FLORIDAS BAN ON PERIOD TALK
Florida legislators met on March 13, 2023, to discuss a bill that would influence the future of the conversation about menstrual health. They are debating a bill that would prohibit students in grades 6 through 12 from participating in class discussions about menstruation, human sexuality, and related subjects. The House Education Quality Subcommittee approved the Republican-sponsored bill last Wednesday with a 13-5 vote that was largely along party lines. Republican Rep. Stan McClain was the bill's chief proponent.
The passage of this bill is extremely risky because it prevents those who need it most from learning crucial information about menstrual health and care. Imagine not being able to discuss your first period when it comes. Imagine getting your first period and being unable to seek assistance from your teacher or a guidance counselor because, once again, the law requires that they discuss this matter. When a young girl goes to the bathroom and sees blood for the first time without knowing what it is, imagine the horror and terror she might experience.
Girls as young as 8 years old can experience their first period. Menstrual health is a topic that is rarely discussed in homes or schools. By prohibiting this conversation, Florida is policing the voice of many young people. This law places a heavy burden on teachers, who run the risk of facing harsh penalties for discussing or responding to any inquiries about menstrual cycles.
Links to resources where you can learn more about this subject are provided below:
Florida residents can learn how to contact their house representatives by clicking the link below.: https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/contentViewer.aspx?Category=website&File=contact%20us.htm
The Significance of Dialogue in Menstrual Health by Rabia Husain, Communications Intern
High school was a very stressful time for me, as I’m sure it was for many of you too. One thing I’m really grateful for is that I got to share these trying times with a tight knit group of friends. Rain or shine, tears or laughs, all-nighters or absurdly early mornings, we were there for each other through it all. Nevertheless, I always felt lonely when it came to my menstrual health. I experienced extreme symptoms that would make me miss days of school. And when I was lucky (cue sarcasm), I would be at school when my period started.
This began a whole repetitive sequence of events each month of me having to explain to (mostly male) teachers how I was suddenly not feeling well when I was participating normally just a few minutes ago, walking across the whole outdoor campus in agonizing pain, and having to lay down in the school clinic until I felt better. My one motivator to push through was to get to the clinic for Ibuprofen (Advil) that my mother authorized I use only in the clinic when needed. I was a goody two shoes, I didn’t want to risk getting caught outside of the clinic taking medications by an administrator or teacher because it was against the rules. I couldn’t always call my parents to come pick me up because they were both at work from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. With some of the school day spent in the clinic bed without a heating pad, I mustered up the strength and courage to go back to class.
You see, I felt alone because I would have to pull myself together and I would be too embarrassed to talk about how uncomfortable I felt with those around me. I really thought people would downplay what I was going through. When everyone was in class, I was getting left behind. No one I knew of would go to the clinic as much as I did or even missed class as much as I did due to my health. I would feel like the weakest person ever. To speak in plain, layman’s terms, I would have bouts of nausea, excruciating cramps (that rendered it difficult to walk), pain-induced cold sweats, and period diarrhea. I know many of you may be thinking, Seriously, Rabia? That’s way too much information, excessive really.
However, I’m here to tell you it’s not inappropriate and it’s not too much. It’s absolutely alright to speak in a direct manner when it comes to your menstrual health. Frankly, it should be the most normal thing to talk about for it’s the life process that paved the way to the existence of every single being on this planet. To avoid talking about periods and to use euphemisms are dangerous, and it further solidifies the patriarchy that keeps us from opening up about it. Why did I spend a majority of this blog so far to tell you how I feel during my periods? Because it shouldn’t be embarrassing, because if you feel the same thing, you are not alone, and because it’s completely vital to talk like this in the name of progress for menstrual health.
Furthermore, I recognize that even though I have struggled, I still have a lot of resources to take care of myself with. I understand that many, many people go through the same thing or even worse situations; however, they seldom communicate about it. They’re conditioned not to speak of it because their elders barely utter a word of it. I’ve heard of numerous experiences where teachers and parents avoided telling their children about a period because it was too “unladylike” for them. My own mother found out about a period for the first time at her village’s girls school where her own teacher didn’t try to help her when she was bleeding through her uniform. She ended up sitting there bleeding the whole school day with her head down in her arms at her desk. When adolescents get their first period, many are unaware of what it is, thinking they’re dying or have some sort of blood cancer (George). Menstruators feel the need to hide their period rags in dark, damp spaces, like underneath their beds, because they’re ashamed and worried that they’ll get into some sort of trouble, when really this opens a whole gate to urinary and vaginal infections (Gupta). Many men either don’t know what a period is or think periods are signs of disease and sickness, which further isolates menstruators (Period. End of Sentence. 00:01:40-00:02:14). Some menstruators are even separated from their families and community during it (Gupta). Many face countless of unfair experiences from the general lack of knowledge and education about menstruation (Sanchez and Rodriguez).
