PINK BOX AT THE UW
The University of Warsaw has joined the social campaign Pink Box.
This is a campaign to place boxes of sanitary pads and tampons in women’s toilets. They serve as an additional support for people who do not happen to have personal hygiene products with them. The Pink Boxes aim to make it easier for female students, postgraduates and employees to function at the university and take care of their mental comfort. They also provide support for the less well-off, for whom the purchase of personal hygiene products is a significant expense.
The UW’s involvement in this campaign is a signal to the academic community and beyond that the university cares about the wellbeing and welfare of those who study and work here.
The aim of the campaign is to combat menstrual taboos and exclusion.
What is menstrual poverty?
This is a topic that is still too rarely addressed. According to the most common definition, it refers to limited access to hygiene products for menstruating people. The problem can be permanent or temporary.
It affects menstruating people who, for various reasons, find themselves in a difficult financial situation, including:
- people from dysfunctional families/relationships;
- young people in conflict with their parents/guardians;
- people who have lost their jobs;
- divorced persons, often raising children on their own.
Temporary or permanent financial problems result in difficult access to sanitary pads/tampons. This, unfortunately, often results in having to make difficult choices: what to buy – hygiene products or food?
In Poland, nearly 500 000 people cannot afford to buy sanitary pads or tampons.
At many faculties (list below), in the University Library, dormitories and student government buildings, you can already find Pink Boxes, in bathrooms marked with a sticker.
The Pink Boxes at the UW are also on social media – we recommend the hashtags #zawszepodręką #dlamniedlaciebie #rozowaskrzyneczkaUW oraz #athand #4me4you #pinkboxUW
The Pink Box is a social campaign – it is based on mutual support.
We encourage:
- to use when you need to
- and share personal hygiene products when you have the opportunity, adding them to the boxes.
Where can you find the Pink Boxes?
A list of all Pink Boxes at the University of Warsaw is available here.
Do you want to join the Pink Box campaign?
Want a Pink Box of free menstrual products at your department/unit? Order it through the manufacturer’s store, PPUH SUPRON: https://sklep.supron.pl/. https://sklep.supron.pl/.
After receiving the box, write to zuzanna.kaszuba@adm.uw.edu.pl to receive stickers and ro add the location to the UW map.