Free menstrual products
Free menstrual products
Locations
There are three menstrual product dispensers in the ICBM. The equipped toilets are labelled with a sticker (picture on the right) on the door. Toilets with non-gender-specific access are shown in italics.
ICBM Oldenburg:
- W15 0-017 Women's WC ICBM, foyer
- W15 1- barrier-free WC ICBM
ICBM Wilhelmshaven:
- ICBM Wilhelmshaven women's WC
More donors can be found:
| Wechloy* | Haarentor |
|---|---|
|
|
* The women's and men's toilets on the ring level are currently being converted into single all-gender toilets. Each cubicle, which will then lead directly from the ring level, will be equipped with a dispenser for hygiene products.
"The donor in the toilet in the ICBM foyer saved me. Without the dispenser, I would have had to go home and cancel my event in the middle."
Student, anonymous
What do the donors have to do with educational justice?
Students who are menstruating and for whom the purchase of sanitary products every month is a financial burden may not want to leave the house during their period and therefore cannot attend university. Or if the period suddenly occurs during the visit to the university and the person concerned has no sanitary products with them, they have to go home. Anyone who does not have the opportunity to manage the natural process of menstruation in a hygienic and non-hazardous way does not have the same access to education as someone who is not menstruating. This does not correspond to our idea of equal opportunities. The university wants to counteract this injustice by providing free menstrual products.
Why not also razors, hair gel, combs, nail files and other toiletries?
In contrast to the need for other hygiene products, the need for menstrual hygiene products can arise unexpectedly and urgently. Dealing with menstruation without adequate menstrual products can be mentally stressful for those affected and may even be hazardous to their health. In case of doubt, the person may have to interrupt or even cancel their working or study day.
The aim of providing menstrual products is to create a safe and equal opportunity environment for menstruating women
Who looks after the donors and who can I contact if I have problems with them?
The dispensers are refilled by the cleaning staff. However, if there is a problem with the dispensers or you would like to give feedback, you can contact Katinka Hoppe.
Are the dispensers being used properly at all?
Yes, our experience with the donors so far shows that they are used very responsibly.
History of the donors
In January 2023, a team consisting of Dr Beate Grünberg, Dr Vita Solovjeva and Katinka Hoppe equipped two ladies' toilets on the ring level at the Wechloy campus with dispensers thanks to financing from the advisory board for the promotion of young female academics. Gender equality at School V has been funding the products from the School V gender equality budget since 2024.
As the students are very considerate and aware of what is on offer, five more dispensers were purchased from the planned budget for products: three for the ICBM and for the barrier-free toilet on the Ringebene in Wechloy. The toilet in the library area in Wechloy was also equipped. The provision of free menstrual products is now also included in the university's equality plan for the future and is to be implemented soon.