Advocating for funding for the “Learn with Dignity Act”

Public Act 100-0163

What is the “Learn with Dignity Act”?

Effective January 1st, 2018, this act requires that all school districts within the state of Illinois
“shall make feminine hygiene products available at no cost to students, in the bathrooms of
school buildings” (Learn with Dignity Act, 2018). The act establishes that access to menstrual
products constitutes a health care necessity and that it is not an item that can be “foregone or
substituted easily”.

What are “Menstrual Products” and Why are They Important in Bathrooms?
This act is an important step in normalizing the process of menstruation and recognizing
menstrual products as bathroom necessities. In this act, “menstrual products” are referencing
both tampons and pads. Additionally, it is important that these products are rightfully placed in
bathrooms to limit the various barriers to access that these products often have when placed
elsewhere. When placed in locations like a nurse’s office, or with a teacher, students are less
likely to use that resource as it is often more stigmatized and causes unnecessary difficulties. The
students are using these products in the bathrooms, therefore they should be placed in the
bathrooms. While some have argued previously that these products will be misused, stolen, or
neglected, when placed in bathrooms, the same argument could be made about other bathroom
necessities. However, it is unethical to deprive students of those materials like toilet paper and
paper towels, and depriving students of menstrual products requires the same sentiment.

Why is this “The Learn with Dignity Act” important?

According to an article published by Medical News Today, and reviewed by Dr. Valinda Riggins
Nwadike, “there are an estimated 16.9 million people who menstruate living in poverty in the
United States”. Additionally, “research found that almost two-thirds of women in the U.S. with a
low income could not afford menstrual products in the last year, while nearly half sometimes had
to choose between buying food or menstrual products” (Geng & Nwadike, 2021). The “Learn
with Dignity Act” is actively working to combat period poverty in the state of Illinois,
recognizing that “when students do not have access to affordable feminine hygiene products,
they may miss multiple days of school every month. When students have access to quality
feminine products, they are able to continue their daily lives with minimal interruption” (Learn
with Dignity Act, 2018).

Why am I Advocating for This Legislation to be Funded by the State?

An article published by Welfare.org, states that “enrolled in school in Illinois have a poverty rate
of 19%. The Poverty Rate of Illinois residents is enrolled in school is slightly lower than the
national average of 20.1%. This translates to 608,402 Illinoisans enrolled in school living below
the poverty line within the past year”. Additionally, a study shared by NBC Chicago states that
“70 percent of urban public school students in Illinois in poverty”. While these statistics don’t
account for the specific number of students that would require access to menstrual products, it
still presents significant numbers of students who live in poverty. The students that require these
products the most are within the school districts that are underfunded and also in poverty. That
same study showed that “37% of suburban and 31% of rural students came from low-income
families” in comparison to the 70% in urban areas. In order for this legislation to be most
effective in improving access and limiting barriers to education, the state must provide funding.
Without monetary support, this act is a spineless approach to addressing period poverty. While it
will require significant funding from the state, it will support that acts understanding that
menstrual product are a bathroom necessity and should be implemented as such.

Works Cited

- Geng, C. (2021, September 16). What to know about period poverty. Medical News
Today. Retrieved from
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/period-poverty#statistics.
- NBC Chicago. (2013, October 18). Study says 70 percent of urban public school students
in Illinois in poverty. NBC Chicago. Retrieved from
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/study-70-of-urban-public-school-students-in-i
llinois-in-poverty/1965710/.
- Poverty in Illinois. Illinois Poverty Rate. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.welfareinfo.org/poverty-rate/illinois/.
- The Learn with Dignity Act, Public Act 100-0163 2018,
https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=100-0163

**While I attempted to replace as many gendered terms regarding menstrual products and
menstruation, I couldn’t alter direct quotes from studies or legislation. However, it is important
to recognize that not all women menstruate, and not all menstruators are women.**