These products must be made available free of charge to all women by local authorities and Scottish schools from Monday thanks to a Menstrual Poverty Act passed in November 2020.
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Posted on 08/18/2022 10:45 AM Updated on 08/18/2022 12:04 PM
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A nomination that makes noise. The election of a man to promote access to tampons and regular towels, now free in Scotland, drew much criticism across the country on Wednesday 17th August. Former tennis player Martina Navratilova in particular denounced a “ridiculous” decision on Twitter. “Have we ever tried to teach men how to shave or how to take care of their prostates? That’s nonsense,” she added.
Have we ever tried to explain to men how to shave or how to take care of their prostate or whatever?!? That’s absurd.
– Martina Navratilova (@Martina) August 15, 2022
Since Monday these products must be made available free of charge to all women by local authorities and Scottish schools, thanks to a menstrual poverty law passed in November 2020 and presented as a world first by Scottish authorities. But in Dundee, a city north of Edinburgh, it was a man who was chosen to promote the law, as the very first Rules Dignity Officer to be appointed for two years.
Jason Grant, a former personal trainer, is responsible for promoting the new law in schools, colleges and universities and ensuring it is well funded. It should also stimulate discussions about menstruation and menopause. But in social networks his appointment does not pass. “I can’t understand how anyone could think naming a man was a good idea,” responded Susan Dalgety, a press columnist and women’s rights activist, on Twitter. Jason Grant tweeted that being a man would help him “break down barriers, reduce stigma and encourage more open discussion. While they directly affect women, periods are a problem for everyone.”