Clemson: Why do I have to throw away my feminine products in front of every single person in the bathroom, and why is the door always propped wide open, meaning a passerby peeping in could probably see this as well?
I miss the days when bathroom doors were kept closed, and women had a designated place to dispose of their sanitary products. As for many restrooms on Clemson’s campus, bathroom doors are left open all the time for people in the hallway to hear and see everything going on.
Since the new renovations on campus, I thought that the lack of privacy, though not unique to Clemson’s bathrooms, may have been taken into account in the updates.
Despite this, these renovations yielded few updates to the women’s restrooms. In fact, in older buildings like the Academic Success Center, there are more amenities for women than in the updated bathrooms.
Maybe there was oversight and they forgot to install them in the new buildings, but these amenities definitely need to be present in women’s restrooms.
An “amenity” that I never thought would be stripped from the newest facilities is the sanitary disposal bins. In the new buildings, to throw away one’s feminine waste, you must do so in the trash cans near the sinks — in front of everyone.
The stigma associated with a woman’s menstrual cycle is already present in society. While efforts have been made to counteract this, it does not change the fact that this intentional lack of sanitary bins is a violation of personal dignity.
“Sanitary facilities must be clean, safe, and stocked with hygiene products so that women can manage their periods with dignity and comfort,” said Keloudabi Meza of Right for Education.
Not having a sanitary, private space on campus to manage this discomfort can also contribute to an unhealthy social pressure or fear of being seen disposing of such products. This pressure may discourage restroom use or could lead to unhealthy concealment behaviors like carrying used products around until a private opportunity arises.
Another concern I have regards the disposal of bloody products in this manner and the health risk that this may pose.
“The improper disposal of menstrual waste can have a direct impact on the health and well-being of individuals and communities. It can lead to the spread of infectious diseases and contribute to environmental pollution, which can have long-term health effects,” said Citron Hygiene.
A great resource that Clemson has available is the free feminine products that can be found in some of the Cooper Library restrooms. This resource is an extremely necessary recognition that menstruating students face challenges that non-menstruating peers do not. Removing the sanitary bins signals a disregard for these needs.
Despite not offering sanitary bins, what they do provide is pieces of patronizing pink plastic to wrap your bodily secretions in, like a scarlet letter. Overall, a lack of proper facilities in most, if not all, buildings undermines inclusivity and can make menstruating students feel marginalized.
Sophie St. James is a junior English major from Central, South Carolina. Sophie can be reached at [email protected].
