It’s existed for centuries. Hundreds of millions have been harmed. It can be found in the most impoverished to the wealthiest country. “Alright,” you may be wondering, “what fits the description here?” That “what” is none other than the deeply troubling issue of period poverty.
Period poverty, as defined in our episode and by Global Citizen, is “the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, toilets, handwashing facilities, and/or waste management.” People of lower-income statuses and those with special needs/disabilities are among those more severely affected by this issue. Of course, period poverty is a huge problem that urgently requires action, but you may be wondering why we, as a mental health organization, are bringing it to your attention. Well, that’s because period poverty is quite intertwined with stigma and mental health, the former of which is better known as “menstrual stigma.”
Image Source: Redefy
According to Forever Blooming’s special guest for this episode, Adrija Jana (find her at @adrija_jana2004 on Instagram), menstrual stigma refers to “treat[ing] menstruation something [that] is taboo and [something that] cannot be spoken about.” And menstrual stigma directly contributes to period poverty; it discourages the purchase of period products, which help with hygiene. As pointed out by Jordyn, this issue can lead menstruators to use newspapers, old clothes, pieces of blankets, chicken feathers, muds, etc. To better illustrate how menstrual stigma hinders access to period products, Jordyn referenced the story of Swati, an Indian girl who experienced great embarrassment and shame at the thought of asking her uncle to buy sanitary pads for her. Adding onto this account, Adrija shared how the high level of menstrual stigma in her country made her believe that her period was a severe disease, with this misconception only being foiled when she learned about reproduction in 8th grade. Shockingly, “23% of girls in India drop out of school after the onset of puberty.”
But why does menstrual stigma exist to begin with? According to Adrija, the reason has to do with menstruators being considered as impure or polluted when they’re on their period. Overall, menstrual stigma stems from a lack of understanding that periods are uncontrollable biological processes. In some instances, menstruation may even be considered as a religious punishment.
It is, then, apparent how menstrual stigma can have harmful implications for one’s mental health; it inherently involves the act of judging others for their bodies’ natural functions. Many menstruators are likely to feel off-balance or not in control as they repeatedly go through a process that’s hated and deemed as disgusting by society. For this very reason, the start of menstruation, according to Adrija, is a scary experience for many young people. Periods can, in other words, feel unnatural and abnormal, which leads to issues like moderate-to-severe depression.
Image Source: ADDitude
To the many individuals who are unaware or misinformed of the issue of period poverty, substitutes like blankets or old clothes for menstruating rather than actual period products may not seem like a huge deal –rather, a mere inconvenience. However, the danger in menstruators not using official and safe period products is to not be disregarded. According to Global Citizen, “75% of bleeders [in India] are at risk of infection due to lack of access to resources.”
“[B]ecause of the stigma,” Adrija said, “there is not much information on [period poverty.]” Fortunately, over the pandemic, many organizations seeking to raise awareness about period poverty shifted their operations online, giving them access to a wider audience. On the flip side, COVID-19 also had the effect of sending a lot of people into poverty and causing them to lose their jobs, limiting their abilities to purchase period products.
On a different note, there’s a need to be inclusive when talking about period poverty. While the issue is often labeled as a “women’s” and/or “girls’” issue, it’s important to recognize that it can affect transgender and non-binary individuals as well, perhaps to an even more harmful extent. There is especially a lot of stigma, according to Adrija, around trans/gender-diverse people who menstruate. Such individuals are often called outcasts and shunned as they experience conflicts like gender dysphoria (unease experienced as a result of a mismatch between one’s biological sex and gender identity) and safety issues (e.g., a lack of disposable areas in men’s bathrooms for period products).
So what can be done to alleviate period poverty? Similar to many mental health issues, educating yourself and those around you is one of the best things you can do as an individual; our recommendations for documentaries on period poverty are Pandora’s Box and Period. End of Sentence. More importantly, recognize that periods are not a choice and rather natural biological processes. Here is a list of other actions you as an individual can take to combat period poverty and its causes:
Try and encourage open conversation about these topics. “Normalize” them.
Support friends who may be struggling with this issue (e.g., provide them with resources).
Call out people for spreading misinformation.
Spread the word on these issues (e.g., on social media with “#periodpositivity”).
Image Source: Feminism in India
In addition to also fighting against misinformation, governments can and should do the following:
Sponsor campaigns done by organizations already working on the issue to help spread awareness. Outstanding examples of such organizations include the following:
Subsidize the period products industry.
Assist in providing free period products in public spaces (similar to free masks), as Scotland and some US states have done.
In summary, period poverty is an often overlooked and underestimated societal issue, its root causes being menstrual stigma and poverty. This issue poses severe mental and physical health threats, and it’s important to recognize that, contrary to popular opinion, period poverty is not just a “women’s issue.” Even in the face of opposition, all of us can truly make a dent in this problem if we try –in fact, let me challenge you! Put up at least one post on social media spreading awareness on period poverty and/or with the label “#periodpositivity.” Feel free to share the link to your post with us in the comments below!