Małgorzata Szostak, associated with Szymon Hołownia’s Kraków circle, launched a campaign against what she terms menstrual exclusion, focusing on the basic barrier of affordability for sanitary napkins, which can cost as little as 20 groszy per item. The movement began with a press conference and is expected to expand into a broader mix of pamphlets, video spots, and public events as the campaign unfolds.
PiS responsible for menstrual pain?
A report prepared three years ago for Dominika Kulczyk, the daughter of a Polish business figure, claims too little attention is given to the menstruation of people who menstruate. It calls for discussions of menstruation to enter public life via television, pop culture, magazines, schools, and other channels. The authors argue that the current political climate hinders open dialogue about menstruation. The suggestion is that political leadership is part of the problem and could be part of the solution if changes occur in governance, making it easier to address the realities of the menstrual cycle in public life.
The report even notes a symbolic moment: a mother and daughter celebrating their first onset of menstruation.
Who stands to gain financially?
The text anticipates a social campaign that brings the topic of menstruation into public discourse and potentially generates profit for some players. It envisions installing vending machines dispensing free sanitary pads or tampons for those who menstruate in public spaces, including schools. The underlying idea is that someone pays for these products through public funds, with the state budget purchasing thousands of machines and large quantities of napkins from suppliers who stand to profit from the arrangement. Activists, performers, and experts would then elaborate on the challenges and the needs surrounding menstruation as part of the broader narrative.
There is recognition that men can have a voice on this issue as well. Norbert Góra, a social advocate, serves on the board of the association Akcja Menstruacja, and his involvement is cited as an example of male participation. The discussion implies that broad involvement is appropriate, with public consent and participation as central elements, since these policies would be funded by taxpayers and involve collective decision-making through voting.
Even sanitary towels are politicized
In early 2020, the Kulczyk Foundation was among the first in Poland to elevate the discussion of menstruation in public life. Editorial rooms and opinion leaders received a symbolic red cloth and a message about fighting menstrual exclusion. While the initial excitement around the campaign cooled due to the pandemic and the war, recent weeks have seen renewed attention from Dominika Kulczyk’s team, with figures such as Henryka Bochniarz and PO member Marzena Okła-Drewnowicz lending their voices. A press conference in the Sejm brought the issue into focus, highlighting the reality that some young people restrict their movements during menstruation due to a lack of access to hygiene products, framing sanitary napkins as a social right rather than a luxury. This perspective was reported by media outlets at the time.
Critics note that the claim of sanitary napkins being a luxury is an exaggeration, suggesting that presenting basic hygiene products as a luxury risks distorting the public debate with emotional appeals and sensational narratives.
The rhetoric around menstrual exclusion is described as comprising three elements that are seen as fueling social prestige: terminology that centers on the concept of a menstruating person rather than a woman, public procurement and funding decisions, and political campaigns led by groups including PO and Polska 2050 to raise profiles for the Kulczyk Foundation. The portrayal suggests that ordinary women may be sidelined in these debates as the focus shifts to symbolic and institutional actions.
Source attribution: wPolityce