Before you read this, take a look: Menstrual Equity at Waterloo
Apart from the bit about free tampons in the women’s washrooms, my wife thinks this is just bat shit crazy. I disagree. I’ve already reported on the number of my students who hadn’t heard of the Holocaust. So I’m sure an equal number have no idea why they’re bleeding from ‘down there’ for a few days once a month. Clearly, then, menstruation education is as important for university students as – perhaps more so than – anti-racism and sexual assault training.
And I agree that putting free tampon dispensers in every men’s washroom on campus is long overdue. No doubt some transphobic good ol’ boy – or maybe he’s just as-yet menstruation-uneducated – will take to sporting them as dreadlock extensions. But all good things have these anticipated but unintended consequences.
My only complaint is that campus washrooms still aren’t supplied with free deodorant and acne treatment, both of which strike me at least as urgent as tampons. Or maybe we should just add mandatory BO and zit-sensitivity training to frosh week, just as long as it includes being especially sensitive to the intersection of being trans, having BO, and having zits.
As I say, my wife thinks this is bat shit crazy, as distinct from merely crazy. She thinks she can draw the distinction. I’ve asked her what it is. She says she’ll get back to me. If she ever does, I’ll let you know.
Categories: Everything You Wanted to Know About What's Going On in the World But Were Afraid to Ask, Social and Political Philosophy, Why My Colleagues Are Idiots
Paulosophical Vimplications 
Re: the links in Viminitz’ post (that lead to straight-faced issues concerning BO and acne): Why not supply free dental products, gum, and mints in bathrooms as well? Heck, just claw hygiene kits into tuition and hand them out at the beginning of term. And stop with the ridiculous “intersections/-isms” rhetoric.
“Objective: To comprehensively describe the psychological and social impacts of genuine and delusional halitosis. Methodology: Internet articles on psychological and social implications of halitosis were accessed and subsequently analysed. Results: This review showed that halitosis has a negative effect on interpersonal relationships and quality of life. Friendships, dating, romance, marriage, schooling and employment are adversely affected. The other social aspect of halitosis is that sufferers have to depend mostly on another person like a family member, friend, doctor, dentist, or a complete stranger to inform them about it. Poor academic performance, poor self-image, low self esteem, decreased self confidence, social phobia, loneliness, depression and suicidal intents were the documented consequences in patients living with halitosis. Conclusion: Halitosis is a cause of a significant social and psychological handicap thus the need for appropriate, effective and efficient evaluation and treatment by the relevant healthcare professionals. Keywords: Psychological, social, impact, halitosis”
Azodo, C.C., et al. “Psychological and social impacts of halitosis: a review.” Journal of Social and Psychological Sciences, vol. 3, no. 1, Jan. 2010, pp. 74+. Gale OneFile: Health and Medicine, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A229543169/HRCA?u=anon~c3667c1b&sid=googleScholar&xid=fa56c731. Accessed 31 May 2023.
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BO, acne, and halitosis don’t have political clout. Periods do.
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BO and halitosis may not have political clout. But boy howdy do they have clout nonetheless!
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