There are nine male and female bathrooms in South Lakes, not including the locker rooms. In the girls bathrooms, there are female hygiene product dispensers, which offer free sanitary pads and tampons. The dispensers are usually empty. This presents multiple issues. If girls get their period at school, especially if unexpectedly, it is a problem for them to not have access to feminine hygiene products in the bathrooms.
“Last month, I had an emergency so I went to the bathroom and I was pressing the button trying to get one out because I really needed one and nothing came out and I was really nervous.” said a female student at South Lakes. She went to the girls’ bathroom in the basement of the school.
The hygiene product dispensers are misleading without the products because of girls who might depend on these products. If the dispensers are not restocked frequently enough, then they cannot get access to their basic needs. This brings up questions about how frequently the pads and tampons are restocked.
“[The products are] stocked regularly, based on our custodians going in to clean the bathrooms, and they check those boxes where those products are held,” said Mr. Duggan, Director of Student Activities. “I can’t say they’re restocked every single time based on our supply, but they’re restocked as long as we have supply. We’re going to restock them as we can.”
Another location where female hygiene products are available are the subschools, each located next to their designated class locker pod. However, the availability of these products is not well known to the female population of South Lakes. Another female student at South Lakes said “[she] was not aware of the extra hygiene products in the subschools.” Additionally, tampons and pads are also available in the South Lakes Pantry on Thursdays, where a student can receive their hygiene products privately. There have not been many steps taken to make sure that girls know where these products are available.
“Other than word of mouth, the answer is no, and that’s the truth. I know sometimes kids don’t always feel comfortable going to ask, but it’s something maybe we can make aware of through a morning announcement.” Mr. Duggan said.
Female hygiene products are extremely important, and a supply of them is essential for the comfort of all female students. The location of these products is only convenient if they are stocked often and girls are aware of their availability; meaning that South Lakes still has a long way to go before it is able to fully accommodate female student sanitary needs.
