Newsroom
Female students at the University of Nicosia Medical Center received a small gift from the Medical School Students' Services. The package included a carnation, a tampon, a pantyliner (taken from a multibox), and a small mirror worth €0.69 from Jumbo. While likely intended as a kind gesture, the gift led to mixed reactions among recipients.
One student expressed her surprise, stating, “I was shocked. The flower was a nice gesture, but I was shocked with the pads and tampon. I don’t even use them.” Another student, however, appreciated the practical aspect of the hygiene products, acknowledging that such items can be expensive.
Many female students were particularly puzzled by the inclusion of the tiny mirror. Some questioned its relevance to Women’s Day and were unsure of the intended message behind it. One student voiced her disappointment, noting that the gift seemed to reduce the essence of womanhood to menstruation, an especially concerning implication within a medical school setting. Others pointed out that this messaging was also exclusionary to transgender women. The assumption that all women experience menstruation reinforced outdated ideas about gender, rather than promoting inclusivity.
Additionally, concerns were raised about hygiene, particularly regarding the pantyliner, which was taken from a multibox rather than being individually packaged. Some students felt uncomfortable receiving a personal hygiene product that may have been handled or exposed prior to distribution.
The responses to the gift led to discussions about the symbolism of such gestures and the messages they convey. While the intention may have been to acknowledge women, the choice of items raised broader conversations about gender, hygiene, identity, and the way women are represented, especially in academic and professional environments.
