"The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts"

This past August, New Jersey announced some fantastic news. We all are keenly aware that lack of accessibility to menstrual health products affects school attendance. Of course this is a for a number of reasons such as the soiling of clothes, overall embarrassment in young girls, etc. This can be referred to as “Period Poverty”. Nearly 1 in 4 girls miss some part of school due to lack of accessibility to period products to manage their periods. This stands true especially in poverty stricken areas.

The NJ govt has recognized this fact and has chosen to act on it as part of their efforts to end the “Period Poverty”. Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill (S-1221/A-1349) on 8/23/2023 requiring school districts to provide menstrual products free of charge in every public school teaching students in one or more of grades 6-12. (Link to the Press Release of the bill is Governor Murphy Signs Bill to Provide Access to Free Menstrual Products for Students in Grades Six through Twelve) 

This lead to New Jersey becoming the twenty-third state in the country to provide menstrual products in schools. Through this bill, menstrual hygiene products will be made readily available in NJ schools. The cost of supplying these products will be borne by the state. 

The NJ Dept of Education and NJ Dept of Health will periodically assess the implementation of this program in schools. They make recommendations or expand the program as they see fit in order to accommodate students all over NJ. 

In addition, the NJ Department of Health has created a website to provide residents with critical information about common menstrual health-related matters. More information on period issues and products can be found at nj.gov/health/periods

Making menstrual products available in NJ schools is a step to providing all students equal opportunities to learn and study in school without shame or stigma as well as prevent unnecessary absences from school (which lead to lost chances for education). It  can also help normalize the concept of periods, allow people to overcome potential distress from not having products they need, and bring about positive self-esteem in girls. 

We hope that with this monumental step, all students will have equal access to education, enabling them to reach their full potential irrespective of gender or family income level.

As a student myself, I could not be more pleased about this bill’s passage!