Emma Gonzalez Retweeted A Post By A Classmate Who Filled His Clear Backpack With Tampons
It’s an issue any person who has ever slinked off to the bathroom with their tampon jammed into their pockets can probably relate to: the period “problem.” The taboo surrounding periods is one that has long plagued the people who menstruate for centuries and one that Parkland student activist, Cameron Kasky is tacking on to his list of things (poor gun legistlation among them) to demolish.
This week, Cameron Kasky stuffed his backpack with tampons to protest a problem troubling his peers in the aftermath of the Parkland shooting.
#MSDStrong pic.twitter.com/kKn1saUDTC
— Cameron Kasky (@cameron_kasky) April 3, 2018
In the aftermath of the school shooting that terrorized their school in February, Parkland-based school officials are now requiring all students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to wear clear backpacks to ensur school safety. In response to the new policiy, Cameron Kasky, who co-founded March for Our Lives alongside fellow survivor Emma Gonzalez, and fellow students are pushing back for a policty that they say invades their privacy.
In a post to his personal Twitter account, the high school junior shared a picuture of himself with clear backpack loaded up with tampons.
Kasky posted the tweet in solidarity with students who use personal care products while also highlighting the major issue of the tampon tax.
To those with questions about my tampon backpack-
I only got lights. I didn’t know. Getting supers for tomorrow.
Sizes, pricing… I’m learning new things about women’s health right now. This stuff is expensive. Steps must be taken to make these health products easier to access
— Cameron Kasky (@cameron_kasky) April 3, 2018
Since news of the clear backpacks broke, Stoneman Douglas highschoolers have been quick to express their scorn for their school’s newest security measure on social media platforms. Many of the students have argued that the backpack are a flimsy attempt to make them feel safe and act as an invasion of privacy.
In a series of tweets, Kasky striked back at the new policy by highlighting how they can present issues for students coping with the stigmas of having periods. His tweets also worked to tackle an issue that all tampon and pad buyers know-well: this stuff is expensive. In one tweet, Kasky wrote of his new discovery of just how expensive matters like women’s health can be. “I’m learning new things about women’s health right now,” Kasky wrote in one tweet. “Steps must be taken to make these health products easier to access.”
Of course, there’s nothing knew about Kasky’s discovery that the costs of feminine hygiene products are supremely steep, but Kasky’s classmates and followers seem to be pretty pleased that the teenager is using his platform to spread feminist goodwill.
So far, women on Twitter have responsed to Kasky with all the YASSSSSes.
— sarah york (@thesarahyork) April 4, 2018
Delaney Tarr, a peer of Kasky’s highlighted the one plus side of the bags and their transparency.
The only positive about these backpacks is that maybe, hopefully, the stigma around periods will be removed. Also, that Cameron now knows how expensive tampons are.
— Delaney Tarr (@delaneytarr) April 3, 2018
And some are using his new learnings as an opportunity to teach him more.
Have you heard of the #tampontax? In some states menstrual products are taxed like luxury goods rather than as necessities?
— Aditi Juneja (@AditiJuneja3) April 4, 2018
Facts upon facts upon facts. Here’s hoping that while he changes gun legislation, Kasky helps us fight the pink tax.
For the most part, Twitter is just pretty proud the high schooler is showing an interest in feminist issues.
♥️♥️♥️ I am a career teacher (26 years so far!), and, while I don’t personally know you, you and your peers in Parkland and beyond are proving every day that decency, common sense, a desire for fairness, and compassion do still exist in this country. Thanks for this post. pic.twitter.com/uFzEGNDq2g
— Lynnetticca (@Lynnetticca) April 3, 2018
Because that’s how you change history, folks.
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