Many women and female-bodied people on campus are outraged by the decision to remove most of the tampon dispensers on campus. They feel this decision was made under patriarchal and capitalistic values, and perpetuates the subjugation of women and women’s bodies. The decision was made by Paul Smith, director of facilities services, due to an increased amount of damage and vandalism during this school year.
In an email, Smith said, “The decision was made after discussions not only with my management team but also the management team of Finance and Administration." Smith said he “talked about all sorts of scenarios - taking the change out daily, taking all of the dispensers away, just removing some, doing a combination.”
“The campus community should be consulted to think of alternative solutions to this problem, particularly those members of the community who utilize the products in these dispensers--women and female-bodied people,” said Laura Citrin, professor of Feminist Theory, Practice and Research, in response to who was consulted when Smith made his decision.
In addition to the break-ins, several dispensers had been graffitied, some of which was of a political nature. For example, one dispenser was painted with the phrase, “Tampons make you bleed more so you buy more.” When asked why the vandalism was occurring, Smith did not specify whether he had seen the political graffiti, and had no comment.
The decision to remove the dispensers has had little public criticism.
“I imagine that a lot of women on campus might find the decision to remove rather than replace dispensers to be objectionable,” says Citrin,. “It is possible that due to our culturally negative associations with menstruation, some who might otherwise speak out are remaining silent because they don't want people to think of them as a menstruating being.”
“Menstruation, while clearly a normal and healthy process, is still considered taboo and even disgusting--something girls and women learn (primarily through 'feminine protection' product advertisements) that they need to keep private, discrete, and secret,” said Citrin.
Citrin added, “One interesting psychological study on the menstruation taboo found that a woman who accidentally dropped a tampon from her purse was later evaluated by observers as less likeable, less attractive, and less competent. Keeping menstruation secret and private is a highly valued act, especially in the realm of normative femininity.”
“There has been a reaction,” says Erica Leshon of the Women’s Resource Center (WRC). It was pointed out by three women interviewed in the WRC that “public reactions” are usually gauged by the arguments over TESCCrier and TESCtalk.
“That forum is mostly used by men. Just because there hasn’t been talk over the Internet doesn’t mean there hasn’t been a reaction,” says Rachel Bennett, also of the WRC. She also noted that the people from the WRC and other women on campus have been discussing actions they can take to fight this decision.
“I have received 6 emails regarding this matter,” said Smith when asked what sort of reaction he’s received from the community. “These responses were for the most part queries regarding the decision and one of the overriding suggestions was to provide free products. One of the emails was a little tongue in cheek; one said the decision is wrong; one indicated that if it was something men needed a different decision would have been made; one stated that she was appalled at the damage but removing the dispensers was not in her vision of the Evergreen ethic; one was very upset and disagreed with the decision; and the last indicated that the free pads/tampons should be the answer.” Smith did not say if he had responded to any of the feedback, or if he had thought about the suggestions, which overwhelmingly supported free tampons.
It should be noted that in all of the options Smith mentioned considering, none of them question the dispenser system, requiring women to pay for each tampon. Upon specific inquiry, he did briefly mention the estimated cost of giving away free tampons, which, since it was never an option he discussed with other administrators, leaves the assumption that it would be too costly to fit into his budget. He did mention that the Women’s Resource Center gives away free tampons, but did not note how a small student group can stock the campus with free tampons, but the director of facilities services cannot fit it into his budget.
Bennett explained that most of the tampons they get at the WRC are by donation. The rest are paid for with fundraisers. No one in the WRC thought it would be a financial problem to provide free tampons for the campus. “Evergreen provides free sandwiches, salt packets, Advil and condoms. How are tampons any different?” she pointed out. “It’s a very sexist issue.” Other women in the Women’s Resource Center were also critical of this decision. “If someone vandalized a wall, they wouldn’t take the wall down,” said Melanie Estey.
“Tampons are a personal item and the dispensers are provided for emergency use,” said Smith.
“The toilet paper is free. The paper towels, too, are free. So is the soap. Any of these items could be construed of as private or personal, yet the college provides those,” said Citrin. “Perhaps one solution would be to keep dispensers in bathrooms but make the products--pads and tampons--free…Similarly, if the vending machines were vandalized, would they be removed or fixed? One needs to ask the question: if the products in these dispensers were used by everyone, not just women, would the solution so readily and easily be to remove the pesky dispensers themselves?”
If you need tampons, pads or other information specifically for women and female-bodied people, contact the Women’s Resource Center in Seminar 1, room 3131, or at 867-6162.
(Photos: A tampon dispenser with politically-themed graffiti; a table in the Women's Resource Center gives out free tampons, pads, and information on women's issues.)
