Period poverty
Period poverty is a significant issue affecting many girls and women worldwide, characterized by a lack of access to necessary menstrual supplies and education. It is estimated that around one in five females are unable to obtain adequate products such as pads and tampons, as well as facilities for hygiene and waste disposal. The consequences of period poverty can be severe, with many individuals missing school or work due to inadequate resources, or facing difficult choices between purchasing sanitary products and meeting other basic needs like food. This situation can perpetuate gender inequality, as it places women at a disadvantage during a routine biological process.
The topic has gained prominence as an international women's rights concern, leading to various initiatives aimed at increasing the availability of menstrual products and addressing the stigma surrounding menstruation. Campaigns have emerged in different countries, advocating for reduced taxes on sanitary products and the provision of free supplies in schools. There are also efforts to enhance health and sex education, aiming to empower girls and women with knowledge about menstrual health. Overall, addressing period poverty is seen as crucial for fostering a supportive environment that allows women to manage their periods with dignity and without disruption to their daily lives.
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Period poverty
Period poverty refers to the situation of girls and women who lack access to suitable supplies and education to manage their monthly menstrual periods. Studies have determined that as many as one in five females do not have enough pads, tampons, facilities for cleaning themselves or their clothing, or areas to dispose of waste during their periods. In some areas and populations, the number is higher than one in five.
Females experiencing period poverty sometimes miss school or work. Others are forced to choose between paying for sanitary needs or food and other necessities. Either situation puts women at a disadvantage because of an unavoidable biological function. As a result, period poverty has gained attention as an international women's rights issue, and multinational efforts have begun to make these products and services more available.
Overview
A “period” is a common name for the expelling of blood and tissue that occurs as part of the human female’s menstrual cycle. This is part of the reproductive process, wherein each month the body produces one or more eggs and prepares the lining of the uterus for the egg to implant and grow if it is fertilized. If fertilization does not take place, the special lining is not needed and is expelled from the body over several days. This results in a “period” of time when the female appears to bleed.
Females use pads, tampons, menstrual cups, special underwear, and other items to manage this flow. Those who cannot purchase these items because of availability or cost often use rags, paper towels, or toilet paper to absorb the flow. In many cultures, there is a stigma associated with menstrual periods. Surveys have shown that large percentages of women are embarrassed to discuss their periods. Many females stay home each month because they do not have adequate supplies or fear what they are using will fail, resulting in embarrassing leaks and stains.
The concept of period poverty gained public attention in 2014. Laura Coryton was a student in a British university when she began a campaign to remove the British luxury tax applied to supplies used to manage periods. Coryton’s efforts were successful. Her campaign also resulted in supplies being made available at a reduced cost to students, and drew attention to the issue.
Others in the United Kingdom picked up the cause. There were large demonstrations that included using dye to turn water in public fountains red. Other campaigners, including Anika George and Monica Lennon, began movements to provide free menstrual supplies to schoolgirls in England and Scotland. Other countries took notice, resulting in changes such as reducing or removing taxes on supplies, or making them available for free or greatly reduced costs to those in need.
A number of organizations also began efforts to expand health and sex education programs to help inform girls and women about their periods and how to care for themselves. These efforts take a variety of focuses, including providing supplies, reducing the stigma associated with the menstrual cycle, and encouraging adequate hygiene and sanitary disposal of used supplies. Organizers state their goal is to help women avoid the embarrassment associated with their periods and avoid the disadvantages they may experience due to missed school, work, and the cost of supplies to manage a natural bodily function.
Bibliography
Alverez, Alexandra. “Period Poverty.” American Medical Women’s Association, 31 Oct. 2019, www.amwa-doc.org/period-poverty/. Accessed 3 June 2020.
“Ending Period Poverty.” The Representation Project, 9 Mar. 2020, therepresentationproject.org/free-period-products-for-all/. Accessed 3 June 2020.
McCarthy, Moira. “How These Groups Are Trying to Eliminate ‘Period Poverty’ and Menstruation Stigma.” Healthline, 17 Mar. 2020, www.healthline.com/health-news/organizations-stigma-menstruation-period-poverty. Accessed 3 June 2020.
“Menstrual Cycle.” US Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health, 16 Mar. 2018, www.womenshealth.gov/menstrual-cycle/your-menstrual-cycle. Accessed 3 June 2020.
“The Menstrual Movement.” Period, 2019, www.period.org. Accessed 3 June 2020.
“Period Poverty.” Action Aid, 2020, www.actionaid.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/womens-economic-empowerment/period-poverty. Accessed 3 June 2020.
Sanchez, Erica and Leah Rodriguez. “Period Poverty: Everything You Need to Know.” Global Citizen, 5 Feb. 2019, www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/period-poverty-everything-you-need-to-know/. Accessed 3 June 2020.
“Topic of the Year: Period Poverty.” Period, 28 Dec. 2017, www.period.media/factsfigures/word-year-period-poverty/. Accessed 3 June 2020.