Period Poverty: What is it and How is it Affecting Millions of Women Globally?
- Good For Youth Massachusetts
- Feb 13, 2022
- 4 min read
Article Written by: Isabella MacLean
Cover Design by: Sofia Holmes
Young girls everywhere are taught ever since their very first period that it is something to always be hidden. They are told to hide their feminine products, to only whisper about it to other women, and to never let anyone know that you are on your period. This is because periods have been labeled by society as something shameful and gross. We are to use the words ‘feminine product’ instead of ‘pad’ or ‘tampon.’ We are to not use our periods as an excuse to be hormonal and moody.
A study conducted by THINX recorded that 58% of women feel embarrassed when on their period and 42% of women have experienced ‘period shame.’ Why are periods associated with shame? Why does stigma exist around periods when it is a normal bodily function?
What is ‘Period Poverty’?
‘Period poverty’ is a term used to describe the lack of access to feminine hygiene products and menstrual health education. It is also a global issue that is rarely discussed. 500 million menstruators across the globe don’t have access to period products. The discussion of menstrual health is heavily ignored and pushed aside despite it being an extremely important issue world-wide. Due to menstruation being stigmatized and silenced, society never confronts this topic.
Period poverty is a direct consequence of the shame associated with periods, not only culturally and religiously, but patriarchally. It is also a result of the unfairly high prices of period products.
Expensive Prices of Period Products
According to THINX, a company that produces period underwear, 1 in 5 young women in the U.S reportedly cannot afford feminine sanitary products. Since tampons can be used for up to 6 hours, menstruators who use tampons will use about 4 tampons a day. For an average cycle of 5 days, a total of 20 tampons are used. A box of 36 tampons at Walgreens costs around 7 dollars, meaning that a lifetime of tampons costs about 1,773.33 dollars. Pads however, are even pricier. Menstruators who prefer pads over tampons will typically use 3-5 pads every day depending on how heavy their flow is. This means on average, a lifetime worth of pads totals 4,752 dollars.
These expensive prices mean that women with a lower income are disproportionately affected by period poverty. Many poorer menstruators are forced to choose between food/other necessities and feminine supplies. Currently, there is a huge debate over whether pads, tampons, panty liners, menstrual cups, etc. should even be taxed, given that periods are an uncontrollable bodily function and these sanitary products are health necessities. Thirty-four states in the U.S tax period supplies, considering them non-essential items, while men’s hygiene products such as erectile dysfunction medication are not.
Who is Affected?
Although period poverty can be faced by anyone, the two most prominent groups that struggle with it are students and homeless women/young girls. Of the menstruators in the U.S, 16.9 million live in poverty.
Many young girls in schools are denied proper education about menstruation and how to take care of yourself when you get your period. Nearly half of girls (44%) in the UK said that the first time they got their period, they didn’t know what was happening to them. Only recently have some states in the U.S started to require schools to provide pads and tampons in girls bathrooms. Even so, many low income communities are unable to provide these supplies in bathrooms.
Outside of the United States, especially in developing countries, young menstruators are unable to even get a hold of sanitary products due to poverty in their communities and/or cultural stigma within their families. For example, in India only a total of 12% of women have access to feminine hygiene supplies and many families don’t even have access to a private toilet.
Homeless women/young girls are barely able to afford food, much less period supplies. As a result many are forced to use unsafe replacements for pads and tampons, and are unable to find sanitary facilities to use while menstruating. This makes them even more at risk of bacterial infections. Not to mention the physical toll periods take on these women who are most likely already struggling with famine and other health problems.
How Are We Solving This Issue Currently?
On October 19th, 2019, PERIOD, a non-profit youth organization, organized the first National Period Day to bring awareness to period poverty and period shaming. UNICEF, Alliance for Period Supplies, THINX, American Medical Women’s Association, etc. are all organizations that advocate for and are helping end stigma around menstruation and period poverty. Supporting these organizations, donating to local feminine product drives, educating yourself on period poverty, etc. are just a few of the many initiatives you can take to help end period poverty even in a miniscule way. Westborough High School even has their very own Period Club where they fundraise, donate, and advocate for menstruators living in poverty.
Period supplies are not a luxury. They are not something that menstruators should be struggling to access. They are health necessities!
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