Period Poverty: what is it and what can we do?! (a bitesize version)

Period poverty is defined as the inability to afford access to adequate menstrual products, hygiene facilities, safe waste management, or education on menstrual health & menstruation. There are people exposed to this in every society, particularly those where menstruation is an especially taboo subject. For example, in some areas of Nepal, the ancient tradition of Chhaupadi is still practiced today – this is where women and often young girls are banished to mud huts or sheds, without any hygiene facilities or proper products, for the duration of their periods as it is believed that the periods can bring back luck or ill-health to the community. In other developing countries, period poverty can lead to high school dropouts, further leading to around 7.3 billion girls giving birth or getting married before their 18th birthday. However, periods being a taboo subject is not limited to developing countries with 1 in 10 British women having struggled to buy sanitary products at some point.

With a multitude of statistics like the 1.25 billion women worldwide not having access to safe, private toilets for their periods, and the 526 billion not having any access at all, it is more important than ever to start conversations that can help towards the eradication of period poverty. Through educating ourselves, and others, we can move towards more knowledge of what people go through every month and bring awareness so that we can reduce the number of people that feel embarrassed when buying products or talking about periods. Donating to causes like Action Aid, Period Poverty UK, and Freedom4Girls, or purchasing your own products from companies like HeyGirls, or Asan, who donate a product to someone in need with every product bought. 28th May is also Global Menstrual Hygiene Day so spreading awareness of periods and period poverty can help towards further mindfulness of menstruation around the globe, which could even lead to pushback against governments or global organizations to put schemes in place to eradicate period poverty.

I completed some primary research recently for a project surrounding period poverty in the UK so give me a shout if you'd like to see my findings!! I am also currently working towards 2 qualifications in 'Menstruation in a Global Context' and a menstrual cycle practitioner course, so lots more to come on this subject!!!

And of course, let me know if you'd like a reference list hehehe xxx