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About Period Poverty
About Period Poverty
What is Period Poverty?
Contrary to many definitions, period poverty is not just about not being able to afford menstrual products
We believe a more holistic definition must be used to encompass the wide issue of period poverty and menstruation rights
Period poverty therefore includes:
The lack of access to period products and different options of period products
The lack of access to a private and clean bathroom
The lack of access to a safe space / a person to talk about it
The lack of access to education and knowledge about menstruation
Period poverty affects 500 million people worldwide - this is around 25% of all those who menstruate (WIIS, 2021). This statistic has gotten even worse since the COVID-19 pandemic, and disproportionately affects refugees and homeless people, with more than 12 million refugees worldwide without adequate sanitation. Period Poverty is something no menstruating person should have to go through and can have severe consequences on their health, education and economic success.
Scotland has made great progress in being the first country to make it law that access to period products is a right. But we want to ensure that this can be achieved everywhere; a global movement to eradicate period poverty and erase the stigma around menstruation.
Who Has A Period?
Period Poverty is an issue that cannot be addressed without taking an intersectional feminist approach.
An approach to ending period poverty must be inclusive and aware that not all women are menstruators and that not all menstruators are women.
Therefore, when referring to issues of menstruation it is best to refer to individuals as menstruators rather than gender binding terms.
Period Poverty as a Human Rights Issue
Menstrual hygiene and access to affordable, safe products is a fundamental human right.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
Article 1 ‘The Right to Freedom’
Article 23 - "The Right to Work"
Article 25 ‘The Right to Health’
Article 26 - "The Right to Education"
Period Poverty as a Sustainable Development Issue
Period poverty is an all encompassing issue which affects menstruators in various ways that are all interconnected, forming a vicious cycle of economic and social inequality.
Studies have shown it can affect:
Education
One in 10 girls in Africa miss school because they don’t have access to menstrual products, or because there aren’t safe, private toilets to use at school (ActionAid 2022)
Physical Health
A lack of hygienic facilities can lead to health problems as menstruators don't have a clean place to change, therefore bacteria can build up. There is also the risk of toxic shock syndrome, which can be fatal if period products are not safely changed in good time.
Mental Health
Menstruators report feeling stressed, ashamed, embarrassed, confused and fearful due to lack of knowledge and inability to manage their periods
Gender Equality
Those who miss school or work due to their period often end up further behind their non-menstruating peers, whether in terms of grades or productivity - this can impact education and future wage inequality
The Medical Side
The Medical Side
Not having a comprehensive understanding of periods can lead to complications and medical conditions going undiagnosed.
Conditions such as endometriosis can explain extreme pain, irregular periods, discomfort when going to the toilet and constant tiredness. That being said, pain, irregularity and discomfort are not always signs of complications, and can be normal - everyone's period affects them differently, but it is important to differentiate between normal period pain and extreme discomfort caused by an underlying issue.
Another important condition to be aware of is Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). This is a rare syndrome but can be life threatening if not treated promptly. Often it is caused by bacteria build up which can result from leaving tampons in longer than the recommended 8 hours. Symptoms include a high temperature, dizziness, flu-like feelings, a rash and nausea.
Don't panic! It's important to be aware of these things, but there is no reason to worry as they are rare and generally treatable. If you would like more information on medical complications that can arise from periods, follow the links in the text.
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