Three firms turned down artwork for taxi delivering tampons to homeless women because it was ‘offensive’https://metro.co.uk/2018/12/04/three-fi ... e-8207922/
Image: Metro/Period ProjectA black cab has been transformed into a ‘tampon taxi’ giving out sanitary products to homeless women. Despite the good work it aimed to do, the artwork on the cab – a pink coating with imagery of bloodied tampons – was described as ‘offensive’ by three taxi agencies who refused to put it on their vehicles.
Regardless, the new one-off pink cab has been touring London since 20 November and will continue to do so until 19 December, giving out pads and tampons to those who need it.
The taxi is led by Project Period, an initiative bringing together like-minded charities, social action groups, experts and individuals to push for progressive policy on periods everywhere.
Leading the Project Period campaign is 31-year-old Londoner Holly Bantleman, who set it up after suffering from severe endometriosis in her 20s.
Image: Metro/Period ProjectHolly told Metro.co.uk: ‘I was sitting at an outside bar in London earlier this year, and a pink taxi covered in bows went past. I’d just seen some illustrations of sanitary pads from one of our team, and thought that a taxi covered in period products would surely get people talking about global period poverty.
‘It’s a great way to get the public engaged in an issue that they may not know about, it’s a bit of a shock tactic for some people, but its working, the conversation online has been pretty electric.
‘We can’t talk action or put pressure on governments for progressive policy on periods if we can’t talk about them openly. Periods are often stigmatised, neglected and silent. These behaviours reinforce discrimination and inequality and have an impact on the lives of many girls, women and trans men, particularly related to their health and development.
Activists and experts are advancing a global movement to shift behaviours and attitudes towards periods in the UK and around the world. This moment represents a unique opportunity to join efforts and elevate the conversation on periods in order to drive people around the world to take action on issues surrounding them.
‘While we’re raising awareness of the issue of global period poverty we’re also rallying support to acknowledge that not everyone around the world has basic access to period products.’
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