Introduction: The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021 in the Context of Menstrual Politics and History

Abstract

In January 2021, Scotland became the first country in the world to make universal access to free period products a legal right, an initiative which attracted extraordinary international attention as a “world first”. This introduction outlines from the perspective of the history of menstruation what is indeed new and ground-breaking about this law, and what merely continues traditional and widespread conceptions, policies and practices surrounding menstruation. On the basis of on analysis the parliamentary debates of the Act, we show that it gained broad political support by satisfying a combination of ten different political agendas: promoting gender equality for women while acknowledging broader gender diversity, practically alleviating one high-profile aspect of poverty at a relatively low overall cost to the state, tackling menstrual stigma, improving access to education, working with grassroots campaigners, improving public health, and accommodating sustainability concerns, as well as the desire to pass world-leading legislation in itself. We in each case show to what extent the particular political aim is typical of, or else departs from, recent wider trajectories in the history and politics of menstruation, and, where pertinent, trajectories in Scottish political history. The ten agendas in their international context provide a kaleidoscopic insight into the current state of menstrual politics and history in Scotland and beyond. This introduction also situates this Special Collection as a whole in relation to the field of Critical Menstruation Studies and provides background information about the legislative process and key terminology in Scottish politics and in the history of menstruation.

Periods and the Menstrualscape: Menstrual Products and Menstrual Manifestations in Scotland, 1870–2020

“…Scotland is experiencing another such moment with its Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021. The Introduction (Bildhauer, Røstvik and Vostral, 2022) to this edited collection provides an analysis of the contemporary advocates who promoted the bill, the politicians who helped enact it, and addresses current issues regarding socioeconomic concerns and gender equity; these topics will therefore not be repeated here. This article's focus on the application of the menstrualscape model to Scotland's history aims to enhance understandings of why there was fertile ground for the bill, and to locate 'things menstrual' that contributed to the long historical arc and overall culture in which the law is situated.…”

“…Technoscience: Technoscientific products evolved from Southalls' Towels to 'pantie with a plus'. Currently, many menstruators have accepted new technologies such as menstrual cups, and distribution systems, through schools and food pantries, provided these items before the bill was considered (see Bildhauer, Røstvik and Vostral, 2022).…”

“…The recent passage of the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021 for access to menstrual products in public accommodations and other venues in Scotland is a welcome development. Menstruation has become a national topic of conversation, and menstrual products, including the technologies of tampons, menstrual cups, and reusable pads and panties, are now part of the official record (Bildhauer, Røstvik, and Vostral, 2022). This national legislation for free products, deliberately made public, represents a stunning shift from veiled euphemisms of the past.…”

Access to Menstrual Resources as a Public Health Issue in the US and Scotland

“…Countries across the globe that have incorporated menstruation into policy have cleared a path for those that have not yet done so. In relation to Scotland specifically, some of the policy initiatives inspired by the success of the passage of the Period Products Act are discussed in the introduction to this Special Collection (Bildhauer et al, 2022).…”

“…In 2021, Scotland distinguished itself by passing a Bill to ensure free access to menstrual products for all menstruators in Scotland (The Scottish Parliament and Parlamaid Na H-Alba, 2021). For a more in-depth discussion of the implications of this Bill, please refer to the introduction of this Special Collection (Bildhauer, Røstvik and Vostral, 2022).…”