Period equity is uninhibited access to menstrual products (e.g., pads, tampons, etc.), sanitation facilities, and educational materials. Period equity is rooted in the idea that the same rights and resources should be accessible to individuals when experiencing menstruation versus any other bodily function.

Period poverty is the inability to access menstrual products (e.g., pads, tampons, etc.), sanitation facilities, and educational materials due to financial limitations.

The McMaster Period Equity Project is a collaboration between several groups who were developing period equity projects for their areas. These include, but are not limited to, McMaster Golden Z, Residences, Student Wellness Centre, and the campus libraries. Each of the locations were chosen with all of these collaborators contributing to discussions.

With support from the McMaster Students Union (MSU) and funding from MSU and the McMaster Student Life Enhancement Fund, the McMaster Golden Z Club was tasked with providing free menstrual product access in MUSC. They joined our steering committee and we maintained that that commitment should be honoured and all MUSC washrooms would all be included within this project.

As this is a pilot project, the committee had to make selective and strategic choices for the locations. This included discussions with facility services who provided the committee with information on the busiest washrooms across campus. Using a public survey the committee was able to prioritize the final pilot locations choices.

A pilot project consists of a small population of buildings. Housing and Conference Services chose the buildings based on population. These buildings are part of a feasibility study to determine the ongoing needs for a period equity initiative, and how to grow the infrastructure to include additional buildings.

The project is currently in a pilot stage, this means that the goal of the project is to assess the need for this service on campus and to advocate for the viability of period equity at McMaster. The project is currently a small-scale initiative, as we collect information and feedback about the use of this service on campus, we hope to expand the project to further locations, including more residence buildings, in the Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 terms.

While we have staff and volunteers working hard to keep the dispensers full, there may be times when we are unable to refill the dispensers as quickly as they are being used. Please let us know when a dispenser is empty so we can refill it as soon as possible.

Each dispenser has a location identification number on it to assist with location identification but you can also use the physical room number if needed. Please visit the “Refill Request” tab to learn how to submit a refill request for each location.

You can get involved with the pilot project through contacting / volunteering one of the clubs or campus supports that are already involved in the Period Equity Project. Please find below contact information for these groups.

McMaster Okanagan Office of Health & Well-being

If you would like to learn more about this project or volunteer for the McMaster Okanagan Office of Health & Well-being please send a email to okanagan@mcmaster.ca.

McMaster Golden Z

McMaster Golden Z aims to empower women and to fight for gender equality by promoting career exploration, helping members develop leadership skills, and encouraging members to participate in the community. To contact McMaster Golden Z, please send them an email at goldz@mcmaster.ca. You can also learn more on their Facebook page or Instagram: @macgoldenz.