a sufficient inventory, airports can take a significant step towards equality and inclusivity.
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Overpriced tampons at airports
Airports are busy places, with people rushing to catch flights, and often, travellers are buying last-minute items before boarding. It is not uncommon for women to require tampons, and airports should be prepared for this. However, it seems that many airports are failing in this regard. Not only are tampons hard to find in some airports, but when they are available, they are often extremely overpriced.
A woman at the Calgary International Airport was forced to pay $15 for a box of tampons because the vending machines in the bathrooms were not working. This is an outrageously high price, almost double the regular cost. This incident sparked a global dialogue about the lack of accessibility and affordability of feminine hygiene products in airports.
Another traveller at the Barcelona airport also struggled to find tampons, despite the airport being one of the busiest in the world. She was told by a female clerk that there was nowhere to purchase feminine hygiene products in the area, and she had to rely on the kindness of other women who shared their tampons with her.
The issue of overpriced tampons at airports is a serious one. Tampons are a basic hygienic necessity for women, and it is unfair and prejudicial that they are priced so high in airports. This is especially problematic when vending machines are the only option, as they often charge a premium. Airports should be required to carry tampons and pads, and these products should be easily accessible and affordable for all women.
The dialogue around this issue is important, but more needs to be done to address it. Airports should install vending machines that do not require coins, and the products should be free, just as toilet paper is. This would ensure that all women have access to the feminine hygiene products they need, without having to pay exorbitant prices.
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The need for menstrual product vending machines at airports
Menstrual hygiene products are a necessity for half of the global population. Yet, all too often, those who menstruate find themselves in a situation where their basic hygiene needs are not met. This is a common experience in airports, where tampons and pads are often nowhere to be found, or, if they are available, are sold at highly inflated prices.
Airports are large, busy spaces, often with a mini-mall appearance, filled with retail shops, restaurants, and newsstands. It is reasonable for travellers to expect to be able to purchase menstrual products in such an environment. However, time and again, people have recounted experiences of searching desperately for tampons or pads in airports, only to find that none are available. This has been the case in airports all over the world, from Barcelona to Vancouver, and Istanbul to Calgary.
The lack of availability of menstrual products in airports has forced those who need them to resort to desperate measures, such as stuffing toilet paper down their pants or asking strangers on a plane for a tampon. Not only is this unhygienic, but it is also uncomfortable and undignified. In recognition of the fact that menstrual hygiene products are a necessity, not a luxury, some airports have started to install vending machines that provide free tampons and pads in their restrooms. This is a welcome development, but it is not yet the norm.
To ensure that the basic hygiene needs of all travellers are met, it is important that airports install vending machines that provide free menstrual products in their restrooms. This would help to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all travellers, and it would also reduce the stress and discomfort associated with unexpected periods.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on the airport. Some airports sell tampons in vending machines in the bathrooms, while others sell them at newsstands or shops. However, some airports don't sell tampons at all.
Tampons are a basic hygienic necessity for half of the globe's population, and some believe they should be available to all women at airports, just like toilet paper. However, some airports may not sell tampons due to a lack of demand or the assumption that most women carry them while travelling.
If an airport doesn't sell tampons, you could try asking female staff members, as they may have some to spare. Alternatively, you could use toilet paper or paper napkins provided in the airport or airplane bathrooms, although this may not be a comfortable or practical solution.
