We are committed to achieving menstrual equity at McGill University by advocating for inclusive, accessible, and comprehensive menstrual healthcare. Our mission is to ensure that all students who menstruate are supported through institutional policies, insurance coverage, and access to essential products—because menstrual health is a human right, not a privilege.
The Menstrual Equity Movement at McGill began with a simple observation: despite McGill’s image as a progressive institution, menstruating students are routinely overlooked in health policy, insurance coverage, and academic accommodations. Our walk-out campaign and petition were born out of collective frustration—and a refusal to stay silent.
The results were undeniable:
🔹 Over 70% have missed or struggled through class due to period symptoms.
🔹 Many have had to choose between purchasing menstrual products and buying food or school supplies.
🔹 Few felt supported by McGill's health insurance or policies.
Our goal is to force the conversation, rewrite the policy, and make it impossible for McGill to ignore the needs of half its student population. Join us on these walkout dates:
APRIL 16TH 2025: 11:30AM-1:30PM
ORIENTATION WEEK 2025: TUE/WED/THUR: 11:30AM-1:30PM
This movement was created by students, for students. We know what it’s like to attend class in pain, to feel dismissed by healthcare professionals, or to stretch a budget that can’t include both school supplies and period products.
Our original survey reflects real student experiences. This is not anecdotal—this is systemic.
Our arguments are backed by academic literature, public health data, and policy research.
We’re combining protest, policy demands, and education for long-term institutional change.
This is not just an event—it’s a movement rooted in compassion, advocacy, and community.
Demand that McGill implement concrete changes to support menstrual equity.
Our Walk-Out for Menstrual Healthcare will take place on:
📅 APRIL 16TH: 11:30AM-1:30PM
📍 McGill Campus Main Lawn
Bring signs, wear red or pink, and join us in making menstrual injustice visible.
Want to help organize events, handle social media, or share your story? Reach out via our contact form or email us!
Share your experience navigating menstrual health at McGill. Whether it’s about missed classes, poor insurance coverage, stigma, or anything else - your story matters. Submissions are anonymous and help us advocate for change.
Menstrual healthcare reform involves improving access, affordability, and education regarding menstrual products and services for all students.
Any McGill student interested in advocating for menstrual equity and enhancing menstrual health on campus is welcome!
A: We fully support a wide range of health advocacy—including mental health and gender-affirming care. We are simply asking that menstrual health be taken just as seriously. Menstruation affects over half the population, and yet it remains underfunded and stigmatized. Addressing one issue does not take away from another.
A: Students already do—at great financial and physical cost. But when institutions ignore or fail to accommodate basic health needs, the burden becomes unequal and discriminatory. Menstrual healthcare should be systemically supported, not left entirely to individuals.
A: Menstrual equity means that no one is held back, academically or socially, because they menstruate. It includes access to free products, healthcare coverage, accurate education, and institutional accommodations.
Menstrual equity ensures everyone has access to necessary menstrual products and education, reducing stigma and promoting overall health.
As Chrisler et al. (2015) emphasize, menstrual stigma has long contributed to the medical neglect of menstruation in healthcare systems, affecting both funding and policy inclusion.
Research also shows that up to 25% of menstruating Canadians have had to choose between menstrual products and other basic necessities (House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women, 2022).
