‘It’s Natural. Period.’

A Women’s Commons and Office of Sustainability Event

Asst. Feature Editor / Katie Foreman

It was that time of the month — a “Nothing Bundt Feminism” event all about periods and sustainability. Several students — including one male — attended the “Dinner and Dialogue on Period Equity” program held on April 19 at the Women’s Commons, in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability. The forum provided a space to ignite meaningful dialogue about an issue that affects about half of the world’s population over their lifespan: menstruation. 

Although menstruation impacts 1.8 billion people every month, it still tends to be a conversation that people push under the rug. At the USD event, topics included the stigma of periods, menstrual cups, colonization, sustainability and the environment, while allowing an honest conversation on a subject that makes some people a little uncomfortable.

USD first-year Devin Becker attended and shared what she learned.

“I definitely learned that I was not alone with period stigmas and stuff like that. I learned a lot about menstrual cups, which was actually really nice, because now I’m gonna get a free one,” Becker explained.

The feminist event even attracted one USD male identifying student, junior Kevin Gray, to attend. The information shared at the dinner get-together was eye opening for him.

“I didn’t know what to expect coming here — I don’t experience menstruation,” Gray said.   “Men don’t really talk about this stuff that much, so I really did not know much when it came to menstrual cycles or anything like that; I learned a bunch, and it was a great experience.”

Students agreed that the topic of menstruation should be talked about by all genders, regardless of whether one has a menstruation cycle. Even if you don’t menstruate, you know someone who does. 

USD first-year Shea Salamack shared how the conversation went. 

“We talked about normalizing [menstruation] with a lot of conversations, and how guys should also be part of the discussion,” Salamack said. 

“It shouldn’t just be something that’s in elementary education targeted toward just girls,” Salamack expressed.

The event itself allowed students to brainstorm phrases and messages that they have been told about having a period. Some of these included: “periods make you crazy” and “periods are something that we don’t talk about.” In discussion groups, students were able to talk about these stigmas and how they made them feel. 

“I think it was really about breaking the stigma,” Salamack said. “We talked about our first experience with periods and how it was something that was embarrassing and how the education around it at a young age should be changed, so that people don’t feel that way.” 

One of the hosts of the event, a USD first-year and the undergraduate Education Assistant for the Office of Sustainability, Chase Kendrena, shared how tampons and pads negatively impact the environment.  

At the event, students were told how in the span of 38 years, one person who menstruates will dispose of 8,000 to 17,000 tampons/menstrual products. This statistic demonstrated to students how wasteful the prevailing period products are. According to the event, the best solution to this problem: menstrual cups. 

Kendrena opened up a safe space for students to share their experiences and to help learn about these small, flexible funnel-shaped cups that are reusable feminine hygiene products. People use the cup, made of rubber or silicone, as an eco-friendly alternative to tampons. There are several benefits to using a menstrual cup, including its affordability, safety and environmental friendliness. Cost for a menstrual cup is generally between $25-$35 and can be purchased online or over the counter at drugstores.

“I think I really just wanted to have a collaborative space, where we are talking about this topic, because it’s something that I’m pretty passionate about,” Kendrena said. “I had high expectations that were met.”

As for the students who attended, their eyes were opened to how much waste they produce from menstruation cycles, as well as the fact that there is a sustainable solution. 

“Think about how much waste is produced after [using period products], if you’re not used to menstrual cups,”  Salamack said. “There’s just so much waste from [period products], and it’s hard to forget about it, but just talking about that and making people aware of that — I think is very important.”

One aspect of the event that stuck out to students was commentary surrounding  decolonizing periods. In Native and Indigenous cultures, periods were looked at as something sacred and beautiful — something to celebrate and admire. However, as Native and Indigenous cultures were colonized, the European views of menstruation became mainstream; this view looked at periods as something that makes people dirty and impure. Students discussed the importance of recognizing Native and Indigenous cultures, as well as reframing views of periods to also look at them as something natural and beautiful. 

“The more the European view of [periods] became mainstream as something that was dirty and very stigmatized, so I think that’s interesting,” Salamack said. “I also think it’s important to talk about just to see how Colonialism impacts all these different aspects of life.”

Though the event sparked meaningful conversation and answered guests’ probing questions, there are no additional meetings planned for now. But information about sustainable feminine hygiene flowed freely at the event, equipping people with valuable health resources.

“These types of events are open to everyone to come and discuss and if you don’t like it, that’s okay,” Kendrena said. “Come in, be open and educate yourself and really put that effort into being more aware. I feel like a lot of people are scared of topics like this, but just come in and be prepared to just listen and absorb information.”

The night was both educational and an opportunity for students to gather together and connect. The Women’s Commons and Office of Sustainability have more information about menstrual cups and decolonizing periods on their Instagram accounts @usdwomenscommons and @usdsustain.