When menstruation becomes a topic of public debate. “Bullying or vandalism situations can occur in the toilet, and distribution control would be difficult”

A project regarding the installation of free absorbent dispensers in schools in Brașov became the subject of public debate between the local administration and USR councilor Ilinca Ghiza, who initiated the proposal. A post by civic activist Radu Hossu regarding girls' access to intimate hygiene products during menstruation generated strong reactions online as well.

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More precisely, the local councilor Ilinca Ghiza (USR) initiated, according to Radu Hossu's post, a draft resolution that provided for the installation of dispensers with free absorbent pads in schools in Brașov, with priority for units attended by students from vulnerable families. The project was not introduced on the agenda of the City Council for several months, although the councilor insisted on public meetings for its debate.

According to Hossu's account, after several failed attempts to obtain administrative support, Ilinca Ghiza collaborated with several NGOs that funded the installation of three dispensers in schools in the municipality. The initiative was welcomed by teachers and parents, who sent messages of support on social media.

The Deputy Mayor: “There is already a signed partnership”

Contacted by Adevărul, the deputy mayor of Brașov, Dan Ghiță, states that the local administration has already signed an agreement with a private company for the free supply of hygiene products in educational institutions. “Last month, the City Council of the Municipality of Brașov ratified a contract between the City Hall and Catena. The chain undertakes, as a result of this contract, to provide free of charge in all the schools within the radius of the municipality of Brașov both absorbents, the ones that have been talked about so much lately, but also other hygiene products and even vitamins”. said Dan Ghiță.

He rejects accusations that the administration has blocked the initiative and says that “the issue has been politically speculated”: “The commotion created by the USR, initially only in the City Council, but now extended to the national level, has no basis. In reality, there is already a concrete solution, through this partnership.”

The deputy mayor believes that the placement of dispensers in girls' toilets should be carefully regulated. “This is only an emergency in certain social cases, but I don't think it's a problem if pads are provided through school medical offices. Situations of bullying or vandalism can occur in the toilet, and distribution control would be difficult”, he explained.

According to the data collected by specialized NGOs, one out of ten female students in Romania misses school during the menstrual cycle. Lack of access to hygiene products particularly affects disadvantaged communities. European countries such as Scotland, France or Spain have already introduced the free distribution of absorbent pads in schools and universities.

The contract between Brașov City Hall and Catena is to be implemented in the next period. At this time, there is no public timetable for product delivery to all schools.

The discussion launched by activist Radu Hossu generated hundreds of comments on social networks. Most commentators support the idea of ​​installing absorbent dispensers in schools, while others are outraged by the state of sanitary facilities in some educational institutions.

“There is no toilet paper in the schools in Brașov, and at School 11 the trash cans were also removed from the girls' toilets. In the year 2025, there will be no toilet paper in the toilets.” wrote a user. Someone else wrote: “I work in a school where the toilet doors don't close and the girls go in pairs to hold the door… If I had asked for disinfectant dispensers… I would have been classified as a psychiatric case.”

Comments also came from the diaspora. “In Ireland you find absorbent pads in the bathrooms of petrol stations, Lidl, Tesco and in schools. It's a small gesture, but one that shows civility.” commented a Romanian woman settled in Dublin.

A school nurse from Iasi explained in a comment: “We don't have pads at the doctor's office. Some nurses choose to buy them with their own money, others refuse. Often, the girls feel too embarrassed to come and ask.”

Several readers drew attention to the fact that the problem is not only one of logistics, but one of mentality. “Menstruation is still a taboo subject. I was scolded for telling my daughter about this natural process. If we want educated children, we need to talk about the body and health, not hide behind shame”, wrote a mother.

The discussion about absorbent dispensers in Brașov schools is no longer just an administrative matter, but one of public perception. While the administration claims that there are already institutional solutions, the initiative of councilor Ilinca Ghiza raised the question of whether, beyond procedures, we know how to talk openly about the real needs of girls.

The psychological dimension of a social problem

For many Romanian girls, menstruation is not only a biological experience that marks the transition to a new stage of development, but also an emotional one, marked by shame, silence and misunderstanding. Instead of being a natural moment, it often becomes a source of anxiety and discomfort, accompanied by a lack of emotional support and information.

“From a psychological perspective, the way a child experiences this first experience with her body has lasting consequences. Menstruation is not only a physiological stage, but also a lesson about identity, self-confidence and how a girl relates to her own body. If this lesson is accompanied by shame and limiting beliefs, it can become a barrier to developing healthy self-esteem.” psychologist Gabriela Marc told Adevărul.

She points out that girls who don't have access to hygiene products or who are discouraged from talking about what's happening to them “they learn that their needs are too much, that being a woman is a shame.” “Education about the body, hygiene and emotional health is not a luxury. It is a form of psychological prevention. When we talk to girls about menstruation respectfully and naturally, we are not just giving them information, but validation: you are okay, your body is functioning normally, you have the right to be taken care of.” explains Gabriela Marc.

The psychologist adds that the silence and shame that often accompany menstruation “they are not simple cultural details, but experiences that are deeply imprinted on the girls' psyche. They can distort the relationship with femininity, transforming it from a space of inner power to one of permanent guilt and self-control.”.

“Over time, these invisible wounds can reactivate at key moments in adult life – in sexuality, in intimate relationships, in pregnancy and motherhood – where the body again demands trust, acceptance and presence,” she added.

When decision-making adults treat menstruation as an embarrassing or secondary topic, they send girls the wrong message that what happens to them is less important, the psychologist points out. “When caring is masked by personal opinions, budgets, limiting beliefs, or the discomfort of bringing up the subject, it turns into a subtle form of emotional neglect—one that leaves the child alone exactly where they would need support and validation the most.” added Gabriela Marc.

For her part, clinical psychologist Luminița Tăbăran believes that menstruation should be treated with naturalness and openness.
“Menstruation is a normal physiological process that should not cause stigma, even if the bleeding is unexpected. Nowadays there are a variety of absorbent pads and I don't think anyone could not afford them. Menstruation can also surprise you in other places outside of school. Yes, an emergency dispenser would reduce the stress of unexpected moments, but I think more useful would be a psychological preparation, a free discussion about how you can solve such a situation wherever you are. Menstruation doesn't have to be a shame nowadays!”, she told the Truth.