Why Should You Care About Period Poverty?
Maanya Pandey // November 11, 2020
Period poverty is defined as the “inadequate access to menstrual hygiene tools and educations, including but not limited to sanitary products, washing facilities, and waste management” (Alvarez).
These conditions are indeed extremely prevalent among developing countries with 25 percent of women in Nigeria lacking adequate menstrual hygiene management and only 54 percent of schools in India having a separate and usable girls’ restroom (Period Poverty and Poor Menstrual Hygiene), but most people would be surprised to know that period poverty is a common occurrence even developed countries like the United States of America.
“Two-thirds of low-income women in a large city couldn’t afford period products last year”
In America, two-thirds of low-income women in a large city couldn’t afford period products last year (Carroll). With that, many of the women surveyed stated that they regularly had to make the tough decision to purchase food or menstrual products. Food to survive and period products for menstruation are both necessities for basic bodily functions, yet many people unable to afford them are forced every day to choose. It makes you wonder how even in one of the most economically and socially developed countries in the world, people are still facing these types of issues.
“One in four people aged 13 to 35 have found it harder to manage their period because of the pandemic”
The coronavirus pandemic has made the issue of period poverty worse. Since the beginning of the pandemic, about 47% of menstruators have stated that they have had a harder time accessing menstrual supplies as a result of COVID-19. Additionally, one in four people aged 13 to 35 have found it harder to manage their period because of the pandemic (Napierkowski). This pandemic has greatly affected and increased this issue that many face throughout the world.
A lot of times because of decreased access to these necessary products, people use dangerous, dignity-stripping alternative methods to get by during their period cycles. Some people have resorted to using socks, old rags, and even cardboard during their period because they are unable to afford pads or tampons. These methods are not only unreliable, but they are also unsafe. Using unclean products can lead to some negative health effects like dangerous diseases and infections. Period poverty has also been shown to take tolls on people’s mental health as well. The lack of access to menstrual products has been discovered to cause elevations of anxiety, depression, and distress scores (Kilpatrick). All of these negative effects and situations are the reason Love For Red wants to help.
“Some people have resorted to using socks, old rags, and even cardboard during their period”
Love For Red strives to uplift the people being crushed by the hardships of period poverty. We want to bring awareness to this widespread yet unknown issue that up to 64% of people with periods face (Carroll). By providing menstrual products to those unable to purchase these necessities, we are ensuring that more people can live with dignity while on their period, no matter where they live.
To be able to donate these products to everyone who needs them, we need your help. A $20 donation can aid us in supplying one person with enough menstrual products to last them up to six cycles! By donating to Love For Red, you are actively aiding against the battle of period poverty by providing more people with the products they need to stay dignified and safe.
Works Cited
Alvarez, Alexandra. “AMWA.” American Medical Women’s Association, 5 Nov. 2019, www.amwa-doc.org/period-poverty/.
Carroll, Linda. “Even in the U.S., Poor Women Often Can’t Afford Tampons, Pads.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 10 Jan. 2019, www.reuters.com/article/us-health-menstruation-usa/even-in-the-u-s-poor-women-often-cant-afford-tampons-pads-idUSKCN1P42TX.
Kilpatrick, Ashley Rapp and Sidonie. “Changing the Cycle: Period Poverty as a Public Health Crisis.” U, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 4 Feb. 2020, sph.umich.edu/pursuit/2020posts/period-poverty.html.
Napierkowski, Alicia. “Tampons Are Harder to Get For Many During the Pandemic.” Teen Vogue, 7 Oct. 2020, www.teenvogue.com/story/period-poverty-getting-worse-during-the-pandemic.
“Period Poverty and Poor Menstrual Hygiene.” Figo, 19 Feb. 2019, www.figo.org/news/month-after-month-period-poverty.