Throughout my experiences as a menstruator, I have realized that conversations surrounding periods often default to shame. The quiet whispers of “Psst!” to signal a friend for a tampon or the embarrassment of trying to discreetly crumple a pad while rushing down the hallway to the nearest bathroom was an all too familiar feeling growing up.
These moments revealed how deeply stigmatized menstruation is in my community. As a result, access to proper menstrual products and education is limited. This fact always troubled me because periods are an extremely important part of everyone’s lives. Without the menstrual cycle, human life would not exist.
At Chadwick, period products were provided for free by the school. But they were extremely uncomfortable and unpopular. In order to properly serve students’ needs, access to comfortable products was important.
As a sophomore, I was frustrated as to why a fundamental bodily function was treated as an afterthought on campus. In pursuit of change, I founded the Period Power Posse at Chadwick to advocate for improved menstrual product accessibility.
Members of the Posse include Dami Ogundimu ’25, Mia Cabrera ’26, Peyton Brantley ’26, Brooklyn Harris ’27, Gianna Jeon ’27, Lexi Kim ’27, and Erin Chen ’28. Together, we have dedicated ourselves to improving menstrual accessibility on campus.
Menstrual accessibility is way more important than most people realize. In 2016, New York piloted a program in which 25 public middle and high schools offered free period products. During the pilot program, the schools found that female student attendance increased by 2.4%. Proper access to period products isn’t just about obtaining products; it’s about improving students’ education.
The Period Power Posse also believes in making sustainability initiatives along with expanding accessibility. By investing in sustainable practices, institutions signal that equity is not a symbolic gesture but a long-term commitment, one that respects both the people it serves and the planet it depends on. Sustainability, in this sense, is not an add-on to justice work; it is what allows justice to endure.
Guided by this belief, members of the Posse and I created allyships with Director of Community Engagement Marielle Sallo, Assistant Director of the Upper School Patrick Wallace, Science Teacher and Sustainability Coordinator Tori Fay, Facilities Office Manager Kristen Lok, and former Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer Robert Horne to discuss viable ways to fund sustainable menstrual products in all bathrooms. We researched different companies, built cost models, and presented partnership options.
As we sat in a room full of adults openly discussing periods, we knew we were doing something bold and necessary as young women.
On Mar. 10, the first package of sustainable period products from the brand August were stocked on campus. Seeing those pads in the Roessler bathrooms for the first time was so special. None of this would have been possible without the members of the Posse and of the faculty who were involved in supporting us.
If you’ve made it this far into the article, please consider filling out our survey to share your feedback on the August products. Every day, our Posse continues to work toward improving menstrual accessibility on campus, and your input is essential in helping us better serve our community.
