Tampon Tuesday

Maysee and Whitney speak with the lovely mother daughter duo, Ava Wombwell and Mandi Fields for the 2020 Women’s Day Episode! Mandi is the Associate manger, Brand Partnerships, Radio and Local TV - Eastern Canada at Bellmedia, and launched Tampon Tuesday in 2009! Ava, is the Tampon Tuesday Toronto President!

Due to technical difficulties Mandi was unable to join in on this episode of Power in Heels, scroll down to check out her answers!

“We need to continue to uplift each other, and we are all a part of this conversation in some capacity and to just continue to be aware of the impact we have on the world.”

— Ava Wombwell

Mandi Fields’ Answers:

Did you do anything to celebrate International Women’s Day?!
“In general terms I look at IWD as a week-long activity and it has been spent organizing multiple Tampon Tuesdays and empowering women to lead it in their own communities.”
Why do you think International Women’s Day is important?
“I believe it is important to pause and look at what people do for one another; regardless of how you identify yourself. What have we done? What can we do better? Am I living my truth? Can I be more supportive? These questions go through my head and I believe IWD really amplifies what extraordinary humans are doing to make the world a better place to live and thrive in.”
Tell us a little bit about where you grew up and your interests at the time.
“I grew up in Exeter, Ontario and after I graduated from high school I moved to London and eventually went to Brescia. I was an OFSAA gymnast, an average student at best and had wonderful friends who I still keep in touch with today.”
Tampon Tuesday first launched in 2009, can you tell us a little bit about Tampon Tuesday, and how the idea came to be, to create this event?
“I used to hide behind the statement. “I was touring the London Food Bank and asked the question - do people donate Tampons?” The answer was no and voila I create Tampon Tuesday. The truth is I came from pretty humble beginnings and when my mother died when I was 17 everything in my world changed. I lived on my own, paid my own rent and finished highshool - when I got my period I would steal pads and tampons from my friends’ bathrooms. It was humiliating and even as I write this the shame still sweeps over me.”
Menstrual Hygiene products are some of the most requested yet least donated items at food banks, why do you think this is?
“1) Because the face of poverty is female. 2) She will always choose feeding her kids over tending to her own hygiene needs. 3) They are expensive. 4) They are expensive. 5) They are expensive. I cannot express this enough - these items need to be as affordable as toilet paper or provided altogether in community centers, public spaces where our communities’ most vulnerable seeks solace and warmth.”
Is this event only for women or do you encourage everyone regardless of gender to attend?
“Hell ya! Everyone is encouraged to come - we either entered this world because someone bled or we are the bleeders .. this affects all of us. Best way for us to reduce the shame is state what it is and move on.”
If a listener wants to host a Tampon Tuesday event in their own city how can they do that?
“Email me: mandi.fields@bellmedia.ca Tampon Tuesday is a Bellmedia trademarked and we work closely with all of our community leads to ensure branding is consistent and we provide support on socials however we can.”
Best piece of advice?
“In my early days of organizing Tampon Tuesday I used to think a big company would swoop in and take it over and execute events everywhere .. or even just London. I quickly learned that poor women getting their period is not a priority, so I needed to keep it a priority. My mantra today is simple, “if its got to be its up to me.”