Period poverty is a social issue that feels especially relevant given the current recession and cost-of-living crisis, but is it being discussed as openly and often as it should be? As a society, we have talked about the cost-of-living crisis concerning energy bills, grocery prices and gas, but have we talked about the cost of feminine hygiene products? Period poverty should be a social issue of interest to all, not limited to those who menstruate.
Aside from making sanitary products more accessible and affordable (not to mention free), one important step we need to take is helping to raise awareness of the issue at hand. The culture of shame around periods, prevalent in the United Kingdom, is an obstacle preventing the awareness and concern for period poverty. Young women and girls often feel embarrassed discussing their periods, which affects their ability to speak openly about the issue and their experiences with it. This directly impacts how many people are aware of the issue and prohibits those experiencing it from seeking help.
First, let’s look at the stats. The UK’s awareness of period poverty must increase if we want to continue fighting this issue. Yet, a 2022 report by Kate Brooksbank on YouGov highlights that 29% of Britons have never heard of the term ‘period poverty’. It may come as no surprise that 42% of men were more likely not to know the term. The report adds that 11% of Britons have heard the term period poverty yet are unsure what it means. Ultimately, the report states that only 3 in 5 Britons have heard of period poverty and understand what it means. This number is far too low considering the volume of women throughout the United Kingdom and worldwide struggling with an issue that is impacting their livelihoods.
You may be wondering how widespread period poverty is. According to the YouGov poll among 362 women and transgender men in their sample, 9% have been unable to afford period products in the last five years, including 6% who struggled in the previous six months. The public awareness and media coverage of period poverty does not reflect the volume of women and girls experiencing it. This is why we need to tackle the social issue of shame culture around periods, helping those who menstruate feel comfortable seeking help.
The charity organisation Plan International has coined the term: ‘toxic trio’ for three crucial factors prolonging period poverty in the UK. These include period stigma, the high (and increasing) cost of period products and a lack of education. In the UK period stigma and a lack of education are perpetuating a culture of shame and having a direct impact on girls and young people who menstruate.
In 2018, Plan International released ‘Break the Barriers’, a report detailing the experiences of UK girls and their periods. The report highlights that 27% of UK girls have used a period product for longer than the recommended safe window because they could not afford to replace it with a fresh product. The consequences of this could be devastating, with toxic shock syndrome as a risk of prolonged tampon use. In case you don’t know, toxic shock syndrome is a life-threatening condition caused by infection which can occur when using tampons or menstrual cups.
The report found that participants commonly relied on parents to pay for menstrual products each month. While few mentioned their parent’s ability to pay for the products, one commented, “The price range is just ridiculous, and my dad doesn’t like paying for them.”
Tina Leslie, founder of Freedom4Girls, stresses the impact period poverty is having on girls and their education.
“There are free period products in schools now but because of the stigma and taboo, girls don’t want to go to the office saying, ‘I can’t afford period products, I need some.’ Why can’t the products just be in the toilets? We’re talking about period dignity here, not just period poverty. Why have we got toilet paper and soap in the toilets yet no period products?
Girls still miss school every month. I raised a lot of awareness around period poverty in the UK in 2017 yet eight years later it is an ongoing issue.
There’s also a massive issue caused by schools locking toilets during lesson times. In some schools girls have to get a doctor’s note to go to the toilet during lesson times. Why do you need a doctor’s note if you are on your period and need a pad? Having access to a toilet is a basic human right, so is safe period protection. This should be up there with shelter, water and food. We cannot function without safe period protection.”
Freedom4Girls is a charity fighting period poverty by providing donated products and essential education to those in need and raising awareness. The charity was awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2021 for its life-changing work. Although the charity predominantly works in Leeds, where it is based, it also acts across locations in East Africa, notably Kenya.
Tina explains that the cost-of-living crisis is causing a massive spike in period poverty.
“The demand for period products is nearly as high as it was in COVID. We deal with over 100 organisations and individuals in the Leeds area. Around 90- 85% are from deprived areas. People are having to choose between eating or buying hygiene products. It’s an awful choice.
The cost-of-living has spiralled out of control. How many million children are in poverty at the moment? How many people can’t afford their rent? It’s horrendous. We’ve got the term poverty as an umbrella, but so much else underneath including: food poverty, period poverty, digital poverty.
We need to tackle the poverty issue.”
Freedom4Girls creates their own washable, reusable pads lasting up to four years. In addition to donating these reusable pads, the organisation hosts sewing workshops to teach participants how to make them. The benefit of reusable pads is a decrease in the need for single-use products and an overall decrease in period costs.
Here are a few basic stats found in Plan International’s survey
- One in seven girls (15%) have also struggled to afford sanitary wear.
- One in seven girls (14%) have had to ask to borrow sanitary wear from a friend due to affordability issues.
- More than one in ten girls (12%) has had to improvise sanitary wear due to affordability issues.
- One in five (19%) of girls have changed to a less suitable sanitary product due to cost.
The study highlights that girls who lack support for menstrual health are more likely to struggle with future sexual and reproductive health. Lack of education means girls and women are not being correctly diagnosed with severe health conditions often linked to cycles. This includes migraines, epilepsy, IBS, and also gynaecological cancers. The stigma around periods is impacting girls’ health and well-being on a severe and potentially life-threatening level.
Period poverty is especially prevalent among people experiencing homelessness. This is why it is vital that shelters offer period products and that those who menstruate feel comfortable requesting help.
In ‘Break the Barriers’, Emma Murray at North West Bristol Foodbank reported that people have asked for sanitary pads and toilet rolls, especially families with three or four girls, as it is a significant expense. She says: “People have asked us for toilet rolls and sanitary towels, especially if they have three or four girls in their family, because that is a big expense and they have real difficulty trying to deal with that on top of the cost of food.” Notably, Emma voiced concerns over women and girls refusing to request sanitary products at food banks out of embarrassment and shame, a devastatingly clear effect of the shame culture surrounding periods in the UK.
It may come as no surprise that certain groups of women are more vulnerable when it comes to period poverty. These groups include homeless women, asylum seekers, and refugees. Furthermore, 1 in 4 homeless young people who identify as LGBT+ face further stigma and discomfort.
We need to champion organisations like Plan International and Freedom4Girls, helping to raise awareness of the period poverty issue. The cost of living crisis is a hot topic in the UK as families struggle to make ends meet. While we hear much discussion and debate on energy prices and the cost of groceries, there needs to be more mention of the cost of period products. The government introduced energy subsidies nationwide, which massively helped families and businesses meet the prices, yet subsidies have yet to be made for sanitary products. Helping to bring attention to the issue may help increase government aid and funding from external sources.
Without a change period poverty will impact the education and career opportunities of girls and women and may subject them to life-threatening illnesses. The bottom line is that if you can’t afford to put food on the table, you can’t avoid period products for yourself or your dependables who need them.
If you want to learn more about Freedom4Girls or wish to make a donation, click here
If you are interested in the history of period poverty in the UK and want to learn more, click here