In fact, a couple of years ago, I spoke to my newly-made friends in the Indian village my mother is from. The girls in the neighborhood told me that they struggled with going to the school bathroom since it was always guarded by some sorry excuse of a human who required that all girls pay their lunch money if they wanted to use it. They told me how their teachers didn’t do anything about it and were practically in on it. They barely had enough money for lunch that day, so they would decide to not go to the bathroom at all until they were home, but it was an even bigger obstacle when they had their period that week. In addition to this, if they didn’t have pads or sanitary napkins with them, they couldn’t make makeshift pads with toilet paper either (a lot of bathrooms in India only have a bidet or lota, a sort of pot with a spout to help pour water to clean the self with after using the restroom). A lot of girls even felt shy asking their friends or others for a pad.
Now, imagine menstruators going through the same dire symptoms as I did with these additional problems from cultural stigmatization. To hide what we go through averts people from knowing and understanding these issues, and permits people to continue believing centuries of myths and negative ideologies (Gunter). This extra veil prevents people from trying to find solutions. Solutions to figure out ways to encourage and act on empathy in regards to this issue, to make bathrooms more accessible to everyone, to make menstrual sanitary products more available to people, to stop misconceptions from brewing, to prohibit unnecessary infections and other serious health conditions, to come up with more inventions and clinical medications or treatments, and more for menstruators to live comfortable lives where they don’t have to miss school, work, or any other important day to day events.
On that note, I want to tell you that it’s wrong of society to silence and shame you. It isn’t wrong to talk about your body. I urge you to get a conversation going about menstrual health and to share your experiences more often. I promise you that a simple, honest dialogue goes a long way.
Works Cited
George, Rose. “Bad Blood: The Taboo on Talking About Periods Is Damaging Lives.” The Guardian, 2 Mar. 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/02/taboo-period-menstruation-damaging-lives-euphemisms Accessed 8 Oct. 2020
Gunter, Jen. “Why Can't We Talk About Periods?” TED: Ideas Worth Spreading, Dec. 2019, https://www.ted.com/talks/jen_gunter_why_can_t_we_talk_about_periods Accessed 8 Oct. 2020
Gupta, Aditi. “A Taboo-Free Way to Talk About Periods.” TED: Ideas Worth Spreading, May 2015, https://www.ted.com/talks/aditi_gupta_a_taboo_free_way_to_talk_about_periods Accessed 8 Oct. 2020
Period. End of Sentence. Directed by Rayka Zehtabchi, Netflix, 2018. Netflix, https://www.netflix.com/title/81074663 Accessed 8 Oct. 2020
Sanchez, Erica and Leah Rodriguez. “Period Poverty: Everything You Need to Know.” Global Citizen, 5 Feb. 2019, https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/period-poverty-everything-you-need-to-know/ Accessed 8 Oct. 2020
COVID-19 & Period Poverty: A Deeper Look by Miriam Admasu, Communications Intern
COVID-19 has impacted almost every realm of society. According to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook projections and data from World Bank’s PovcalNet, “Covid-19 is likely to cause the first increase in global poverty since 1998.” One of said implications of the pandemic would be the impact on accessibility of menstrual products for women and girls around the world. The new lifestyle and conditions brought by the pandemic has led to strains on people all over, which in turn has put more individuals into “period poverty.” Period poverty is the lack of access to feminine hygiene resources and education. This can encompass sanitary products, washing facilities, and waste management. In this particular case, the financial hardships brought by the pandemic has led to women and girls prioritizing other necessities, such as food, over their health. People are unable to afford such resources due to their rise in price as well as economic situations being affected by the pandemic. Additionally, the pandemic has affected production in many regions, meaning menstrual hygiene products are even harder to access than normal. The pandemic has also impacted the lifestyles of many around the world. Lockdown policies put in place have also affected store openings and public transportation, which are other obstacles.
Another large effect of the pandemic is the virus itself. Many public spaces are closed or unsafe to be exposed to, and regions where washing facilities are shared spaces are gravely affected because the ability to social distance and the cleanliness in these facilities cannot be assured to be safe for individuals.
