Dem House reps demand mandatory extra sick days for women on their periods

Democratic lawmakers are calling for mandatory extra sick days for women when they are on their periods, saying it is “economic violence” when women aren’t provided accommodation for their menstrual cycle.

During a press conference held as part of Women’s Health Month, Democratic lawmakers Yassamin Ansari, Adelita Grijalva, and Rashida Tlaib highlighted Ansari’s legislative effort introduced earlier this year for a proposal that “finally recognizes women’s pain.”

Ansari detailed an incident in the summer of 2015 where she “woke up on the floor” of a bodega, drenched in sweat, being dragged into an ambulance, as two male paramedics checked on her and asked if she was pregnant. She explained the incident was one of many where she suffered serious period pain, and she detailed how she would continue working despite symptoms.

Ansari claimed that roughly 15 percent of women have such intense period pain that it interferes with their work or school attendance.

“That is no small number, and yet we are told to suck it up,” Ansairi said.

Her proposed legislation was introduced during Women’s History Month, which is in March, and a separate month from Women’s Health Month. The proposal included up to 12 days of paid leave a year for “reproductive health,” which would cover period pain, menopause symptoms, IVF, and other incidents.

Grijalva spoke at the conference, saying she was doing so on behalf of women who were “tired of having their pain minimized.” She claimed the US healthcare system treats women’s bodies “like an afterthought.” Grijalva also called it “economic violence” to force women to choose between “paying her rent or losing a day's pay to recover from a grueling gynecological procedure.”

“It’s time to acknowledge our country’s history of systemic injustice in women’s healthcare,” she added.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America Action Fund endorsed Ansari’s legislative agenda. Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said that the organization is grateful to Ansari for “championing reproductive health and highlighting the need for recognition and research into these issues, especially as the Trump administration continues to attack health care at the expense of patients.”

“Planned Parenthood Federation of America will not stop fighting until all people have access to high-quality sexual and reproductive health care,” she added.