Beyond the Bleed: Behind period poverty

SHREYAANVI SHARATH – In today’s rapidly evolving world, it’s disheartening to acknowledge that period disparity still remains a pervasive issue. This phenomenon refers to the unequal access to menstrual hygiene products, education about menstruation, and overall menstrual health support. Millions of individuals worldwide face this struggle, which hinders their ability to lead healthy, dignified lives. 

The average woman that menstruates has about 450 periods in her lifetime; with an average of $20 spent on menstrual products per cycle, and this cost builds up to an estimated amount of $9000 over a lifetime. These numbers are far worse for around the 22 million women living in poverty. A study in Obstetrics and Gynecology demonstrated that 64% of women reported having difficulty affording menstrual products, such as pads, tampons, and even reusable products such as menstrual cups. 21% of women reported that they were unable to afford these products every month. 

Menstruating is something that every woman goes through for about 40 years in her lifetime, it’s a natural part of being human. And so, menstrual products should be treated as necessities and not as luxuries. Including inflation, menstrual products face state taxes, including the “tampon tax.” The tampon tax is essentially state-levied taxes on feminine products such as pads, tampons, and diapers, which make up a significant amount of the public revenue collection. Rising shipping and manufacturing costs also cause the rise in these products. Another barrier to equal access to menstrual products is food stamps and subsidies under the WIC ( Women, Infants, and Children Program) and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) help with groceries, but don’t include period products.  

Because some women can’t afford these expensive products, they turn to using less sanitary options such as paper towels, toilet paper, old rags or even clothing, etc. Women who experience heavier flows, or longer cycles, need to buy more products than the average woman. Using those unsanitary options or prolonging the use of pads, tampons, etc to last longer can cause serious infections, and toxic shock syndrome, which is a rare life-threatening bacterial infection. 

There are simple solutions to combating period poverty. The tax placed on period products should be eliminated. Reusable products such as menstrual cups, and period underwear should be subsidized and offered either free or at a low price to encourage eliminating waste, and these products would also allow for more uses at a lower price, since they are reusable unlike pads and tampons. Pads and tampons should also be readily available for free in schools, workplaces, and federal buildings. Also normalizing conversations about periods and removing the taboo around them will allow women and girls not to feel the stigma and shame when they seek help. 

In our collective pursuit of a more inclusive and equitable society, addressing period disparity stands as a crucial milestone. By amplifying awareness, dismantling stigmas, and implementing practical solutions, we have the power to transform the narrative surrounding menstrual health. Remember, it’s not just about providing access to products, but also about fostering education and understanding.

Copy Editor – Sreeja Challa

Photography Source – https://www.citronhygiene.com/resources/period-dignity-survey/