Credit: Coast Daily Newsletter Poll

Last week, we reported that since Nova Scotia has the highest poverty rate in the country, it makes perfect sense that it’s also the province where people have the most difficulty being able to afford period products like tampons and pads.

That’s why a local advocacy group called The Period Purse is launching a national campaign to bring awareness to the issue of period poverty in the Maritimes.

So, we asked you a simple question: if men got their periods, would tampons, pads, cups—all period products— be free?

I was expecting some more controversy on this one, but you guys were pretty clear. There were a few that voted no, which is best summed up by one reader who said—and I quote—”What idiot voted the other way?”

You also had some other great ideas about the advantages men would get if things were reversed that made this editor LOL. You guys are truly the best.

Here are some of our favourite responses

“If men got period cramps they’d put Aleve in the drinking water like fluoride.”

“As with most medical and physical issues, until recently studies were only done on men. If it’s a women’s issue, it gets a much lower priority. If it’s a men’s issue, the likelihood is a much larger amount of money will be thrown at it until a cure or safe way to manage the issue is found. Period products is one of these issues. Endometriosis is one of these issues. Cancers that affect mostly women are included in the issues.”

“I totally agree! And if they did have period pain, it definitely wouldn’t be considered “just in your head”!!!!!!”

“They would declare it a national holiday.”

“And there would be mandatory Hysterectomy’s after childbearing so they wouldn’t have to endure that incredible pain any longer‼️😉”

“And, after their periods all sync up, there would only be 40 work weeks in the year, with one week of the month for rest.”

“And menstrual cups would be thrown to the crowd at parades.”

“100% for the same reasons that most drugs were designed and tested for men’s medical needs and why women are constantly an after thought in medical advancement – the world was built by men for men and women were just there to serve their needs.”

“And mammograms would be painless. No squeezing going on!”

“As recently as 2022, a Harvard medicine study demonstrated gender bias in how women were represented in medical trials. The fact that females are widely under-represented in medical literature is a good indicator of the will to consider women’s issues in general.”

“Everything PINK costs more always!”

“Men couldn’t handle much of what women are forced to tolerate every day. To be clear I’m a man who supports equality for woman.”

“And they would get that time off of work.”

“And if they were the ones having babies, abortion would be free and accessible to all, maternity leave would be four years at full pay and daycare would be free and widely available.”

“I’m sort of glad they don’t! Can you just imagine the moaning and groaning about how they have the worst periods than anybody ever!”

Julie Lawrence is a journalist, communications specialist and intersectional feminist from Halifax, N.S. She is the Editor of The Coast Daily.

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