Distributors of menstrual protection have been installed on various university campuses. The aim is to combat menstrual insecurity, which affects nearly one in three students* in France.
Installation in locations open to all
A project voted for by the student community during the first student participatory budget in 2022, the deployment of sanitary protection dispensers began in early 2023. The university has identified high-traffic locations on all campuses, open to all and offering long opening hours, to host these dispensers. In particular, university libraries were among the easiest places to access during the day and evening.
Vending machine locations :
- 2 vending machines in BU Pierre Sineux on Campus 1, in BU 331 and BU 616, 1 at the Maison de l’étudiant in Caen, in addition to a vending machine already present at the SSE, Student Health Service;
- 1 in BU Rosalind Franklin on campus 2 in BS 003 ;
- 1 in the BU of the IUT Grand Ouest Normandie on campus 3, in I1-111 ;
- 1 at IAE, campus 4, in IA 119 ;
- 2 in BU Madeleine Brés at PFRS on campus 5, under PS1 002 and PS0-145 B ;
- 1 in BU Gaston-Milaret at INSPÉ, in ER 041 ;
- 1 in Alençon, BU Olympe de Gouges, B1 018;
- 1 in Cherbourg at BU Blanche-Maupas, BM 016;
- In Saint-Lô, 1 in the BU de l’INSPÉ in B-114 and 1 in the BU de l’IUT Grand Ouest Normandie in S0 S03;
- 1 in the BU of the IUT Grand Ouest Normandie on the Vire site, in HSE 006 ;
- 1 in the BU at the IUT Grand Ouest Normandie campus in Lisieux, in B002.
Dispenser contents
- Normal flow towels ;
- Super flow pads ;
- 100% organic cotton tampons with applicator;
- 100% organic cotton pads without applicator.
These products are all biodegradable and made from plant-based materials, in order to reconcile the fight against menstrual precariousness with respect for the environment.
Follow the progress of the 2021 – 2022 participatory student budget
Menstrual precariousness, a problem highlighted by the health crisis
Menstrual precariousness, i.e. the difficulty or lack of access to sanitary protection for financial reasons, is an issue affecting a large number of students. Long a taboo subject, it has emerged in the public debate thanks to associations. It has been particularly highlighted in recent years by the health crisis and the global issue of student insecurity. Inflation has made the phenomenon worse.
In addition to the health aspects, access to sanitary protection is a question of dignity, solidarity and equal opportunity, as menstrual insecurity has a direct impact on the success of female students.
This installation accompanies the national initiative launched by the MESR (Ministry of Higher Education and Research) to install dispensers in Crous student residences. Other actions may be added to these installations to meet the needs of the student community.
*This figure is based on a survey conducted in February 2021 by the Fage – Fédération des associations générales étudiantes, the ANESF – Association nationale des étudiants sages-femmes, and the Afep – Association fédérative des étudiants picto-charentais.
