Beatriz D.

Beatriz studied at the military school in the state of Rio de Janeiro, where she experienced oppression in the form of sexism. This encouraged her to join an organization called Girl Up Elza Soares, which seeks to achieve gender equity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, members decided to focus on menstrual poverty when they realized that pads were not included in the basic basket of items provided to students because they were considered cosmetic items by law. To address this problem, they stated a fundraising campaign with family, friends, neighbors, and teachers to supply absorbents to various groups that distributed basic food baskets as well. In doing so, this could complement their work, but once they realized that this approach was not sustainable, they decided to advocate for the creation of a bill that would change the classification of feminine products from cosmetic goods to goods required for basic hygiene. In one year, the organization influence the approval and sanction of a law in the state of Rio de Janeiro, which allows for the inclusion of female sanitary pads in basic baskets. Beyond advocating for policy change, the club also makes social media content, thematic games, and organizes debates and other communication campaigns on gender equity and health. With insights from these experiences, Beatriz and her team are now inspiring similar initiatives in other Girl Up organizations in seven other states across Brazil.