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social justice

Period Poverty: A Day in the Life of a Student

Period Poverty: A Day in the Life of a Student

What does period poverty actually look like? In order to describe it, we thought about all of the stories that have been shared with our team over the past decades, and came up with a composite profile of a post-secondary student we are calling Sloan (she/they). Before we get into a day in their life, let’s review the basics about period poverty and sustainable menstrual equity.
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Free Birth Control? Wonderful. Now, How About Menstrual Products?

Free Birth Control? Wonderful. Now, How About Menstrual Products?

Access to free birth control allows for greater control and choice over family planning decisions, as a matter of human rights. Given the non-negotiable role that menstrual management also plays as part of the human fertility cycle, many of us are eager to see whether British Columbia’s move is a harbinger for the inclusion of menstrual products as part of a similar plan.
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Reflections on 30 Years of Menstrual Health and Equity Leadership

Reflections on 30 Years of Menstrual Health and Equity Leadership

One of the things that I am often asked is how things have changed in the reusable menstrual product space over 30 years, and my answer is that it’s a mix of mostly wonderful things. 
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An illustration of a pair of Boxer Brief period underwear and a cloth menstrual pad inside a blue circle. There is a Giving Tuesday hashtag at the top of the image and logos for Aisle & Period Purse below the image.

Menstrual Equity with the Period Purse

Menstrual equity is the idea that access to free, quality menstrual products, education and a shame-free attitude about periods are essential for full and dignified participation in life for everyone who menstruates. This Giving Tuesday we are hosting a fundraiser in support of The Period Purse, a Toronto-based registered charity that tackles period poverty by ensuring sustainable access to period products for all.
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Patagonia gear doing what it was designed for: Aisle co-founder Madeleine Shaw’s daughter Gigi coming off a multi-day hike on the Juan de Fuca trail, Vancouver Island, 2021.

We Should All Be More Like Yvon

Yvon Chouinard’s recent decision to essentially gift his $3 Billion company’s shares to fight climate change is a seismic move that flies in the face of traditional capitalist business values. At a time in the world where wealth disparity has never been more radical and grossly unfair, Chouinard’s generosity is glaring and unparalleled. 
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Image courtesy of The Period Purse

Decolonization and Reconcili-action in 2022

As we approach Canada’s second national Truth and Reconciliation Day(aka Orange Shirt Day) on September 30th, this post is about sharing various ways that we support ‘Reconcili-action’, (ie: actually walking the talk) and some suggested resources.
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Free Reusables: The Next Step Towards Menstrual Equity

Free Reusables: The Next Step Towards Menstrual Equity

Menstrual products are essential personal hygiene supplies, alongside toilet paper, hand soap and paper towels. Provision of these essential supplies are unquestionably the re sponsibility of the institutions where the bathrooms are located. 

Our question is: If free disposable pads and tampons are now being funded for students, employees and others, why not reusables too? 
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Decolonizing Menstrual Health: A Conversation about Interviewing Experiences

Decolonizing Menstrual Health: A Conversation about Interviewing Experiences

This article is based on a conversation between Madeleine Shaw, co-founder of Aisle, and Minhtam Tran, the former Project Leader for Decolonizing Menstrual Health, about their experiences and learnings from designing and leading interviews as part of the Decolonizing Menstrual Health interview series.
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An image of Aisle pads laid out on a white background. The logos of Aisle, Free Periods Canada, The Mahwari Research Institute, and Map The System Canada are visible in the lower portion of the image.

Full Report: Supporting Menstrual Health and Equity in Post-Secondary Institutions with Reusable Menstrual Products

Free Periods Canada surveyed post-secondary students across Canada and collected 470 responses and summarized those results in a report, which is now available for download here.
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The image features two pairs of hands with light skin holding each other in a comforting manner.

How One Doula Provides Abortion Support

Sierra Holland on why abortion stigma is violence, how there is no one way to support someone having an abortion, and why abortion work must include the continual work of antiracism and abolition.
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The image is of a person holding a sign that reads "No Business On A Dead Planet"

Why Social Entrepreneurship Matters Now More Than Ever

It’s time for all initiatives of all sizes to prioritize tackling social and environmental issues as their primary raison d’être.
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Black Women's Equal Pay Day

Black Women's Equal Pay Day

Creating a world where all can thrive means acknowledging how dual marginalization, the wealth gap, the cost and access of education, and occupational segregation have cost Black women tens of thousands of dollars each year.
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