A natural phenomenon that financially burdens women is now in the hands of lawmakers. The Hawai‘i State Legislature is being faced with a multitude of menstrual equity measures this session as the Ma‘i Movement and supporters pressure lawmakers to expand free period products.

“I didn’t ask for this, but I find myself spending twenty dollars or more a month for this,” says University of Hawai‘i student Leila Eliares. A consistent thought that must be planned out in advance. The stress of when that monthly subscription that a woman never asked for comes once again. A financial burden that women must part take in order to live their lives. A plan that must be thoroughly thought through in order to align with schedules and other financial expenses. Being able to get an education and work a minimum wage job is already stressful, but the natural byproduct of a woman must be squeezed into that struggle.

Earlier this year, Nikki-Ann Yee and sister Brandy-Lee of the Ma‘i movement introduced bills to provide free menstrual products in all University of Hawai‘i campuses. With their success in last year’s session of providing period products in K-12 public schools, the next logical challenge was to provide them for University women. 

As the bills were able to pass the first reading this session, committee chairs failed to hold hearings for these measures, leaving Senate Bill (SB) 954 and House Bill (HB) 481 essentially dead for this session. Nikki-Ann has been a consistent communicator on the need for testimony on these bills, but it was not enough. 

So instead of giving up this session, the Ma‘i Movement decided to offer legislative resolutions in early March for free menstrual products. But instead of just providing products at the University level, the resolutions would require that menstrual products must be provided in all buildings under the jurisdiction of the Department of Accounting and General Services. 

The resolution states, “ that the Department of Accounting and General Services is requested to help members of the public, regardless of their gender or biology, have access to essential hygiene products by providing menstrual products at no cost in state buildings under the jurisdiction of the Department of Accounting and General Services that are open to the public and contain public restrooms.”

The Department of Accounting and General Services holds jurisdiction over an abundance of government entities such as the Judiciary, Legislative and Executive branches of government, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and even including the University of Hawai‘i systems.

The resolutions would pave the way for menstrual equity, but one of the four resolutions must jump a few more hurdles in order for them to manifest. 

The History of the Ma‘i Movement

– Ma‘i – is the Hawaiian word for genitals, but has also been used to reference a person’s menstrual cycle. The Ma‘i movement came to action as Nikki-Ann saw the struggles of period poverty throughout the world during her time of living in China. When she came back home to Hawai‘i during the COVID-19 pandemic, she saw the financial struggles of residents. As a woman of Hawai‘i, she knew there were necessary actions to be made. With the cooperation of her sisters, Brandy and Jamie, they began a menstrual revolution. The three native Hawaiian sisters started their 501c3 organization, “committed to ending period poverty in Hawai'i.”

The Yee sisters established their non-profit in October of 2020 after discussions between Brandy and Nikki as co-founders and later adding little sister Jamie to the team for marketing. Nikki and Brandy Yee were able to make a mark in their community by publicly advocating for a distasteful conversation many do not want to talk about. Nikki started appearing on many news networks and radio talk shows in order to start the ball rolling on making a dent on the period crisis in Hawai‘i. 

Nikki went straight to the legislature in order to truly make her actions come to fruition. In 2021, Nikki introduced the first menstrual equity bill, SB 966. That of course did not pass as this was the first time legislatures have heard about the issue. But Nikki was not ready to let that ball drop, so she went back to work introducing resolutions for a study on Period Poverty… and the resolutions passed. 

And as the next session came Nikki was not ready to give up to have her measure pass. Instead of just one bill in the State Senate, there were two menstrual equity bills exclaiming to lawmakers that there was a real issue at hand. SB 2821 and SB 2546 were introduced to the Senate introducing different languages. Former Senator Laura Acasio introduced SB 2546, but was unable to get through the first committee hearing. But Senator Acasio did not want to give up on Nikki and the movement and joined Senator Michelle Kidani. Senator Acasio “ [Acasio Quote].”

The Culture Around Menstruation

There is a social stigma to not discuss about the nature of menstruation. An uncomfortable situation that men cannot stand the discussion of. The biological cycle that many people face on a monthly basis to potentially carry life. Menstruation is not something to be scared of.

By definition by the Ma‘i Movement’s website period poverty is, “1 the limited or inadequate access to menstrual products or menstrual health education as a result of financial constraints, negative socio-cultural stigmas associated with menstruation, or inadequate access to period-friendly sanitation facilities and running water.” One highly vital solution towards menstrual equity is the educating of people on menstruation. 

In contemporary America where the discussion of sexuality, gender, drag queens, and education on certain topics ` are the main concern for certain states, there are bigger issues to be discussed such as, period poverty. The social stigma around menstruation is essentially disgusting. But why is that?

In a TED talk with Canadian Gynecologist, Jen Gunter, Dr.Gunter talks about the myths developed over the centuries about periods. Dr. Gunter talks abouts the myth of women spoiling milk, crops, growing flowers, and creating a “menotoxin”. But one important thing that Dr.Gunter says in her talk, “ And that's what happens when there's no diversity… Because there was no woman to put her hand up and go, "Well, actually, that doesn't happen." And when you can't talk about what's happening to your body, how do you break these myths?” Dr.Gunter then goes into an in-depth discussion about how women will remain silent instead of talking about their menstruations by educated people on the subject. She even talks about the countless contradictions in society towards menstruation that encouraged the patriarchy. 

Menstruation has been seen as dirty and impure. Something that christians and many cultures believed. But an important thing to recognize is that many of the western ideas towards menstruation still affect women today. But in many cultures, menstruation was a sign of spiritual and physical power for women and girls. Some indigenous cultures thought that menstruation brought spiritual power.

The Next Steps

As this year’s legislative session ends on May 4, there are still actions that can be made. Although the bills have essentially died, the resolutions will have a critical impact on Hawai‘i's desire for menstrual equity. There has been unanimous support from almost all departments in the state to take on these resolutions.

The next step for legislators now is to come to a consensus on what resolutions are to be signed into law by the new Governor, Josh Green. If Governor Green were to sign these resolutions into law, this would pave one of the most critical measures in his first session.

Menstrual equity is a way to pave the way for social equality for those who menstruate. Nikki and her sisters want to support ALL who menstruate, and that does not stop at women. Their movement is a significant way to reach a higher social standard for all. 

Menstrual equity now, for equality for all.

JOUR 325: Magazine Writing with Julien Gorbach

April 25, 2023