Let's talk about period poverty...
Period poverty occurs when menstruators cannot access the menstrual products, underwear and pain medication that they require to maintain their menstrual health due to several different factors, such as, cost, stigma, and gender discrimination.
Menstrual health is a human rights issue and all those who menstruate should have the right to the knowledge, products and the opportunities to have access to water and sanitation, privacy and safety when they need to hygienically handle their periods.
Period poverty presents consequences. Not only physical and mental ones, but potentially social problems also. Menstruators may miss out on opportunities within both school and work from the affordability of menstrual products alone.
Pharmacy manager, Allison rea said:
‘The cost of living in general at the moment is at an all-time high but I’ve noticed it especially in the pharmacy! I’ve had to start really monitoring what is being ordered because it is just getting so expensive’.
Education and Work
Period poverty is a global issue, placing not only a cost burden on menstruators for a routine and natural bodily function. Period poverty can contribute to absences from school and work, infections due to the affordability of hygiene products leading to low hygiene as people try to make do with what they have. Not to mention in the mental health challenges that this can provoke.
Dr Zunera Mahmood says:
‘Period poverty is a very real and challenging aspect that many girls face, not just within the UK. The impact that it can have on these girls’ lives is awful, it takes away their feeling of ability to be themselves and in turn lowers their self-esteem. It isn’t just a one-off kind of challenge it’s something these girls deal with once a month continuously’.
Period poverty reaches far and wide, having a negative impact on not just girls and women, but on society as a whole. Something that is forgotten in the stigma of period poverty is the economic impact this can also present through the loss of productivity. As regularly, places of education and workplaces don’t take into full account female menstrual health, despite it affecting a massive chunk of the population; greater flexibility within these places paired with more open conversations could address these issues in a better way.
Allison said: ‘I have a mix of both young women and older women within my work and I do try to consider this. Like as a company we’ve supplied sanitary products in our bathrooms, and we are or do try to be understanding when it comes to our staff’s monthly cycle’.
Emotional Wellbeing
In addition to the topic of period poverty, it is important to understand that periods are uncomfortable aspects of life to deal with in general, they play a factor to girls missing out on sports also. Yet, girls should not have to feel ashamed or embarrassed about saying why!
Most girls who missed out on sports in school make up a lie or an excuse out of embarrassment from saying it was their period.
Student Katie Wynne said: ‘I’m somebody who is really into fitness but when it comes to doing sports on my period it’s like my motivation just disappears. Now I’ve learned to accept it, it’s part of my cycle I embrace it now, but in school I was ashamed of it, I was scared to make up excuses because you weren’t always sure how the teachers were going to take it’.
Managing physical period symptoms like cramps, headaches and the symptoms of PMS becomes easier when people feel comfortable enough to talk about their periods. Whether that be asking for what they need, advice, menstruation products, mediation to help ease pain or even just for support, it is important to make this as easy and encouraged for women as possible.
Dr Mahmood said: ‘For being the 21st century, girls deal too much with the challenge of coping with not only with their period alone but with the affordability of it also. What is needed is an approach to be taken to break the taboos and to provide girls with the appropriate education and support on how to manage their periods probably and potentially take away the embarrassment associated with them’.
Myths and Taboos
Both myths and taboos associated with periods have been in existence for years. Don’t get it wrong the understanding of periods has developed, yet they are still often used as a method of control; they can be used as a way to stigmatize women, deny their rights and even reduce and influence their power in society.
Period taboos exist within many religions also, monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam- as well as other religions including Hinduism and Buddhism- where statements (that you could say can be interpreted in different ways) such as, that during menstruation women should be required to act differently in some way or that the people around them should behave differently towards them. Thus, setting girls and women who are within their menstruation apart from society around them.
These taboos and religious principles can be contributors to the lack of education and understanding towards menstruation and can be factors that contribute towards the existence of period poverty.
Period Poverty within Developing Countries
Period poverty’s biggest impact on women lies within women and girls living within developing countries. Meaning, countries that have not achieved a significant degree of industrialisation relative to their populations, in consequence tend to have a medium to low standard of living.
It is within these countries that you are most likely to find period poverty concerning lack of hygiene facilities and very little or no access to menstruation products that are essential. These factors can create considerably negative impacts on the lives of women and girls and the communities, these consequences including:
Education, girls often missing schooling throughout their menstrual cycle due to lack of facilities or private spaces (toilets to get changed).
Health, many of these women and girls are unable to access the appropriate facilities to help them with managing their periods adequately; forced to use substitutes like rags and unsuitable material that leaves them with infections and diseases.
Emotional wellbeing, the impact that period poverty can have on mental health and wellbeing is massive. They may feel outcasted from society as they are unable to manage these natural parts of their bodily function appropriately, taking away their dignity leaving them isolated and lonely during a time that already makes women and girls feel vulnerable.
Addressing Period Poverty
When it comes to actually addressing period poverty, it’s a complicated process as it involves economic issues and there are also several cultural beliefs behind it too.
Ending period poverty requires a substantial education on menstruation combined with the support of government, health and public bodies. A great amount of work is being done and has been done already in this area by charities and by individuals in support.
At the moment, within the UK specifically, there is a variety of work already being done to educate on menstrual health, with the first class being taught in primary school.
With the UK again, there are also many charities and groups that work hard to help end period poverty. Since 2020 the government has also introduced free products in schools and universities and colleges and also have pledged to give free sanitary products to those who need them- something which was not done previous to this. Sanitary products and tampons are also being delivered to low-income households and councils now have fundings to provide free products at sports clubs and other public places.
Dr Mahmood said- ‘The introduction of this was a step in the right direction, there still is work to be done within other countries but with the work of different charities hopefully it is achievable within the near future, because it’s a natural part of life it isn’t a choice so it shouldn’t be treated like one’.
Half the population of the world have experienced or currently do have regular periods, it’s a natural biological process that people should be able to manage hygienically, comfortably and with dignity.
Katie said: ‘It is nice to see in university now that all the toilets have got sanitary products provided, it’s a step in the right direction and I think until you actually do research on it you just take them being there for granted, you forget the work that’s been put into getting them there in the first place’.
How can you help?
So, you might be asking, how can I help? Well, there are several ways this can be done to make a difference to period poverty!
· Chose menstruation products from brands that support putting an end to period poverty!
· Donate to charities, both global and local
· Sign petitions
· Attend organised events associated to ending period poverty!
Most importantly, educate yourself on the issues and listen to other experiences and stories because the more people that do stand together, the easier an end sight will be.
Below I’ve attached some links to charities and websites incase you want to have a look!
Donate to help share a better period: https://www.actionaid.org.uk/changelives/rg/share-a-better-period?gclid=CjwKCAjw0N6hBhAUEiwAXab-TfwbpPVAz2huICFlNQmah8D3syF_H0I9raC0V4Kn40eh10QKHs7IdxoCSeYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
What is period poverty? https://www.bodyform.co.uk/break-taboos/our-world/period-poverty/
Freedom4Girls are a UK charity fighting against period poverty! https://www.freedom4girls.co.uk
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