Not Just Her Problem: Period Poverty
- The Mary Word
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
By Hannah Kent
Over 500 million worldwide struggle to afford period products, a reality that often goes unnoticed and unseen. But, period poverty is about much more than having access to sanitary items. It extends to having the education and knowledge of how to use pads and tampons, having the privacy and hygienic conditions allowing a menstruating individual to change safely and to access and afford pain medication. Yet, despite menstruation and the need for period products and education, menstruation remains a strictly off-limits, shameful topic. With 500 million women going through the same experience, you’d expect to hear more about this, right?
For many, talking about periods is an ‘inappropriate’ taboo topic, forcing those who menstruate to suffer in silence. This is not just a women’s issue, it is a societal issue that demands urgent attention.
According to Saint Louis University of Missouri, 1 in 4 people who menstruate cannot afford period products. 1 in 5 women are forced to miss school or work due to a lack of these products. For many, the choice comes down to buying a meal or buying menstrual products. The alternatives are unsafe and undignified: paper towels, rags, diapers or even animal skin. Using unsanitary materials can lead to toxic shock syndrome, vaginal infections and even long-term fertility problems. Missing school or work because of a lack of products sets back educational and economic opportunities, reinforcing cycles of poverty and gender inequality. 1 in 10 college students in developed, first-world countries can’t afford menstrual products as well. Period poverty is not confined to developing nations, it is persistent and prominent in first-world countries, including Australia, the United States and the UK.
It’s not just the availability and affordability of period products but cultural taboos and negative stigmas surrounding menstruation. These make the problem even worse. Periods are often seen as something shameful and unclean, with many societies banning it as a topic of conversation. Further many menstruating people are refused entry into religious buildings as they are considered ‘dirty’ and believed to make the site impure. Even in cultures where that is not an issue, young girls are often scared and intimidated to tell anyone when they get their first period. This silence and shame discourage open discussion and education.
How can we address period poverty when the people affected are forced to keep their struggles hidden, perpetuating a cycle of ignorance and inaction?
Period poverty is NOT just a women’s issue; it is a human rights and public health issue. It affects families, workplaces and entire communities. Addressing it requires more than just making such products affordable, it means breaking the silence, challenging the stigma, and demanding policy change. Governments should provide free menstrual products in schools and public spaces. Governments should remove all taxes on these essentials. Governments should ensure comprehensive menstrual education for all. Ending period poverty benefits everyone, not just those who menstruate. We as a society should speak openly about menstruation and support those affected by period poverty and advocate for lasting change.
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