We are tackling and ending the problem of Period Poverty, and Faith has the inside scoop.
Period Poverty is an issue that has been around for a long time and now that it is now being more recognised we are fighting and ending Period Poverty for good!
What is Period Poverty?
Period Poverty is the term used when women or girls struggle to pay for basic sanitary products on a monthly basis for their periods, this issue is unique as it only affects a small percentage of the population and can seriously affect a girl or woman’s personal hygiene. Period Poverty has been called the ‘hidden side of inequality’ as it has only gained fame recently, even though it’s been a big problems for many years people have been hesitant to address the issue because of its sensitive nature. When you consider that the average pack of tampons costs around £3, and that a woman will have her period around 450 times in her life (that’s 3,500 days in a women’s life and about 11,000 tampons used), it’s easy to see why women on a tight budget can’t afford this basic need.
The Stigma around Periods
Periods are a natural part of life and is crucial to helping are population, its a fact.
‘Nearly half (48 per cent) of girls aged 14-21 in the UK are embarrassed by their periods’
This is a frightening figure as girls should never feel ashamed because of their period, but why do they have this feeling of shame in the first place? This is due to miseducation, jokes and slurs that are constantly being made about periods, making girls feel the need to hid their period and feel embarrassed about it. Tim Wainwright, WaterAid’s Chief Executive, said:
“Every day, 800 million women have their period, yet in most parts of the world it is still considered embarrassing and taboo. This secrecy makes it much more difficult for women and girls to get the help and support they may need to manage their periods hygienically and with dignity.”
Periods is just as normal as men growing facial hair yet society views menstruation as dirty and shameful, this is completely false and this way of thought should be stopped.
What Can you do to Help?
‘One in seven (14 per cent) girls admitted that they did not know what was happening when they started their period and more than a quarter (26 per cent) reporting that they did not know what to do when they started their period.’
Firstly to tackle Period Poverty we should eliminate the ridiculous stigma that has been wrongfully put on menstruation. To do this we need to educate both boys and girls that making remarks like “Are you angry because your on your period?!” is doing more damage than good it makes girls feel embarrassed of their periods therefore preventing them from talking about it. Next most local food banks will except sanitary products to give to those who cannot afford, so donating a pack of sanitary products can really make a difference. Lastly, you can join your school’s Period Poverty Committee and if there is not one already, make one! This group can be used to help bring more awareness to Period Poverty in your school, in our school the Period Poverty Committee has already made free sanitary products available to all girls in the school in the toilets.
‘49% (Plan International UK) of girls have missed an entire day of school because of their period’
Although this high figure can be discouraging we are moving in the right path to end Period Poverty for life, no matter how small your gesture is from donating one sanitary products to one hundred you are really making a difference in somebody’s life.
- By Faith Sindick , Editor of Opinions
- Sources: The Guardian, Girl Guiding, Refinery29, Thought Catalogue, Water Aid, Plan-Uk and Human Rights Watch
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