As part of the Luiss Gender Equality Plan, we have planned a series of programmatic and strategic actions to promote gender equality. Combating gender stereotypes is an integral part of this journey. Learn more about Luiss initiatives related to D&I issues.

The choice of tampons must be conscious and can vary in terms of environmentally sustainability. Consider that a traditional tampon is 90% plastic, which is equivalent to 4 shopping bags per package and takes about 500 years to degrade. We advocate for the use of 100% biodegradable tampons in the marketplace and on our campuses.

In our country, only 35.5% of women openly discuss menstruation. The topic is still considered taboo, contributing to discomfort and embarrassment experienced by 27.4% of women on their periods, with 23.6% considering it a disabling condition.

In Italy, the tampon tax on both compostable and non-compostable tampons is 5%. This means that the annual cost of tampons per capita amounts to approximately 60 euros (excluding individual variations based on each woman’s needs).

Worldwide, at least 70% of women between the ages of 15 and 25 experience debilitating menstrual pain, resulting in an average loss of about 9 days of work/study per year.

In Italy alone, more than 3 million adolescents and women of reproductive age are affected by endometriosis, a disease that can lead to chronic and persistent pain. Despite these challenges, 54.5% of women and 55.6% of men in Italy have never heard of menstrual leave.

Around the world, many women face limited access to menstrual products due to cost, difficulty in obtaining them, and cultural barriers. In India, approximately 12% of women of childbearing age cannot afford menstrual products, while in Africa, one in 10 girls is unable to attend school due to a lack of access to these products or the absence of private, safe bathrooms. Raising awareness about this issue underscores the significance of reproductive health in achieving an inclusive and sustainable society.