Periods. From as young as eight, a girls life changes as the transition into the beginning of ‘womanhood’ begins, this is marked by the arrival of her monthly period. It is a key part of sexual reproduction, but for every girl it is also a part of life. 49.5% of the global population and 51% of the UK experience this, so why is the topic still so taboo and stigmatised? The average adolescent girl will be affected by menstruation for 3,000 days in her lifetime. In total, that’s more than eight years. People, even women, are so disgusted at even the mention word ‘period’, in fact many of you will already have a creeping embarrassment reading this article. Yet it’s a natural and uncontrollable process of the human body. According to ancient documents like the Bible, the Quran and even the first Latin encyclopedia periods have been viewed as an unhygienic and negative experience. The Quran openly suggests that we ‘go apart from women during the monthly course, do not approach them until they are clean’ (Quran 2:222) as if menstruating women are ‘dirty’ and should be isolated. The estimated 5000 euphemisms for menstruation allow women to neglect even using the correct terminology and resort to using code words like ‘the time of the month’ or ‘aunt flo’ all to avoid actually uttering the word ‘period’ in public. But why?
Making the topic of menstruation stigmatized prevents those who are in desperate need of help from seeking it. 1 in 10 females can’t afford to buy sanitary products according to Plan International UK, but this is simply swept under the carpet. It was found nearly 50% of 1,000 girls were embarrassed by their period and afraid to seek help due to the stigma. On average, a woman has 450 periods in her lifetime (depending on individual circumstances such as regularity of cycles, childbirth, medical conditions and early menopause). It is estimated that periods will cost every woman in the UK an average of £4,800 through their lifetime with basic necessities like sanitary products, painkillers, new underwear and hygiene products being critical and costly. Compare this to the average yearly salary of a woman who is in part-time work, £12,083, and it is clear that the price spent on period products is unnecessarily high. A pack of 12 period pads from the trusted brand ‘Always’ racks in at £3.15, with an 18 pack of regular tampons from another reliable brand ‘Tampax’ also fetching an extortionate £3.15. Those who simply cannot afford or access these essential products resort to anything to help make their periods more manageable including rags, newspapers, socks or toilet paper. 40% of girls within the UK say they have used toilet roll due to the fact they simply cannot afford period products. These emergency ‘substitutes’ may have to be reused also. This is not only extremely distressing but also risks potential risk of serious medical infections. Many low income families can only afford the essentials like basic food and water, with the addition of electricity and gas. While these are all important, arguably sanitary items should be seen as a simple necessity for all girls and women. It is not a luxury item, and therefore products should not be priced so, let alone taxed 5% extra.
On average young girls typically begin their periods at the age of 12. The very beginning of secondary school. Almost certainly the most crucial years of one’s childhood. For girls who have trouble accessing sanitary products, it impacts their education and further life opportunities. Over 137,700 children within the UK have been absent from education due to period poverty. 68% of girls asked stated they felt distracted due to menstruation when in lessons. This is due to girls all over the nation fear staining or leaking which often leads to public embarrassment and humiliation. Anyone who misses school is at a disadvantage later in life, and will potentially miss out on extra opportunity, compared who those who do attend all lessons. If a girl is absent from education each period, she is behind approximately 145 school days behind her fellow male pupils. A shocking statistic caused simply by an uncontrollable part of life.
There is an abundance of ways period poverty can be combated and integrated into everyday conversation. The UK Government has pledged to invest £2 million to end international period poverty by 2030. As of August 2018, secondary schools, colleges and universities were supplying free tampons and pads for those who needed them. This was a big step forward, yet not fully combating the extent of the issue. As girls can begin their cycles from as young as eight, primary schools are not being funded to supply the same necessities and therefore the poverty continues. In addition to this, many mothers and female figures sacrifice these necessities in order to supply meals, clothes and other needs for their families, so why is the help given restricted to educational establishments when there are so many types of women in need of aid? What about those struggling teens who don’t attend school or further education? It could be said that the UK Government needs to focus on the extent of poverty at its roots rather than aiming to combat it internationally in such a short time restriction.
There are various charities and organisations who realise the real issue of menstruation poverty within Britain. ‘Bloody Good Period’ is a charity which pledges to educate women about their own bodies and sexual/reproductive health. Donations can be critical for similar charities, and on their website (www.bloodygoodperiod.com) there is an amazing opportunity to donate sanitary products and other toiletries to anyone who needs it including refugees and asylum seekers within the UK. The donations are distributed around their sixteen drop in centres each month which includes synagogues, community centres, foundations for children as well as food banks. Donations can also be supplied to victims of crises, as ‘Bloody Good Period’ donated 1500 packs of pads to those affected in Grenfell Tower fire.
There is also individual ways to help those in need, whilst also benefiting yourself. ‘HeyGirls’ is an organisation dedicated to the education and enabling support for those affected by period poverty. There are many different options in terms of donating; you can donate as a one time occurrence or subscribe to donate monthly, but any help will make a significant difference. This helps to give back to the people who are in need and struggling immensely within the UK. It is also possible to purchase products online, and when doing so it donates a pack of period products. This is apart of their pledge ‘buy one, give one.’ In addition to helping those in need, ‘HeyGirls’ also focuses on the education of periods to children, teens and parents; both male and female. They offer educational workshops around the country in order to establish an important and full understanding of the topic, with the aim to break the stigma and eradicate period poverty within the UK. On their website (https://www.heygirls.co.uk/) they have sections explaining critical information aimed at boys and fathers. There is even a ‘Pads4DadsKit’ available for purchase as apart of their ‘#Pads4Dads’ campaign so both fathers and daughters feel more comfortable. Only one in three fathers have purchased sanitary products while 4 in 10 didn’t receive period education in school.
If the UK strive to break the stigma of periods and provide everyone who needs it with access to preferred and constant products, we can begin to make a real difference. It all starts with the simple education and understanding of this natural process. Men. Women. Everybody. We need to come together and make sure every girl and woman has the full potential to thrive to the best of her abilities every single day.
By ELLE-ROSE FOTHERINGHAM
