The Generosity Challenge: Period Poverty

What is Period Poverty and Why Should We Care?

Bringing menstruation struggles into the light

This is not a piece that I would usually write. It’s a topic viewed as awkward, and often even as “inappropriate” in public spaces.

But if I tell myself that I care about social justice, then I can’t avoid a topic just because it might make people uncomfortable. So I hope that you’ll have grace for me, about something I’m just beginning to learn about. For the most part, I will let my research and the words of people more knowledgeable than me speak for themselves.

I also hope that you can read this with a humble heart: a heart that cares to learn more, and cares for those affected by this struggle.

Period basics

Across the world, women and those with uteruses experience menstruation. According to Healthwise Staff, in Canada, the menstrual period usually begins between the ages of 11 and 14, and ends at menopause, around the age of 50.

Jessica Kane has written an excellent piece called “Here’s How Much a Woman’s Period Will Cost Her Over a Lifetime” which breaks down many of the statistics surrounding this topic. She goes beyond what we would normally consider “menstruation products” like pads and tampons, and includes medication taken for cramps and acne brought on by menstruation, as well as other things we might not normally consider. I highly recommend taking the time to read it, to gain a better picture of what people with periods experience––not just physically, but financially, which affects other aspects of life.

The total time that the average woman spends menstruating over the course of her lifetime is estimated to be 6.25 years (Kane).

That is… a long time.

What is period poverty?

Period poverty is “the inability to afford menstrual products” (Arushana Sunderaeson).

A piece done by Jennifer Parraga describes how nearly a quarter of Canadian women have reported struggles with affording menstruation products for themselves, or their dependents.

It is also estimated that Canadians who menstruate typically spend up to $6,000 in their lifetime on menstrual hygiene products (Parraga).

In a piece on the Canadian Public Health Association’s website, Vanora D’Sa writes that when people are not able to afford menstruation products, they may revert to unsanitary measures with detrimental health implications.

“For example, women who use the same tampon for a prolonged duration of time can develop infections that lead to toxic shock syndrome, a potentially fatal condition. Furthermore, studies have found that unsanitary measures during menstruation can lead to an increase in lower reproductive tract infections” (D’Sa).

Not only does menstruation take a material and financial toll on people, but there is also a social and mental/emotional impact.

Parraga also cites Plan Canada’s 2019 Gender Study, which says that 68% of women in Canada felt that their period prevented them from full participation in an activity, while over 50% have missed school, work or social activities. The number was higher for women under 25 years of age, with 70% refraining from participation. Nearly one-in-seven Canadian girls has either left school early or missed it entirely because of a lack of access to period products (Richard).

Periods can also provoke anxiety, especially when folks experience stress related to lack of access to products, as mentioned previously (Parraga).

Something that affects all aspects of a person’s wellbeing has to catch our attention.

The importance of policy changes

In April of 2019, the B.C. government issued a ministerial order requiring public schools to provide free menstrual products for students in school bathrooms.

You can read on the B.C. government website about the official policy statement and rationale. Essentially, the purpose of this policy is to allow students to have “access to healthy and effective learning environments.”

“Providing all students with convenient access to free menstrual products helps to support their full participation in school activities, reduces stigma and promotes gender equality” (B.C. Government Website).

Furthermore, Sunderaeson writes about how Bhutila Karpoche, a Toronto-area provincial opposition legislator, tabled a bill to recognize May 28 as Menstrual Hygiene Day in Ontario. A large part of her inspiration came from advocacy by students from schools in her riding. She was also inspired by community organizations such as The Period Purse and FemCare Community Health Initiative.

This demonstrates that advocacy can truly have an effect!

So…

How can we take action?

First, we need to remove the stigma and shame from the conversation surrounding menstruation

Arushana Sunderaeson words it wonderfully when she says this:

“For the longest time, menstruation has been treated like a secret that is only talked about among those who experience it, instead of as a natural, beautiful and powerful process. Breaking down such misunderstandings, and removing barriers to accessing menstrual products, are both fundamental to the goal of normalizing periods and menstruation” (Sunderaeson).

“Natural, beautiful, and powerful.”

Our bodies were made this way, and that is nothing to be ashamed of.

Second, we can donate period products

Food Banks Canada has a post entitled “Food Banks Need More Than Just Food — Because Life has Other Necessities.” It states that those with periods often have to make a decision between buying hygiene products, or spending that money on healthy food or transportation. “Food banks also face a challenge when receiving donations because it’s not often that feminine hygiene products are top of mind for donors.”

“It may not be first on your list of items to donate but the need for feminine hygiene products is great among those who use food banks. Consider adding these items to your list the next time you donate to your local food bank” (Food Banks Canada).

Third, we can partner with advocacy groups, and raise awareness

According to Sunderaeson, these are some ways to help end period poverty:

• Reach out to community organizations in your area (domestic violence shelters, Indigenous centres, LGBTQ2S+ advocacy groups, among others)
• Plan International Canada has a tool on its website (plancanada.ca/periods-matter) that allows people to email their province’s minister of education to demand that menstrual hygiene products are made free in all public schools
• Join campaigns to reduce the stigma of menstruation (such as Toronto-based The Period Purse and Oxfam Canada)

Also, continue to educate yourself, because this post is not an exhaustive description of period poverty. I mainly covered statistics in Canada, which is a first-world country, and so the situation is even more exacerbated across the world.

More resources

• 2019 Oscar-winning short film Period. End of Sentence
• If you Google “period poverty,” you will find a multitude of information. You will also be able to find campaigns more specific to the region where you live

I hope that you learned something from this piece, that you gained greater compassion for those who suffer from period poverty, and that you feel empowered to take action.

I wrote this as part of a reflective series on a generosity challenge that I am doing. If you’re inspired to take on the challenge, feel free to check it out right here.