Anyone who has to deal with getting their period knows the pain it brings each month — not only to your abdomen, but to your wallet as well. Those of us privileged enough to be able to afford menstrual products each month might not understand the difficulty that others go through in order to access them. According to Cora, there are 300 million women around the world who manage their periods with things like rags and plastics, sand, and even ash, because they simply cannot afford or do not have access to menstrual products. Luckily, there are a number of women’s hygiene brands that are making it a point to make period products for people who don’t have the means to access them.
Cora
Cora is a brand that offers a variety of menstrual products, including pads, tampons, and menstrual cups, and they are partnered with a few organizations around the globe. In India, they are partnered with Aakar Innovations, which is a group that supports women in setting up their own factories where they can manufacture sanitary pads. The women working in these factories are able to distribute period products to women who otherwise would not be able to access them. In Kenya, Cora is partnered with ZanaAfrica Foundation. This organization offers girls in Kenya proper health education and sanitary pads. The problem of limited accessibility is not just in other countries, but it’s also right here in America. Cora states that there are over 25 million women in the U.S. who live below the poverty line, and who subsequently cannot afford menstrual products. Cora is partnered with several nonprofits in the U.S. in order to distribute women’s hygiene products to those who need it most.
Lola is a women’s hygiene brand that makes both pads and tampons. They are partnered with a nonprofit in the U.S. called Support The Girls, which distributes not only menstrual products, but also bras and underwear to women in poverty. To date, they’ve distributed over 8 million products to women in need. They also offer aid to women who have suffered natural disasters and at the US-Mexico border. In addition to distributing products, Lola has partnered with the organization Period Equity in order to advocate for tax-exempt period products across America.
L.
L. is a brand that sells pads, tampons, and liners. Their products are made from organic cotton and have PETA’s cruelty-free seal of approval. They are partnered with several organizations and have reached over 20 countries across the globe. They strive to provide women with hygiene products in areas where there is little — if any — access to them. They also work with partners who are attempting to make changes in women’s income and education, as well as getting rid of stigmas that surround women’s health.
It’s important for us to recognize our privileges and try to help others who may not have the same luxuries we do, especially when it comes to something as important as health. When you make a purchase from one of these companies, you can buy knowing that you are making a difference in the life of women around the world.