Former tobacco salesman becomes Scotland's 'Period dignity Officer!

 

Jason Grant - Scotland's 'Period Dignity Officer'

Jason Grant, who previously worked as a personal trainer and as a tobacco salesman, has been appointed the 'Period Dignity Officer' for the Tay region in Scotland. The post is being funded by the SNP government who want to shift the public discourse around menstruation. 

Although only biological women can menstruate, and women don't generally like talking to men, about what are euphemistically called 'womens issues', Grant says that periods are an issue for everyone and that being a man, will help him to break down barriers. Part of his job also involves raising awareness of the menopause. 

The announcement of Grant's appointment, has received a mixed response. The Scottish Labour MSP, Monica Lennon, believes that there is role for men taking on leadership positions and contributing to positive and respectful conversations, provided the voices of women and girls who menstruate, are never crowded out. 

But the SNP's leader in Westminster, Ian Blackford, said that it was "far better that women are in these posts than anyone else." 

The former Wimbledon Champion, Martina Navratilova, wrote on Twitter: " This is just f...... ridiculous." She added: "Have we ever tried to explain to men how to shave or how to take care of their prostrate or whatever? This is absurd." 

Scotland became the first country in the world to provide free and universal access to period products when it passed the 'Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act' 2021, which became law this week. 

In England, where there is 'period poverty' and people have been known to steal sanitary products because they cannot afford to buy them, there is no free provision. However, the government introduced the period product scheme for all state maintained schools and 16 to 19 education organisations in England. This provided free period products to girls and women who need them in their place of study until July 2022. This was introduced because it was known that girls were missing school because they couldn't afford to buy sanitary products.