– It’s a bit embarrassing if people find out, so it’s best to try to hide it. This is what eighth-grader Kamilla Ryssdal says about having her period. She says that they try to hide pads and tampons on the way to the toilet when they have their periods at school. In Vestland, Nordland and Trøndelag county council, as well as at some schools in Viken, all secondary school pupils receive free pads and tampons in the toilet at the school. Now pupils in the secondary school will also have pads and tampons available in the school toilet. – Instead of reaching into the bag and getting questions from others in the class about what you are going to do, it would have been easier to just have it in the toilet, says Tuva Sægrov Øygard. Have you hidden the pad or tampon on the way to the toilet? Yes No Not myself, but I know someone who has done it Show result Don’t want others to know you have your period A survey carried out by CARE Norway from 2021 shows that young people find it uncomfortable to share with others that they have had their period. Eighth graders think it can be embarrassing to talk about periods. Malin Edvardsen Klokset says that it is not something they talk about on a daily basis, neither with friends nor with others. – I don’t shout out that I have my period, she says. In some counties, primary school pupils receive free pads and tampons in the toilet. Photo: Mairi Macdonald / news Fear of sanitary napkins on the wall and tampons in the milk The teachers at Gloppen junior high school believe that it could potentially present new challenges if sanitary napkins and tampons are made available in the toilets at schools. – We imagine that it could get a bit chaotic at times. After all, we have both a mature and an immature student body, so we would probably have quickly had pads on the walls and tampons dipped in milk, believes teacher and student council contact Maria Kayser. At the same time, she imagines that it would have been a good arrangement for the girls at school. The junior high school teacher says that if needed, the students at the junior high school can get pads and tampons at the reception. Must stop hiding periods From August this year, Scotland is the first country in the world to make pads and tampons free for everyone. The Ministry of Health and Care wrote in an email to news that “there are no plans to introduce free pads and tampons in Norway now”. Author of the book “Alt om mensen”, Silje Sirnes Winje, believes that visible and accessible menstrual products will help break down the taboo young people feel about having their periods. Author and journalist Silje Sirnes Winje believes that available pads and tampons will break the taboo around menstruation. Photo: Even Aarebrot / Cappelen Damm – It should be available at children’s schools too, because a good number of girls get their period at the children’s school. If it becomes more accessible and visible, it will make men less embarrassed. Then it’s so normal – it’s there. In addition, Winje points out that one must make the period a natural part of everyday conversation for both adults and children. – Grown ladies must also stop hiding pads on the way to the toilet, or come up with an excuse when you have to go to work and have your period. In addition to the fact that visible pads and tampons can break the taboo around having your period, as Wirnes points out, the students at Gloppen junior high school believe that it would make everyday life with your period easier. – Then I can just ask to go to the bathroom, without anyone knowing that I have my period. So don’t let me be so embarrassed.
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Junior high school students hire to hide their periods – news Vestland
