Amenities and accommodations for minorities in STEM

A Proposal for Free Menstrual Sanitary Products

Abstract

This report will discuss why Illinois Tech needs to join other universities in bringing about adequate access to free menstrual sanitary products on their campus to ultimately combat period poverty amongst their students. 

Period poverty is defined as the inadequate access and disposal of menstrual sanitary products and affects one in ten college women currently in the United States. Period poverty disproportionately affects students of color, low-income students, and first-generation students.

While the critical targets in this project are women and the research and literature used to defend this report was data collected on women, it is just as important to accommodate for non-female menstruating students by supplying menstrual sanitary products in gender-neutral bathrooms as well. 

With a total student population of 7,792 students and a reported 37% female ratio, approximately 2,833 menstruating individuals are attending Illinois Tech and approximately 288 of those are currently experiencing a form of period poverty. Access to menstrual sanitary products is a form of inclusion and accommodation of the minority population at IIT. Illinois Tech struggles with a difficult gender ratio and should be pioneering efforts to support its women and gender minority students in succeeding by cultivating a supportive environment that caters to their natural biological needs.

The primary stakeholder is the institution that is to fund the effort. Supporting students by providing adequate access to menstrual sanitary products ultimately combats long-term implications of period poverty such as mental health, financial stress, and stigmas surrounding menstruation. 

The purpose of this project is to propose efficient and sustainable methods the university can implement to bring about free menstrual sanitary products and study the impact on the community.