For adolescents going through puberty, it’s never going to be an easy time. But for those experiencing their period for the first time, it can be even more difficult due to things like lack of education and knowledge on the menstrual cycle, the social stigma that surrounds periods, and the issue of being able to afford menstrual products. As of January 2024, half of the states in the U.S. have passed legislation that require free menstrual products be available to students in public schools [1]. However, the variation between bills is that not every state provides funding for the products, or they are only covering middle and high schools. A survey sent out by organizations Thinx and PERIOD showed that one in five teens have struggled to afford menstrual products or have been unable to buy any at all. This same survey also revealed that 84% of students have been forced to miss class or know someone who has had to miss class due to lack of access to menstrual products [2].
This struggle of not being able to afford necessary products to keep young people going through their period safe, clean, and comfortable is known as period poverty. It is not just the lack of access to menstrual products, but also lack of proper education surrounding the menstrual cycle and how to handle having a period. Adolescents experiencing period poverty go through more of the discomfort and shame than their peers who do have access to menstrual products. They are forced to wear products for longer periods of time than is recommended, which can be extremely unsanitary and dangerous, especially with regards to tampons and the risks of Toxic Shock Syndrome [3]. There are some teachers that stock their classrooms with menstrual supplies for their students, but they are supplied out of the teachers’ pockets which can be unsustainable in lower-income districts and communities. This is not helped by what is sometimes called the “pink tax”, which is how in a majority of states menstrual supplies are taxed as a luxury and not as a necessity.
Most people who experience having a period would agree that it is not a luxury, and therefore this tax only contributes to period poverty. Families should have not to decide between providing food or necessary hygiene products for their kids, and kids should not have to decide between using toilet paper or cardboard as menstrual supplies because they don’t have access to pads or tampons. The issue of period poverty is deeply rooted in the stigma surrounding menstrual health, with periods being seen as “disgusting” or “unpolite” to talk about. In the same survey sent out by Thinx and PERIOD, 64% of adolescents believe that society teaches people to be ashamed of their periods, and 69% felt embarrassed to have to bring a menstrual product to the bathroom [2]. Less education and more shame about a natural, biological function only contributes to period poverty and it sets up a system that continues to fail young people that are going through an extremely confusing time.
Ending period poverty has proven to not be easy, but there are many grassroots efforts and organizations out there that have already made the difference in so many young peoples’ lives. A lot of credit can also be given to the teachers who do pay out of their own pocket for students to have access to menstrual supplies, but that burden should not solely be on them. Until the societal connotations surrounding periods are changed, period poverty will continue to be a detriment to how adolescents and young people view and treat their bodies.
Written by: Grace Thompson – Health Education Intern
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