“Everything related to women’s bodies is still taboo today in France.“. This is the sad observation of the new bill, presented on March 15, 2022 to the National Assembly by Albane Gaillot, ecologist deputy who had already presented the bill on the extension of the abortion period. She claims this timea real consideration of menstrual health“, and this everywhere in the public space.
This text offers several elements, to finally take menstrual health seriously. First, it requires theprohibition of certain toxic components present in menstrual protection“not only at the level of raw materials, but also of the elements necessary for the transformation, assembly and bleaching of these“. The text reminds us that 1% of girls and women may be affected by toxic shock syndrome during their lifetime.
The text also aims to facilitate access to hygienic protection for precarious women… but not only. “All people who menstruate are affected by the lack of access to menstrual materials in public places“, says the bill. The deputies therefore call for theinstallation of paying machines in public places (stations, metro, streets, etc.), in the same way as there are condom distributors. 76% of French people would even be in favor the installation of this device in all public structures: hospitals, prisons, places of reception of people without disabilities, schools, colleges and high schools…
Raising awareness in the world of work on the issue of menstrual health
The text of the law also calls for menstrual health to be taken into account in the world of work and wishes to train “employers, human resources, managers and occupational medicine to the issues surrounding menstruation, menstrual diseases ranging from very severe pain to endometriosis, pregnancy, miscarriage and menopause“.
He also supports the idea of adapting the work schedules of employees during menstruation, by facilitating access to telework or by removing the waiting days. “These adjustments should not be a source of discrimination but rather an adjustment of the world of work to the needs of half of humanity.“, details the plan.
Finally, the text of the law aims to raise awareness and educate the entire population about the issues of menstrual health. And this education must begin as early as possible, in primary school, with the distribution of menstrual health kits containing disposable protections, as well as explanatory materials.
Source :
- Bill for a real consideration of menstrual health, National Assembly, March 15, 2022
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