In the United States, one in four teenagers and one in three adults face difficulties affording period products, a challenge that reflects a global crisis. Millions of people worldwide lack access to affordable menstrual products and proper facilities to manage their menstrual health. Despite the fact that nearly half of the world’s population menstruates, access to these essential products remains a significant barrier for many.
This issue has been coined as period poverty, and it highlights the economic and social struggles tied to menstrual health. Period poverty is exacerbated by stigmas and misinformation about menstruation, perpetuated by a lack of education on the subject. For women unable to afford the rising costs of menstrual products, the consequences are dire. Women and girls without access to necessary products are at a higher risk of infections, and many are forced to miss school or work, further deepening the cycle of poverty.
Adding to the issue is the “pink tax” a term that describes the taxes placed on menstrual hygiene products. These taxes are currently enforced in twenty states, increasing the cost of products already too expensive for many. Period products are often labeled as “luxury” items, making them ineligible to be purchased on government assistance. This further denies those experiencing poverty access to essential items for necessary and basic hygiene.Â
Another problem perpetuating period poverty is the unawareness about the issue. Period poverty affects as many as two out of five women, according to U by Kotex (a pads and tampon brand) in a 2021 study. The same study showed a 35 percent increase in people struggling to afford period supplies, showing that over time the cost has only gone up.Â
Further, period poverty disproportionately affects women of color and women classified as low income. About a quarter of Black and Latina women with periods strongly agree that in the past year they struggled to afford period products. Over a third of low wage working women report having to miss work or school because they could not access products. These statistics demonstrate how widespread of an issue period poverty is.
Teens and adults should not have to miss school or work because they cannot afford basic hygiene products, so the question to answer is: how do we achieve menstrual equity? Many countries and states around the world have passed laws that mandate public spaces like schools to provide period products and consider them as essential as toilet paper, soap, and paper towels. According to the Alliance for Period Supplies “more than three quarters of Americans believe that period supplies should be available free-of-charge at public schools and public universities”. Currently, sixteen states and Washington D.C. require schools to provide period products to their students.
Education can also go a long way in fighting the stigma around menstruation. Individuals can help fight period poverty by donating period products. Organizations like the Alliance for Period Supplies and The Kwek Society are actively advocating for increased accessibility to menstrual supplies. Women across the world are uniting to address this issue and achieve equality for all.Â
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