DominikaKouassi

Mrs. Ty Nared stands next to the first Aunt Flow dispenser delivered to Marian. Aunt Flow has been installed into every single Marian restroom. Photo courtesy of Nared.

Period poverty has had a significant impact on young girls as access to products has become more difficult. Marian, though having machines for tampons and pads, lacked sufficient accessibility as girls had to pay to get them. 

These products have always been available through the front office, Student Services and some teachers’ classrooms, however not all students were comfortable asking. 

Belonging, Diversity and Inclusion Director Mrs. Ty Nared saw this issue and decided it was time for a change. Through a financial grant secured by Nared, the maintenance crew installed Aunt Flow dispensers into every bathroom on campus on Sept. 23. 

Nared’s motivation for installing Aunt Flow began in the summer. “Lozier invited all faculty and staff from all the girls Catholic high schools to see this viewing of Periodical [a movie].”

However, despite being engaged by this movie, Nared’s final deciding factor was the lack of accessibility to period products at Marian.

“What really motivated me to do something about not having dispensaries in our bathrooms was asking [administration] ‘If a girl gets her period where she can go to get a pad?’”

Though Marian does have places for students to get period products, some may create awkward situations for students who are not comfortable.

“They mentioned students can go to Student Services or Mrs. Brewster in the office, but to me that creates a barrier to access. It’s already hard enough to have to leave the restroom once you find out that you have started your period,” Nared said.

Promptly after this conversation she was certain that there needed to be a change. “I did a lot of research, and I found Aunt Flow, which is women-owned. They use all organic products which I think is very important for our bodies,” Nared said. Aunt Flow is a for profit company founded in 2021 that advocates for period equity.

With this installment in the restrooms it is important to treat this free resource with respect.

“It’s a free resource provided to all of our students and we wouldn’t want to tarnish this opportunity for all students because of the misuse of these dispensers… if you don’t need them [period products] and you’re just pushing the dispensers to see the products come out, you’re doing a disservice to your peers that may need this resource,” Nared said.

As the stigmatization of periods decreases every day, period equity should increase with the help of community engagement and awareness.