Breaking the taboo of period poverty
Period poverty can be devastating - why aren't we doing more about it, asks Isabel Sheppard.
All over the world, girls and women are fighting their way through one of the most painful - and most routine - experiences: a period. For those that aren’t aware, the reason that they can be so painful is because they produce the same muscle contractions as giving birth. Of course some people are lucky enough to feel very little pain, but for most girls and women, periods are a monthly challenge. And no, we’re not exaggerating when we say that it feels like our insides are being ripped out of us. Because that is what is happening: the lining of the uterus is being ejected. Luckily, though, everyone that struggles through this has access to painkillers, hot water bottles, support and sanitary items. Right?
Wrong.
Unfortunately, this is not the case for many. It’s been estimated that around 500 million people in the world don’t have access to sanitary products when they need them. It’s a particular problem in war zones, where women and girls may have lost their homes and their families, and now also be on their period. And it happens in the UK too, not just in other countries. In the UK alone, period poverty (not being able to access or afford period products, and not having access to hygiene facilities and waste management) has risen from 12% to 21% in just one year during the current cost of living crisis. That’s a staggering amount of girls and women who are suffering with no support, facilities or products at all. A survey was conducted in 2022 by GirlGuiding to find out how many young women and girls didn’t have access to free sanitary products in their school or college, and 32% reported that it was unavailable.
Now that you’ve seen these statistics and have realised that this is in our country as well as on a global scale, I want you to think. I want you to think about why this isn’t considered to be a more serious issue. I want you to think about why this major issue is just being swept under the rug.
It comes down to one main factor: embarrassment. Discussing periods may be more widely accepted now than it used to be but people still avoid talking about it where possible. Menstruation is still a taboo topic that no one really wants to discuss, even in the 21st century. That’s why I’m bringing it to your attention today. You need to be brave enough to ask your friend if you can do anything to help them. You should be able to have the confidence to go and ask for sanitary products and support, whether that’s for you or for someone else. You shouldn’t feel afraid to ask questions and have curiosity about this topic just because people see it as strange or embarrassing. If we all become just a bit more aware of the problem of period poverty and the taboo around periods, and do more to challenge those ideas, we can make a huge difference. We might even be able to make free period products a normal thing.
If you take nothing else from this article, I want you to have more confidence in this topic. And if you want to help the women and girls struggling with period poverty, go researching! There are loads of charities that are dedicated to helping and sometimes all you need to do to help is simply send a message. If you are reading this because you are struggling, reach out to people you trust – your friends, family, pastoral managers, anyone. They can help; you just need to ask.
Isabel Sheppard, 11L
All over the world, girls and women are fighting their way through one of the most painful - and most routine - experiences: a period. For those that aren’t aware, the reason that they can be so painful is because they produce the same muscle contractions as giving birth. Of course some people are lucky enough to feel very little pain, but for most girls and women, periods are a monthly challenge. And no, we’re not exaggerating when we say that it feels like our insides are being ripped out of us. Because that is what is happening: the lining of the uterus is being ejected. Luckily, though, everyone that struggles through this has access to painkillers, hot water bottles, support and sanitary items. Right?
Wrong.
Unfortunately, this is not the case for many. It’s been estimated that around 500 million people in the world don’t have access to sanitary products when they need them. It’s a particular problem in war zones, where women and girls may have lost their homes and their families, and now also be on their period. And it happens in the UK too, not just in other countries. In the UK alone, period poverty (not being able to access or afford period products, and not having access to hygiene facilities and waste management) has risen from 12% to 21% in just one year during the current cost of living crisis. That’s a staggering amount of girls and women who are suffering with no support, facilities or products at all. A survey was conducted in 2022 by GirlGuiding to find out how many young women and girls didn’t have access to free sanitary products in their school or college, and 32% reported that it was unavailable.
Now that you’ve seen these statistics and have realised that this is in our country as well as on a global scale, I want you to think. I want you to think about why this isn’t considered to be a more serious issue. I want you to think about why this major issue is just being swept under the rug.
It comes down to one main factor: embarrassment. Discussing periods may be more widely accepted now than it used to be but people still avoid talking about it where possible. Menstruation is still a taboo topic that no one really wants to discuss, even in the 21st century. That’s why I’m bringing it to your attention today. You need to be brave enough to ask your friend if you can do anything to help them. You should be able to have the confidence to go and ask for sanitary products and support, whether that’s for you or for someone else. You shouldn’t feel afraid to ask questions and have curiosity about this topic just because people see it as strange or embarrassing. If we all become just a bit more aware of the problem of period poverty and the taboo around periods, and do more to challenge those ideas, we can make a huge difference. We might even be able to make free period products a normal thing.
If you take nothing else from this article, I want you to have more confidence in this topic. And if you want to help the women and girls struggling with period poverty, go researching! There are loads of charities that are dedicated to helping and sometimes all you need to do to help is simply send a message. If you are reading this because you are struggling, reach out to people you trust – your friends, family, pastoral managers, anyone. They can help; you just need to ask.
Isabel Sheppard, 11L