Period Poverty

Managing their menstrual health and hygiene is still a challenge for millions of women and girls around the world who cannot afford menstruation products or access water and sanitation services. Their health suffers, and they miss work and school because of their periods, but this need not be the case.

Over two billion people worldwide have menstruation each month. Millions of women and girls lack access to safe water, sanitary facilities, and menstruation products despite the fact that menstruation, sometimes known as the period, is a normal and healthy occurrence. Their freedoms, rights, and lives are disrupted by this.

The inability to pay for and obtain menstruation supplies, sanitary and hygienic facilities, as well as education and awareness on managing menstrual health, is referred to as period poverty. Simply put, women and girls suffer too much from period poverty, and things don’t have to be this way.

What leads to poverty during periods? Globally, period poverty is fuelled by stigma, the high expense of menstruation supplies, and a lack of access to clean water and sanitary facilities. For millions of women around the world, the cost of menstruation supplies is exorbitant. While gender-blind legislation and tax rules, such as the “pink tax” on feminine items, are somewhat to blame, they also contribute to the stigma and taboo surrounding menstruation. For instance, sanitary items are categorized as luxury goods and are subject to the highest tax rates in several US states, yet Viagra, which treats erectile dysfunction, is considered a tax-exempt health product.

Furthermore, essential sanitation facilities like private restrooms are still unavailable to over 1.5 billion people. Many women miss work during their periods, and many girls miss school because they lack access to properly maintained restrooms. In rural parts of 12 nations, at least 10% of women and girls did not have a private space to change and wash during their most recent period. In addition to the fact that many girls and young women are unaware of and unprepared for their periods, period poverty is also sustained by stigma and a lack of knowledge and education. Policymakers and adults who hold decision-making authority in schools and workplaces also lack thorough menstrual education.

 A worldwide health concern that affects women and girls in both wealthy and developing nations is period poverty. Depending on their income and whether they reside in an urban or rural region, women and girls have a wide range of options for managing their menstrual health and cleanliness. 

By:Tanushka Sharma