Millions of girls, women, and gender-diverse people worldwide struggle with period poverty, which makes it a severe problem. According to Irise International, period poverty affects more than 500 million girls, women, and gender-diverse people.
Period poverty, also called menstrual poverty, is the lack of access to period products; sanitary facilities; healthcare services; and information about periods. Social and economic barriers to menstrual health increase inequalities and disproportionately affect girls, women and gender-diverse people from minority groups, lower-income communities, and parts of the world. Minority identity markers like race, disability, gender identity and sexuality, among others, increase the chances of experiencing period poverty. And a lot of cultural and religious norms stigmatise periods.
Period poverty results in negative health outcomes, missed school or work, and shame or stigma. In Uganda, nearly a quarter of girls, women, and gender-diverse people between 12 and 18 drop out of school when they begin their periods. A 2022 research study by SNV in Zimbabwe revealed that 72% of girls, women, and gender-diverse people of school-going age could not afford period products. There is an increasingly high demand for underwear because not all girls, women, and gender-diverse people can access it. As a result, they do not go to school when they are on their period out of fear of humiliation. In 2020, over 50% of the Tanzanian population did not have access to sanitation facilities and clean drinking water was limited. Tanzanian girls, women, and gender-diverse people were and still are at risk of poor physical or reproductive health. In Namibia, the lack of access to period products means that many school-going girls, young and young gender-diverse people mess between 3 and 5 days of school a month. Additionally, increasing economic inflation makes period products and underwear more expensive.
Period poverty has lasting consequences for girls, women, and gender-diverse people’s self-esteem, education and economic opportunities, further increasing existing vulnerabilities. Ultimately, it reduces the possibilities of achieving sustainable development goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10. Because ending period poverty requires addressing poverty broadly; improving access to quality education, information and comprehensive sexuality education; addressing gender inequalities and harmful religious and cultural norms; improving sanitation infrastructure; advocating for human and sexual reproductive health and rights; and improving possibilities for impartial work and economic growth. There are several ways we can work together to end period poverty, including:
Providing access to affordable or accessible period products
Period product taxes must be removed. Taxes raise financial obstacles when purchasing period products because they are taxed as luxury goods, a gross human rights violation. Governments should subsidise period products and fund organisations that manufacture them. Campaigns that encourage using reusable, sustainable and environmentally friendly period products are necessary. Likewise, they should be accessible everywhere. Period products should also be available for free in public places, including schools; hospitals; community centres; police stations; shopping malls and government buildings, to name a few.
Educating communities about menstrual health and hygiene
Education and information are power. Increasing access to and promoting comprehensive sexuality education, in and out of schools, can empower girls, women, and gender-diverse people with vital information to help improve their menstrual health. They will also be in a better position to enjoy their sexual reproductive health and rights, and self-esteem. Increasing access to information about periods can end period-related stigma and myths. Studies estimate that 71% of girls, women, and gender-diverse people do not know about menstrual health or periods until after their first period. Across cultures, communities and the world, there are misconceptions that an individual is “dirty” while on their period. And commonly isolated at home and in the community, from religious and cultural spaces and from participating in other activities.
Addressing the stigma associated with periods
Ending the taboo around periods is essential for ending menstrual poverty. There is a lot of misinformation and myths about periods. In Tanzania, girls, women, and gender-diverse people are ashamed during their periods. Girls, women, and gender-diverse people are often mocked when their periods catch them off guard.
Including men in campaigns and interventions to end menstrual poverty is also essential. They need to be educated about periods and menstrual health to change beliefs, misconceptions, and myths about periods effectively.
Advocating for policies that support period equity and access to period products
Advocating for an end to period poverty and lobbying for community and government leaders are crucial because they are influential in decision-making processes from the grassroots level, nationally, regionally and internationally. We need gender-transformative policies and interventions that ensure that the needs and experiences of girls, women, and gender-diverse people are prioritised. With the right policies and interventions, barriers to accessing menstrual health products will be removed.
Supporting organisations that provide period products to those in need.
Many organisations and activists have made it their mission to end gender-based discrimination and destigmatise periods. Organisations and activists that teach girls, women and gender-diverse people to embrace their bodies, normalise periods, distribute information, provide comprehensive sexuality education, distribute period products, and support NEED resources, money, capacity building and more.
Periods do not have to be and should not be challenging. Period poverty is avoidable and can end with suitable campaigns, policies, and interventions driven by communities, leaders, government officials and organisations. The end of menstrual poverty and its long-lasting impact on the lives of girls, women, and gender-diverse people requires removing economic and social barriers to accessing period products, access to comprehensive sexuality education and information, and improved sanitation facilities. By ending period poverty, we can ensure that girls, women, and gender-diverse people have the space to reach their full potential; we can reduce gender inequality and other inequalities, ensure more young people finish school and close the gendered gap in economic possibilities.