Marjory Stoneman Douglas High students returned from spring break this week to a find a new safety precaution in place: mandatory clear backpacks.
To many students, the move — implemented after a shooter killed 17 people on their campus in February — fails to address the real root cause of gun violence: a lack of gun control.
"They’re just an illusion of security,"senior Kyra Parrow said, blasting the backpacks.
"My new backpack is almost as transparent as the NRA’s agenda," student Lauren Hogg mocked on Twitter. "I feel sooo safe now."
My new backpack is almost as transparent as the NRA’s agenda. I feel sooo safe now. As much as I appreciate the… https://t.co/elIbobMVad— Lauren Hogg (@Lauren Hogg) 1522678983
(Of course, policies like this are nothing new to students in primarily black and brown schools.)
There's one aspect about the clear backpacks, however, that might do some actual good, according to some students.
The see-through backpacks may shine a light on the fact that, yes, many students need to bring menstrual hygiene products like tampons or sanitary pads to school. And no one should feel ashamed for doing so.
"I remember the humiliation I felt if I started my period unexpectedly and had to whisper to classmates asking for a pad," Ayana Lage recently wrote for Bustle. "I eventually started going to the nurse's office instead of telling people I was menstruating."
The stigma is real. But hopefully not for much longer at Stoneman Douglas.
"The only positive about these backpacks is that maybe, hopefully, the stigma around periods will be removed," wrote student Delaney Tarr. "Also, that Cameron now knows how expensive tampons are."
The only positive about these backpacks is that maybe, hopefully, the stigma around periods will be removed. Also,… https://t.co/Me05GWJGgG— delaney (@delaney) 1522759054
The "Cameron" that Tarr is referring to is her classmate Cameron Kasky.
On April 3, Kasky shared a photo of himself carrying a clear backpack stocked with tampons. The gesture was Kasky's way of standing in solidarity with those who may feel embarrassed that now would be revealing when they needed to use the products to their classmates.
#MSDStrong https://t.co/kKn1saUDTC— Cam (@Cam) 1522756157
His smiling photo — captioned simply with #MSDStrong — quickly went viral. As of publication, Kasky's pic garnered over 60,000 likes and nearly 10,000 retweets.
"Every damn time I think I can’t love these young people more than I do, they do something to leave me even more in awe," Twitter user Kathleen Smith wrote.
"Yass Cameron," one classmate replied to Kasky's photo. "If only I had the confidence to do that." Kasky responded, "Here for you if you need anything... tampons and beyond."
And as it turned out, Kasky did learn about how expensive tampons are, just as Tarr had hoped.
I mean, seriously — for those of us who don't use menstrual hygiene products, they really can get pricey. It doesn't help that they're often taxed as though they're a luxury item — and not a basic necessity — too.
According to California assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, folks in her state who get periods spend, on average, $84 a year on tampons and pads. For those working hard just to make ends meet, that's a costly burden.
In a follow-up tweet, Kasky explained purchasing tampons was certainly an eye-opening experience. "This stuff is expensive," he wrote. "Steps must be taken to make these health products easier to access."
To those with questions about my tampon backpack- I only got lights. I didn’t know. Getting supers for tomorrow.… https://t.co/DskIHWbVfz— Cam (@Cam) 1522758386
Things may seem scary nowadays — for a million different reasons.
But if the articulate, determined, big-hearted teens in Parkland, Florida are any indication, the future looks surprisingly bright.
"It started with gun control," Lage wrote for Bustle. "But students have made powerful statements about media representation and now period stigma. It's clear that these kids are smarter and more sensitive to current events than some adults."
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.