Period Poverty: The Basics
Period poverty is an issue that affects women and girls all around the world- it is the lack of access to sanitary products, safe, hygienic spaces in which to use them, and the right to manage menstruation without shame or stigma. Period poverty impacts millions of girls worldwide, and results in potential health risks, tarnished well-beings, jeopardized opportunities to receive education, and the loss of livelihoods.
Globally, 2.3 billion people live without basic sanitation services and in developing countries, only 27% of people have adequate hand washing facilities at home, according to UNICEF. Not being able to use these facilities makes it harder for women and young girls to manage their periods safely and with dignity. |
In China, period poverty is a prominent, yet rarely discussed issue. The average per capita income of people in some China are substantially lower than the national average. In these areas, many women and girls living impoverished do not have access to adequate menstrual products, as sanitary products pose an additional economic burden on them. They also may not have access to appropriate facilities that are safe or hygienic to use the products they do have.
Besides access to proper facilities and affordability of sanitary products, there are a multitude of other factors that contribute to period poverty. Some of these include tampon tax, where tampon and other menstrual products are subject to a certain percentage of extra taxation in many countries- making them even harder to obtain for those already struggling to afford. Lack of public health education is another crucial cause of period poverty, when girls are not educated on how to properly manage their menstrual cycles, they may resort to using old cloths of newspaper in place of safe and hygienic products. Lastly in some locations, cultural taboos place stigma on women and girls during their cycles- considering them dirty or impure. Each of these causes of period poverty are equally important and must be addressed in order to eradicate period poverty entirely. |
There are many negative effects period poverty has on the lives of girls and women affected by it; Poor menstrual hygiene can cause physical health risks and has been linked to reproductive and urinary tract infections, according to UNICEF. It also stops women from reaching their full potential when they miss out on opportunities crucial to their growth. In many situations, young girls are not able to attend school while on their cycles. Young girls who do not receive an education are more likely to enter child marriages and experience an early pregnancy, malnourishment, domestic violence, and pregnancy complications as a result. Evidently, period poverty has various consequences that ultimately affect the lives of many women and girls in negative ways.
Period poverty is constantly perpetuated by the circumstances of the modern world. However, through educating girls—and boys—about menstruation, we can build girls’ confidence, encourage healthy habits and reduce stigma surrounding this topic. The voices of these girls have to be heard, only then can they have a chance at breaking this cycle of period poverty.