Virginia prisons to restrict which menstrual products visitors can use.

[elleng]

'The Virginia Department of Corrections (DOC) has come up with a new way to be dehumanizing and hostile to women: they’re now dictating to visitors who menstruate what method they can use during visitations.

In a letter shared by prison reform activists on social media, the DOC’s warden says they will be banning tampons and menstrual cups from being used by visitors. They will be doing body scans and if they believe someone is in violation, they can become barred from seeing their loved ones.'>>>

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/9/24/1798306/-Virginia-prisons-to-restrict-which-menstrual-products-visitors-can-use?

[Croney]

1. I'm picturing women just using nothing,

and bleeding all over the floor. I suppose that wouldn't be deemed acceptable.

[procon]

2. The War on Women is expanding.

Do they also do "body scans" on the menfolk, too? Is that an invasion procedure... needlessly exposing women to radiation without any doctor's order?

Banning tampons and cups has some religious taboos as some christians think only sluts can use those products. Did Virginians all flunk middle school anatomy and were they forced to attend abstinence only sex ed classes? Does the warden get a kickback on the sales of pads in the prison?

[Delmette2.0]

3. Start with patdowns and scans of all prison staff to control drug smuggling.

IF that doesn't work then do patdowns of visitors. But never, never tell a woman what works best for her.

I have been a visitor and all visitors know the consequences for everyone if they are caught smuggling any kind of contraband.

[appalachiablue]

4. Unbelievable. From the article:

"This is incredibly invasive and unnecessary. It comes across as a punishment for people who have connection to incarcerated people. They are literally telling people who aren’t in their case what they can and cannot do with their vaginas. This should be unacceptable.

I’m not buying their reasoning that it’s to prevent smuggling drugs. Couldn’t someone use a pad if they’re willing to use tampon for transportation? Why isn’t this rule for everyone that works or visits prisons?

If they’re experts on safety, why can’t they think of an effective way that actually addresses the root problem: they can’t handle the flow of illegal drugs in their system. Why should innocent people suffer the consequences of their inadequacy? "

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. @VADOC has suspended its new policy prohibiting visitors from wearing tampons and menstrual cups.

LaughedAtHat Retweeted:

BREAKING: Following our opposition and public outrage, @VADOC has suspended its new policy prohibiting visitors from wearing tampons and menstrual cups. Let's be clear: This policy is discriminatory, invasive, and should have no place in our prisons and jails.

Link to tweet

[PunkinPi]

6. Thank you for the update, this was ridiculous and intrusive. nt