What are “Periods” and who is impacted by “Periods”?
The menstrual cycle, often referred to as “periods”, is the phase in a women’s body where the lining of their uterus sheds, causing blood to flow out of their vaginas. This is due to their eggs not being fertilized, which essentially means pregnancy has not occurred.
What is Period Poverty?
Period Poverty is the state of struggle many low-income women and girls face while trying to afford menstrual products. This at times leaves them to depend on rags, towels, toilet paper, leaves, and many other unsanitary options. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), “the term ‘Period Poverty’ is also used to refer to the increased economic vulnerability women and girls face due to the financial burden posed by menstrual supplies.”
Women do not choose to have periods. Some view period products as a luxury, when in reality they are a necessity; women should not have to scavenge for products or worry about what they will use during their next period.
According to A Plan International, a study on young found that females in Ireland found that almost 50 per cent of girls between ages 12 and 19 found it difficult to pay for sanitary products. Many girls have to choose between food and their health, and so often must simply forget about period products; these products must be ignored for other needs.
Thompson, Sylvia. “Period Poverty: ‘It’s Important Products Are Readily Accessible at No Cost like Toilet Roll or Soap’.” The Irish Times, The Irish Times, 16 Dec. 2020, https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/period-poverty-it-s-important-products-are-readily-accessible-at-no-cost-like-toilet-roll-or-soap-1.4431631.
A WORD FROM FEMINIST INFLUENCER
Rupi Kaur
After posting this raw image, showing the reality of periods, Instagram silenced Kaur, by erasing her image. Kaur snapped back saying, “I will not apologize for not feeding the ego and pride of the misogynist society that will have my body in an underwear but not be okay with a small leak,” she wrote. “Their patriarchy is leaking. Their misogyny is leaking. We will not be censored.”
Tsjeng, Zing. “Why Instagram Censored This Image of an Artist on Her Period.” Dazed, 27 Mar. 2015, https://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/24258/1/why-instagram-censored-this-image-of-an-artist-on-her-period.
How to Make a Change?
There is strength in numbers. Educating people and spreading awareness is the first step to bringing period poverty to an end. Whether it be raising money for period products or even ending the tampon-tax after so long. Ending the tampon-tax would eliminate a big worry for many women around the world.
Kindly educate our male counterparts on how periods affect women, and that the lack of menstrual products can affect ones health’.Take action, write to or call your legislators, protest, and make a change. Nothing will come until it is demanded from the people. Don’t just speak on it, act on it. Help out women in need by offering your help when you’re able to.
Progress?
Ireland- Funding
The Irish government has provided €714,000 to the Department of Health for period poverty in 2022. This money was used to support women who suffer from period poverty.
Ireland- Dirty and Unclean?
While Namibia has always labeled women as dirty, unpure, and unclean, they have made great progress. Now women and girls in Namibia will no longer be charged a luxury tax rate of 15% of value-added tax (VAT) on sanitary products.
The Namibian government eliminated VAT on sanitary products — also known as the “tampon tax” — on March 17.
Scotland- Equality & Dignity
Scotland is now the first country in the world to make period products free and accessible to every women of every background. The Scottish Government (SG) believes being able to access period products is fundamental to equality and dignity. Since 2018-2019 the SG has put in place policies to support equality, dignity and rights for those who menstruate. (The Scottish Government).
Chhaupadi- Period Taboos
Though in some countries we have seen progress, there is also what seems to be a step back in history.
According to the UNFPA, Chhaupadi (common in Hinduism) comes from a belief that menstruating women are unclean and that they bring bad luck to a community. They are placed in “menstrual huts” in isolation.
Women and girls have been known to die from extreme cold or animal attacks that took place while they were living in the menstruation huts. Many women and girls have also suffered from sexual violence.
Organizations to Contribute to and Make a Change
The Cova Project
An Australian charity that dedicates to raising money for women in countries all over Africa. They specifically raise money for menstrual cups due to them being reusable and much easier to manage financially, while providing a hygienic, safe option.
Freedom4Girls
This organization holds sewing workshops for local women, making washable, reusable menstrual pads and delivering the pads to schools in the semi-rural area of Mombasa. The project also provided reproductive and menstrual education to girls and women in the community.
Days for Girls
Days for Girls has developed menstrual product kits that are provided to women and girls in need. Each DfG Kit is sewn by volunteer individuals or chapters and begins as a Portable Object of Dignity (POD). They include one waterproof shield and two absorbent liners and serve as gateways to the creation of small businesses for local women.
Thelwell, Kim. “Four Organizations Fighting Period Poverty.” The Borgen Project, Kim Thelwell Https://Borgenproject.org/Wp-Content/Uploads/Logo.jpg, 19 July 2019, https://borgenproject.org/top-4-organizations-fighting-period-poverty/.
Physical Health Implications
In a recent study with 183 low-income women in St. Louis, Missouri, 64% of participants reported being unable to afford menstrual products in the previous year. One-third of women reported using other products as a result, including rags, toilet paper, and their children’s diapers.
Aside from this women have also reported using one tampon/pad/menstrual cup longer than the recommended time to waste less products, which putts them at risk of vulvar infections, and even Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). Poor hygiene measures during menstruation can pose serious health risks, such as reproductive and urinary tract infections, thrush, and others. Women menstruating require access to sanitary facilities, clean water, and affordable, safe menstrual products in order to have a healthy and secure period.
Mental Health Implications
Despite all of the physical health issues that come with period poverty, there is also the mental health implications of period poverty. There is so much shame, embarrassment, and stigma surrounding the entire conversation of menstruation. According to the 2018 American College Health Assessment, 63% of college students felt “overwhelming anxiety” in the previous 12 months. More than 1 in 10 (12.7%) had seriously considered suicide in that same time period. Additionally, given that recent reports indicate that 35–50% of undergraduates may be food insecure, high levels of period poverty may also be present.
Cardoso, Lauren F., et al. “Period Poverty and Mental Health Implications among College-Aged Women in the United States – BMC Women’s Health.” BioMed Central, BioMed Central, 6 Jan. 2021, https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12905-020-01149-5?fbclid=IwAR2F_xZy_76vkyD-JmIeOxL9tpfcTedLuHRFxT9ECx2LFM2dueh9G1cQIcE.
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