These various implications of the pandemic have led to individuals resorting to risky alternatives for sanitary products, like newspapers, old socks or cloths. These alternatives pose a risk to the health of women and girls, and can be a gateway to getting infections and possibly other diseases. For many women, this is something that can’t be afforded. Another grave consequence of the pandemic is the decrease in sexual and reproductive health education. Sexual and reproductive health education is already an issue in regards to limited information dispersal, and now COVID has restricted how people can interact. Because of this there will need to be different means to help keep people informed about any information or answer any questions they may have. Cultural stigmas and traditional beliefs can also impact women and young girls in terms of sanitation and how communities treat those who are menstruating.
There are a multitude of organizations who are trying to alleviate the implications of the pandemic, from smaller regional groups like Sisters for Sisters’ Education in Nepal, to organizations working on a larger, global scale such as UNICEF and UNFPA. Some ways groups are taking action are by building or financially supporting feminine hygiene kits and promoting correct information to dismiss rumors associated with the pandemic and menstrual health. These efforts are greatly appreciated because access to sanitary products are essential and should be available to everyone at all times.
The shift brought by COVID-19 has exposed the many ways in which different countries are lacking in support for their citizens, particularly when it comes to health and well-being. Maybe this rise in period poverty will lead to the realization that feminine hygiene resources are a necessity and in turn motivate policies that will protect the rights of women and girls to have equal access to such resources.
References:
https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/covid-19-periods-in-pandemic-9-things-to-know
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/nepal-period-poverty-covid-19/
MIND YOUR MANNERISMS: SIGNS YOUR BODY & MIND NEED REST - AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
Are you feeling agitated? Lethargic? Trouble falling/staying asleep? Is your fuse shorter than a false lash?
Are you feeling agitated? Lethargic? Trouble falling/staying asleep? Is your fuse shorter than a false lash?
If you were reading that saying "YES, THAT IS ME ALL DAYYY!", don't worry, we are here to help you.
Our bodies are always giving us signs of when it needs more support; if we stay focused on everything around us, we sometimes miss those ques.
You hear a lot of people say, "our thoughts have power," and that statement has a lot of truth to it. The things we think about the most tend to take up most of our energy and often cause us to hyper fixate on problems rather than solutions.
Our mental health plays a HUGE role in our overall physical health.
You might be thinking, "well, it is all pretty overwhelming, and I am not sure where I need the most help." Guess what, did you know we live in a time where a helpful ear is only an app away!? Yes, you heard us right.
Some say diamonds are a girl's best friend, but we beg to differ. A good therapist will do more for you than 24 karats ever could.
Therapy is an excellent tool for pinpointing the areas of your life that need the most healing and balance. It can feel a bit nerve-wracking when you are on the search for a therapist, but there are places out there that make it easy to connect with someone who fits your needs.
Here is a list of online counseling sites to look into:
https://www.pridecounseling.com/
If you are looking for someone local to where you are, get in touch with your healthcare provider and have them recommend someone close by where you live.
While you are supporting your mind, don't forget to help your body by staying hydrated, eating well, and finding a way to keep active.
And most importantly, don't overdo it. It can be challenging, especially for those who are activists, to create boundaries when we feel like our help is needed. But remember, you cannot help others if you are not willing to help yourself first.
Stay blessed and move towards your dreams xx
Managing Racism’s effects on our body and our period.
As an organization run by Black women, it is hard for us to ignore what the current social climate is doing to our overall well-being, especially when talking about our periods.
From the news to social media to conversations with people around us, we cannot escape the stressors and triggers of being Black in America.
High-stress levels can have significant effects on our health, and when it comes to hormonal balance, it can throw things totally off track.
When our hormones are imbalanced, it can cause changes in our cycle that include; a heavier flow, late periods, missed periods and increased pain with menstruation.
We wanted to provide a few options that can help you manage your stress during these uncertain times and allow you to give yourself the love and care you deserve.
TRY BREATHWORK
If you aren't familiar with breathwork, there are many great resources out there that can help you learn.
Koya Webb is a teacher of meditation, breathwork, and yoga. We recommend following her Instagram page @koyawebb for tips on ways to center yourself and learn to be more mindful of what your body is communicating to you.
NOURISH YOUR BODY WITH THE RIGHT FOODS
When it comes to stress eating, easy and quick options seem to win out over anything. If you are already feeling overwhelmed, prepping a big meal seems daunting. But we understand the importance of what we put in our bodies and how it affects our overall energy levels and health.
