Women's Health, Locally
Get to know us
We are three senior girls at Austin High School, located in central Austin, Texas. We are all so proud to live in this beautiful, lively city and are excited to make a difference to girls right here at Austin High through Capstone. Unfortunately, no city is perfect. In Austin, approximately 32% of the homeless population is chronically homeless. Out of this population, 1/3 are women. Most of these women have trouble enough paying for food, water, and other necessities, that it is hard to make room in their budget for feminine products every month. We aim to make a difference at least within our community, targeting girls our age at Austin High by helping make their periods manageable and less troublesome.
We are three senior girls at Austin High School, located in central Austin, Texas. We are all so proud to live in this beautiful, lively city and are excited to make a difference to girls right here at Austin High through Capstone. Unfortunately, no city is perfect. In Austin, approximately 32% of the homeless population is chronically homeless. Out of this population, 1/3 are women. Most of these women have trouble enough paying for food, water, and other necessities, that it is hard to make room in their budget for feminine products every month. We aim to make a difference at least within our community, targeting girls our age at Austin High by helping make their periods manageable and less troublesome.
Statistics
-As of January 2011, the last documented homeless point-in-time count, it was estimated that there was over 2,300 homeless individuals in Austin/Travis County on any given night.
-AISD estimates that between 3,000 to 5,000 of their students are homeless (Austin Independent School District - Homeless Education Learning Program -Project HELP)
-In January 2011, there were 217 homeless households with children, a total of 662 individuals, living in Austin in 2011 - representing 28% of the total homeless population.
-As of January 2011, the last documented homeless point-in-time count, it was estimated that there was over 2,300 homeless individuals in Austin/Travis County on any given night.
-AISD estimates that between 3,000 to 5,000 of their students are homeless (Austin Independent School District - Homeless Education Learning Program -Project HELP)
-In January 2011, there were 217 homeless households with children, a total of 662 individuals, living in Austin in 2011 - representing 28% of the total homeless population.
How LOCAL perspectives influence the understanding of our issue
Our issue, which circles around the lack of feminine products available to people of a lower socioeconomic status, is directly correlated to the lack of knowledge and education surrounding female hygiene and health.There is unfortunately a taboo fog that lingers around feminine health because it is not talked about much in schools. Because of the lack of emphasis placed on this subject, girls are afraid to learn about themselves because society has taught women for years to be ashamed of their anatomy because it is seen as “gross” or “embarrassing.” People treat women differently when they learn that they are on their period: they make fun of them, judge them, and in some countries, women are even restricted from doing certain activities because menstruation is seen as shameful. I believe that with the improvement of education in Austin schools as well as more accessible feminine products available at these schools, girls will not have to be embarrassed of their bodies or scared of where they will get their next tampon/pad.
Explain how different contexts shape perspectives about our issue
Many people are not very educated about women's health and they get their ideas through the media and society. Unfortunately, these sources are unreliable and unrealistic to what actually goes on in the female body. There is a considerable homeless population at Austin High, and I bet they have negative connotations with periods because they might struggle to access them. I believe that if a heavier emphasis was put on educating young women about their bodies, they would be more confident, happy, and intelligent individuals who can learn that their bodies are not anything to be ashamed of. If people see women as confident and unashamed of their bodies, then, ideally, they will learn that menstruation is not shameful or gross, but just a part of the female body. At Austin High, we can spread awareness about our issue and supply the school with feminine products that anyone without otherwise access to them could get.
How our message will reach diverse perspectives LOCALLY
When the students and staff at Austin High reach a heightened awareness of the female body and its functions, the strangeness of the topic of menstruation will fade away and result in a more intellectual and informed student body at Austin High that is empathetic to the needs of our girls. We know that everyone at AHS has different levels of knowledge about the female body, and as our cause, we would like to bring everyone up to a higher understanding of the female body and release any tension and stigma that hangs around the subject of menstruation and other female bodily functions. We aim to make Austin High more welcoming of women and their body functions.
Our issue, which circles around the lack of feminine products available to people of a lower socioeconomic status, is directly correlated to the lack of knowledge and education surrounding female hygiene and health.There is unfortunately a taboo fog that lingers around feminine health because it is not talked about much in schools. Because of the lack of emphasis placed on this subject, girls are afraid to learn about themselves because society has taught women for years to be ashamed of their anatomy because it is seen as “gross” or “embarrassing.” People treat women differently when they learn that they are on their period: they make fun of them, judge them, and in some countries, women are even restricted from doing certain activities because menstruation is seen as shameful. I believe that with the improvement of education in Austin schools as well as more accessible feminine products available at these schools, girls will not have to be embarrassed of their bodies or scared of where they will get their next tampon/pad.
Explain how different contexts shape perspectives about our issue
Many people are not very educated about women's health and they get their ideas through the media and society. Unfortunately, these sources are unreliable and unrealistic to what actually goes on in the female body. There is a considerable homeless population at Austin High, and I bet they have negative connotations with periods because they might struggle to access them. I believe that if a heavier emphasis was put on educating young women about their bodies, they would be more confident, happy, and intelligent individuals who can learn that their bodies are not anything to be ashamed of. If people see women as confident and unashamed of their bodies, then, ideally, they will learn that menstruation is not shameful or gross, but just a part of the female body. At Austin High, we can spread awareness about our issue and supply the school with feminine products that anyone without otherwise access to them could get.
How our message will reach diverse perspectives LOCALLY
When the students and staff at Austin High reach a heightened awareness of the female body and its functions, the strangeness of the topic of menstruation will fade away and result in a more intellectual and informed student body at Austin High that is empathetic to the needs of our girls. We know that everyone at AHS has different levels of knowledge about the female body, and as our cause, we would like to bring everyone up to a higher understanding of the female body and release any tension and stigma that hangs around the subject of menstruation and other female bodily functions. We aim to make Austin High more welcoming of women and their body functions.