About Us

Period poverty refers to the lack of access to affordable menstrual products. The result of this is many girls having to miss out on school to deal with their periods at home. However, this is detrimental because it not only limits the education women have access to; but can lead to a decline in health and their sense of self worth and pride. Just in the United States, a very developed country, women typically spend up to $180 on period products a year. This is a very high number that the vast majority of people simply cannot afford, especially in third world countries. Period products are also so expensive due to the pink tax, a gender based system in which women's products are more expensive than men's. Additionally, the stigma that periods carry and gender discrimination makes this issue one that is not a priority to fix. It is a global issue that impacts everyone, but especially women in South Asia.

Works Cited:

Azzeri, Amirah. Ismael, Suraya Yasmin. Jaafar, Hafiz. "Period Poverty: A Neglected Health Issue." National Library Of Medicine. 16 May 2023.

Jaafar, Hafiz, et al. “Period Poverty: A Neglected Public Health Issue.” Korean Journal of Family Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 2023, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10372806/.

Medical negligence refers to when a healthcare provider fails to meet the standard of care a patient is meant to recieve, leading to the patient to be harmed. This occurs the most to women of color in areas of gynecology, surgery, and emergency medicine. A big role in this is medical professionals simply not believing in their female patients when they say they have an issue, simplifying the issue to saying it is the result of anxiety or not a big deal, leading to the issue being misdiagnosed or diagnosed too late. This frequently occurs in the late diagnoses of cancers in the reproductive system. The gender bias contributes to this with women not being taken seriously, but also in that women's health is incredibly underfunded and under-researched. This dates back many decades with the typical dosage of certain medicines only being tested on men, leaving women not represented in the trials, but later the same dosage would be used on women. This is also the case in present times with women being spoken over or not listened to by male doctors, or by not having autonomy over their own medical decisions and needing their male relatives to make decisisons for them.  Biologically men and women's bodies have very different needs and limits so this has led to a number of health complications. Additionally, women's health is deeply mistreated in areas of pregnancy, birth, and menstrual cycles. Despite how difficult pregnancy is on the body, women are expected to go back to work only 6 weeks after giving birth in the US. Unfortunately, many women are also mistreated by 'medical professionals.' A common case of this is the "Husband Stitch" where the surgeon adds extra stitches to a woman's vaginal opening following giving birth, typically without her consent. This is a clear violation of patient rights, but unfortunately is common. There are many other instances of injustice to women occurring in the medical field. While we can't put an end to all of it, we can help to advocate for all women and ensure we don't get violated by people and institutions that are meant to help us!

Periods are seen as one of the most taboo topics in South Asian culture. South Asian girls aren't taught about menstrual cycles, let alone how to navigate their health as a woman, until they have their first menses. Getting your period is a different experience for girls all around the world, but in South Asia, having it is seen as a burden both financially and emotionally. Many South Asian girls miss multiple days of school due to their period out of shame, embarrassment and the lack of period products to help them get through the school day. Although times have modernized, and people are becoming less and less shameful about speaking up about menstruation; in South Asia, there is still stigma around the topic. When women are on their period, there are many cultural myths that are practiced. For instance, they are told to avoid being close with others, such as sleeping in the same room as them, because they are "impure". It is also looked down upon to discuss periods with males, even if it's with your father or husband. Financially, a huge population of South Asian women cannot afford to have the standard menstrual products due to period poverty in majority of South Asia. According to Cordaid.org, 64% of Bangladeshi women do not have access to clean menstrual products, which leads them to use unsanitary rags during their period (Frankvanlierde). To put it into perspective: 64% of women is approximately 57 million Bangladeshi women. The severe lack of access doesn't just affect comfort, it has serious health consequences. A journal written in 2018, proved that women in India who used such unsanitary products had developed many harmful diseases, such as Urinary Tract Infection, Bacterial Vaginosis, Vulvovaginal Candidiasis, Trichomonas Vaginalis and Candida (Torondel et al.). Despite the widespread need, menstrual health is rarely discussed in South Asian policy, and little government funding is dedicated to making period products more affordable and accessible. 

Works Cited: 

Torondel, Belen, et al. “Association between Unhygienic Menstrual Management Practices and Prevalence of Lower Reproductive Tract Infections: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Odisha, India.” BMC Infectious Diseases, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 21 Sept. 2018, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6150969/#:~:text=disposable%20pads)%20or%2C%20in%20fewer,and%20Trichomonas%20vaginalis%20(TV).

Frankvanlierde. “Fighting Period Poverty: Social Justice and Saving the Planet.” Cordaid International, 2 Oct. 2023, www.cordaid.org/en/news/fighting-period-poverty-how-a-sanitary-pad-can-bring-social-justice/.

Code Red was founded to fight period poverty both locally and across South Asia, while raising awareness about women's health and breaking the cultural silence surrounding menstruation. We're committed to helping build a world where periods are met with dignity, not shame. Our goals are rooted in the belief that access to menstrual products and education is a basic human right, not a privilege. No girl should have to skip school, suffer silently, or feel ashamed because she's on her period. 

At Code Red, we aim to: 

• Distribute menstrual products to underserved communities, both in New York and in South Asian countries, such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and India.

• Provide menstrual health education through social media, workshops, and resources that help girls understand their bodies.

• Collaborate with shelters, schools, and organizations to widen our impact and reach those who need support the most.

• Amplify the voices of South Asian women and girls, whose experiences are often overlooked in global health conversations. 

At Code Red, we are building towards a future where no girl feels held back because of her period. Join our fight today!