If you are looking for healthy meal ideas that don't take a lot of time and effort, check out vegan chef Tabitha Brown. Her Instagram is full of natural and delicious recipes that you can do right at home.
Try her recipe for vegan steak, using portobello mushrooms by clicking here: Tabitha Brown Makes Vegan Steak!
SWITCH TO TOXIN-FREE SELF-CARE PRODUCTS
Many conventional beauty and personal care products contain certain ingredients that can be harmful to our health. Additives like; Synthetic Fragrance, Parabens, and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, can not only lead us to develop allergies and sensitivities but also can affect our hormones.
Luckily, we live in a day and age where more and more companies are dedicating themselves to providing healthier products for women. To find products that offer you and your body the support you need, check out shops like BLK + GRN who only partner with non-toxic brands.
We all need to treat ourselves more often, so why not do it with high-quality natural products, made by women just like you.
Follow them on Instagram @blkandgrn
And remember here at SHE we are here to support you through all of life’s ups and downs.
We will continue to provide you with information and resources to help you achieve your goals and live a full and healthy life.
Stay blessed and move towards your dreams.
COVID-19 Resource List NYC
Here at Sending Her Essentials Inc. we decided to create a resource list for individuals who have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 in the state of New York. We hope to expand this list and eventually provide more resources for other states. Remember to stay safe and stay home!
NYC FOOD PANTRIES/RESOURCES: COVID-19
MOTT HAVEN PANTRIES AND SOUP KITCHENS:
· Abraham House: 340 Willis Avenue
o Food Pantry: Saturday 6:30-7 a.m.
o Soup Kitchen: Saturday 5-6 p.m.
o (718) 292-9321
· Abundant Life Tabernacle: 2692 3rd Avenue
o Food Pantry: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
o (718) 292-8734
· Door of Salvation Ministries: 460 East 134th Street
o Food Pantry: Wednesday and Saturday 12-2 p.m.
o (718) 993-5532
· Missionaries of Charity: 344 East 146th Street
o Soup Kitchen: 9:30 a.m. brunch every day except Friday
· The Momentum Project: 226 East 144th Street
o Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Saturday/Sunday 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.
o (718) 292-7718
NY Common Pantry – Nourish (Senior Program): 423 East 138th Street
o Food Pantry: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm, and Wednesday, 8:00am – 5:00pm. *Must be 60-years-old or older, provide proof of NY address and meet financial eligibility guidelines.
o (917) 720-9700
· Path of Blessings: 506 Brook Avenue
o Food Pantry: Saturday 12-3 p.m.
o (718) 600-2401
· St Jerome’s Community Food Pantry: 330 East 138th Street
o Hours: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
o (718) 402-7866
· St. Luke’s Food Pantry: 623 East 138th Street
o Friday 10-11 a.m.
o (718) 665-6677
MELROSE PANTRIES AND SOUP KITCHENS:
· Boom! Health: 3144 3rd Avenue
o Food Pantry: call (718) 295-2666 for hours at location
· Cornerstone Assembly Church: 671 Prospect Avenue
o Hours: Wednesday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
o (718) 292-6780
· Give Them To Eat – Iglesia Evangelica Espanol: 800 East 156th Street
o Food Pantry: Thursday 2-4 p.m.
o Soup Kitchen: Friday 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
o (718) 993-1260
· Gospel Hill Baptist Church: 3265 3rd Avenue
o Food Pantry: Tuesdays 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
o (718) 585-6730
· Greater Universal Baptist Church: 253 East 153rd Street
o Soup Kitchen: Wednesdays and Fridays, 12-1:30 p.m.
o (718) 292-8640
· Immaculate Conception Church: 389 East 150th Street
o Pantry: Monday – Friday 2-5 p.m.
o (718) 292-6970
· New Zion Pilgrim Baptist Church: 1040 Washington Ave.
o Food Pantry: Friday 9:00am to 12:00pm. *Must call and register first.
o (718) 292-4165
· Salvation Army Bronx Citadel: 425 East 159th Street
o Food Pantry: Tuesday and Thursday 1-3 p.m.
o Soup Kitchen: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 1-2 p.m.
