“Let’s talk about periods. Uncomfortable right? He wants to talk about period panties, tampons and pads and the related queasiness that all people feel when they hear such a word. Well snap out of it. Nearly every woman that you meet will have a period for a huge part of her life so it’s important to understand and discuss what periods are.
Periods came to the fore when that “guy, yes this guy’, The former Castries South East MP, Former Deputy Prime Minister and current Deputy Leader for the UWP made dismissive and demeaning remarks about the applaudable move by the Philip J Pierre administration to combat period poverty. A rising scourge and blight on young girls and women were rightfully addressed yet it was picked apart in a manner unbecoming of a man who had held positions where he should be aware of how welcoming such a proposal was. To say nothing of the women candidates who stood behind him and still haven’t found a tiny bit of courage to critique and dismantle the foot in mouth syndrome that overtook their fellow party member on that forgetful Sunday.
Now are we naive to think that government social policies are done solely for the idea of social innovation and equity without the idea of what voters may think and do with such a proposal? However, a smart cynical politician would have utilized a more cunning ploy and turned the situation to their advantage. But alas we have seen how few and far the term smart can be used to address those who aspire to seat in the Lower House
A more calculated approach would have been to examine the impact that periods have on women, the physical and mental anguish they suffer during their ‘time of the month’ and the alarming loss of productivity that supervisors report due to periods is alarming (Schoep et al., 2019). Menstrual pain is still taboo in many circles as (Gordon, 2019) reported on the BBC newsite. Even among women. The time to change the taboo could have been then sir!
Here’s how a purposeful response to the two hundred- and fifty-thousand-dollar proposal should have gone. First, shockingly support it. I know. Odd right? Then announce that a UWP government would double the subsidy in the first year in office. Then, here’s the kicker. Announce that your government will pass menstrual sick leave. What’s that? That if a woman can illustrate , via her doctor, that her period is debilitating enough to prevent her from carrying out her work duties she would be entitled up to 5 days sick leave a month. Or since politicians like to pretend to be fiscally responsible everywhere else except when elected, make it 20 days a year that has the potential to rollover if left unused. There is also the consideration of work flexibility, work from home on the days women are unable to fulfill their duties.
Wrapped in this cynicism is of course logical and potentially progressive policy for governments in this stage of the society we now live in. Too often women candidates tiptoe over women’s issues and are often at the whim and fancy of their male counterparts to either propose the policies themselves or speak out when their male colleagues are quiet.
Moreover, it is time we demand substance on political platforms rather than whatever passed by as substance off the podium. Now should be the time to address things like the ‘pink tax’ where women’s products appear to attract an added price increase as opposed to that of men- it is time to speak up now rather than remain silent.