Scotland has recently proven that fighting menstrual poverty does not have to be hard. But we can’t help but wonder: will the Netherlands ever wake up and make period products free too?
At pharmacies and local community centres all over Scotland, pads, tampons, and menstrual cups are now available gratis, for whoever needs them.
This breakthrough makes Scotland the first country in the world to offer period products to everyone, writes RTL Nieuws.
Fighting period poverty, one app at a time
We’ve all heard the saying that modern problems require modern solutions. But what about old problems? Well, Scotland has chosen a new, technical route to solve the problem of period poverty: an app, of course!
The app is as simple as it is genius: it shows where you can pick up your free period stash. This makes menstrual products easily accessible to everyone, no matter where you live.
READ MORE | Dutch women fight for their right to free birth control
You’d think one of the many hip, young, Dutch entrepreneurs would’ve come up with this already, but alas — we’ll probably have to wait a bit longer over here.
The world is moving, will the Netherlands wake up?
The Scottish law ensuring free period products for all was (unanimously) approved all the way back in 2020 (we know, feels like a lifetime ago).
That means the Netherlands better wake up and create a Period Product Act ourselves soon if we want to avoid being menstrual-freedom-latecomers — and, you know, offer dignity to all women?
READ MORE | Why are tampons and pads not free in Netherlands?
After all, Dutch women and girls are not so well off that they wouldn’t benefit from free period products. In 2019, the “Blood-serious” study by Plan International showed that as many as 10% of females in the Netherlands struggle to afford pads and tampons once a month.
Although the train to become the first country in the world to offer free period products has left the station, there might still be hope for the Netherlands.
Not all is perfect in Scotland
Scotland has made the misstep of appointing a man (oh God) as the country’s first-ever period-dignity officer. The decision has created a massive backlash in Scotland, with some calling it “institutionalised mansplaining.”
Perhaps the Netherlands could/should become the first country in the world to offer free period products for all, AND have a female period-dignity officer? We can only dream.
What do you think: should the Netherlands make period products free for all? Tell us in the comments below!