· St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church: 940 East 156th Street
o Soup Kitchen: Wednesday 6-7 p.m., Sunday 9:30-10 a.m.
o (718) 589-4430
· Transfiguration Lutheran Church: 763 Prospect Avenue
o Monday 2-4 p.m.
o (718) 378-3588
· Vineyard International Christian Ministries Food Pantry: 1140 Teller Avenue
o Saturday 12-4 p.m.
o (718) 542-7417
Coalition for the Homeless offices temporarily closed, but anyone experiencing a homelessness emergency can call (212) 776-2000 and leave a message, and someone will get back to them. The voicemail is being continuously monitored.
QUEENS – FREE MEALS DISTRIBUTED BY WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN AS OF 3/19/2020:
La Jornada, Bland Houses
40-25 College Point Blvd, Flushing: 12:30 PM
Office of Assembly Member Catalina Cruz
41-40 Junction Blvd, Corona: 12:00 PM
718-458-5367
Small business owners affected by COVID- visit nyc.gov/covid19biz or call 311 for info on grants and updates
Grab and Go breakfast/lunch available for any student at the entrance of every DOE school building from 7:30am-1:30pm
If your NYC public school student needs a device for remote learning, visit https://coronavirus.schools.nyc/RemoteLearningDevice
Starting March 23rd, NYC students can pick up 3 free meals daily from 7:30am-1:30pm M-F at 400 NYC sites: https://schools.nyc.gov/freemeals
Carolyn McLaughlin Community Center Food Pantry
Providing food pantry bags every other Saturday-next pantry date scheduled for 3/28/20 by appointment only and while supplies last. To schedule an appointment contact by email asepulveda@bronxworks.org or call 718-508-3169.
1130 Grand Concourse Bronx NY 10456
Contact: Email asepulveda@bronxworks.org or call 718-508-3169
Community Kitchen and Food Pantry in Harlem
Providing to go meals as well as take home pantry food bags. No eligibility required.
252 W 116th St
New York, NY 10026
Time: To-go meals available Monday – Friday
Take-home pantry bags available: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
Contact: 212- 665-9082
Mamajuana Café
3233 East Tremont Avenue
Bronx, New York 10461
Time: 11 am-1 pm and 4pm-8 pm.
Contact: 718-824-8400
Providing bagged lunches (including sandwich, fruit, and juice) as well as a dinner meal (offering varies) to children. Parents are being instructed to bring their child with them to pick up. Call 718-824-8400 with questions.
NYC Public Schools
All public schools are offering any student the option to pick up breakfast and lunch at any school building until further notice.
For locations visit https://www.nycenet.edu/schoolsearch
Updates on school grab and go meals visit https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/health-and-wellness/coronavirus-update
Time: 7:30 am-1:30 pm
Burger King Restaurants
Burger King Restaurants in the United States will start offering two free kid's meals for one adult meal. This will be available for orders placed through the restaurant's mobile app.
The Davidson Community Center
Bronx location where residents are now able to get free meals, like sealed bag lunches from Revolution Foods with a turkey and cheese sandwich, carrot sticks and an apple.
2038 Davidson Ave
Bronx, NY 10453
Time: Daily at 11:30am
Contact: 718-731-6360
The Beatstro Café and Lounge Beatstro Management
Bronx location where residents are now able to get free meals, like sealed bag lunches from Revolution Foods with a turkey and cheese sandwich, carrot sticks and an apple.
135 Alexander Ave, Bronx, NY 10454
Contact: 718-489-9397
Evelyn’s Kitchen
Providing free healthy meals to kids in New York City
2317 1st Avenue New York, New York 10035
Contact: 646-476-7906
Food Bank For New York City
Is closely monitoring the development of COVID-19 and taking proactive steps to provide food resources. Using the link below you can find nearby food pantries, soup kitchens, mobile pantry, mobile soup kitchens, and senior services. https://www.foodbanknyc.org/COVID-19
Senior residents and food
For seniors ages 60 years and older who have disabilities or access or functional needs, NYC Department for the Aging (DFTA) provides home-delivered meals . Call 311.
Amazon is currently accepting SNAP EBT in select states: IA, NY, OR, and WA
1.) Add your SNAP EBT card
2.) Shop Amazon groceries including Prime Pantry and AmazonFresh
3.) Enter your EBT Pin to pay
Spectrum
Free internet access for students (https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/coronavirus-internet-offer-students/) Or call 1-855-243-8892 to sign up
U-Haul
Free 30-day storage for students provided by U-Haul
(https://www.uhaul.com/Articles/About/20625/College-Students-U-Haul-Offers-30-Days-Free-Self-Storage-amid-Coronavirus-Outbreak/) Or call 1-800-GO-UHAUL