The Burden of a Period
Period protection should not be a privilege!
We've been talking a lot about periods lately
From Donald Trump saying Megyn Kelly had “blood coming out of her wherever,” and Meghan Markle publicizing her work on global menstrual issues in her royal bio, to New York congressman Sean Patrick Maloney fighting with House administrators over whether tampons for staff and guests should be considered a necessary expense, periods are a common topic these days.
Period poverty is closer to home than we think
Around the world, superstitious taboos and lack of resources can make managing menstruation difficult, even dangerous. Outdated practices put women and girls at a disadvantage when it comes to education and employment, and puts them at risk when it comes to health and safety.
Not only is “period poverty” not limited to developing countries, it’s much closer to home that you might think. Here in the US, there are people who struggle every month to meet their menstrual needs, a hardship further compounded by social stigma and lack of understanding. At least half the population experiences menstruation for most of their lives, yet only the privileged have access to period products.
Products can get pretty pricey
The average person in a developed nation spends about $18,000 for period-related items over the course of a lifetime. Pads, tampons, menstrual cups, liners, pain medication, heating pads, new underwear, birth control, comfort food – if you can buy these things regularly during your period, you are period-privileged. But what happens to all those who cannot access or afford the pricey products that line drugstore shelves?
Period protection should not be a privilege
In order to eliminate stigma and promote awareness, we want to begin a conversation surrounding the core human needs of menstruating people in the US - such as access, choice and affordability. By examining the needs of those experiencing poverty, homelessness, and incarceration, we want to inform those in a position of privilege about menstruation needs different from their own and encourage them to take action.