'Menstrual Equity Club' forms at Boise State

An officially recognized student organization at Boise State University is aimed at promoting “menstrual equity.”

The “Menstrual Equity Club” formed in 2019 with the mission of raising awareness about period poverty and menstrual health. The group also intends to serve the campus and community through educational events and menstrual product drives, while breaking down the stigma surrounding periods.

According to The Arbiter, the Boise State student newspaper, the club accepts “menstruators” and “non-menstruators.”

”The club is accepting of all members, menstruators and non-menstruators, to learn and further our mission!” according to the group’s official page.

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Shannon Cobb, vice president of the Menstrual Equity Club, told The Arbiter that they wanted “to bring the menstrual movement to Boise State”

Rylie Wieseler, president of the group, told the newspaper that they don’t use the word “women” in an effort to be more inclusive.

“We try to have our space be inclusive. That’s why we use the term ‘menstruators’ instead of ‘women.’ Many people menstruate who do not identify as women,” Wieseler said.

Wieseler urged students to join the organization, including non-menstruators and cisgender men. Wieseler called for legislation, which she says is “often male-centric” to consider the group’s agenda.

[RELATED: Students hold ‘bleed-in’ to demand free menstrual products]

“This club has no gimmicks; it’s very straight-forward and aware of the fact that there are people, both on campus and off, who might need menstrual information or products. Those people might not necessarily identify as a cis-woman,” Denise Hutchins, who is a member of the group, said.

Hutchins added that this information could be useful for anybody.

Campus Reform reached out to Boise State University and the Menstrual Equity Club for comment but did not receive a response.

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: Haley Worth