Most of the time, we forget how fortunate we are to have the smallest things in life, from a comb to a razor to feminine products. Although they may not seem as luxurious items, they are commodities that many girls do not have access to. According to UNICEF, around 2.3 billion people across the world do not have access to basic sanitation services. Imagine how many of those individuals are adolescent women experiencing menstruation.
The inability to access feminine products is not only an issue with practicing hygienic behaviors, but can also lead to detrimental health issues such as reproductive health concerns or urinary tract infections. To help, a local non-profit organization in Richmond, VA, called Period Patch, is providing feminine products to homeless and struggling women around the county. Pads or tampons should not be something a woman has to struggle for because having a period is a normal biological process every girl goes through. For that reason, it is crucial to be hygienic to prevent any severe health issues.
Along with the lack of feminine products available, there is also a taboo associated with talking about menstruation and feminine hygiene because it may be perceived as embarrassing or shameful. However, as I said before, it is a normal biological process, and the female body goes through so much from hormonal changes, menstruation, pregnancy to aging and, it’s important to take care of our body and maintain cleanliness. In fact, due to this taboo, many developing countries actually have women who are not aware of what a period even is. They are not aware of the fact that it occurs to every girl and, that causes them to be more unprepared and ashamed when they experience their first period.
In Ethiopia, over half of the women are not educated about menstruation. Some of them believe that when a girl receives her first period, she is no longer a virgin. These misconceptions may cause teasing and, in some cases, may lead to a girl dropping out of school to avoid any embarrassment. The lack of feminine products as well as proper education are both serious issues that I never truly realized until I did my research for this article. It is important to empower women so they are comfortable with their bodies as well as aware of all biological processes that they may experience. Additionally, I believe that this should be an issue that should pertain to boys as well, so girls would no longer feel ashamed or would have to undergo any harassment for losing their virginity. This will also help eliminate the negative stigma associated with talking about menstruation.
What can you do to help? Well, if you are a VCU student, then you are more than welcomed to donate any unused feminine products you have to Period Patch. If you are not in the Richmond area, then do not worry because you still have many ways to help! For instance, the Homeless Period Project accepts donations to provide menstrual hygiene products and to also educate girls.