Because of ongoing stigma, menstrual supplies are treated like a commodity in society, as they are things to be bought and sold—even though they are more akin to medical devices. Menstrual supplies are essential, not something that once can choose to use or not. Gendered power relations shape what toilets look like, but also how men have their needs met, but not women.
There has been a recent wave of change in restrooms across North America, where barrier-free dispensers are being installed in female-identified toilets. While this change is important, it also highlights the importance of an intersectional lens, one that understands the ways identity is complex and includes gender, race, class and gender identity, when pushing for menstrual equity.
