Bleeding in the Time of the Pandemic | Anna Wardecka

When in 2015 an Indian poet, Rupi Kaur, posted a photo of herself lying in bed, fully clothed, with a stain of blood on her light pants and a spot on the sheets, it was immediately taken down from Instagram on the grounds of the violation of the community standards. The same actions were taken after the image had been reposted. A few years later, a Swedish photographer, Arvida Byström, published a collection of pictures of women on their period in ordinary situations. The work was deemed “controversial” and “disgusting.”

Several years have passed since then, yet something as inherent in human life as menstruation is still considered a taboo subject. Nowadays, besides social justice movements, trends of body positivity, inclusion, and female empowerment are emerging on social media. Instagrammers gradually shift towards posting more authentic representations of themselves, thereby promoting the natural image of the human body. It is not, however, done without a backlash. Ironically, it is other women who despise the acceptance movement. What is interesting is how people belittle the experience and the struggle with periods they themselves deal with on a regular basis.

Apart from the lack of acceptance from the public, because of menstruation, women face yet another obstacle. There is nothing new under the sun as regards the female reproductive cycle and still, various research conducted all over the globe have unanimously drawn the same conclusion – period poverty is alive and kicking. What varies is the severity of the issue.

This particular type of poverty refers to the lack of access to sanitary products as well as having poor knowledge of the menstrual cycle, often due to financial constraints. Although it might be an unfamiliar issue to Western society, period poverty is a legitimate concern for both developed and developing countries. It may assume a variety of forms, from excessive taxation – i.e., categorizing tampons along with pads as luxury goods – to strictly imposed ostracism.

This issue has become even more visible in recent months. The pandemic stops for no one, especially for low-income women, rendering them the most vulnerable socially and economically, which only adds to the overall social injustice. Those who are diagnosed with or suspected of contracting COVID-19 are isolated or quarantined without access to basic products, such as disposable or reusable sanitary napkins, soap, or even clean water. For that reason, they are unable to meet their monthly needs.

The virus continues to spread to the poorest regions, e.g., Global South, refugee camps, as well as those institutions that look after disabled people, where women and girls primarily rely on hygiene products. Due to the skyrocketing prices caused by supply chain disruptions, families all over the world are facing a catastrophe. In consequence, some may be forced to prioritize food over menstrual hygiene.

Some non-profit organizations, alongside the UN agencies, have already started working on ensuring a steady supply for female healthcare workers, patients, and residents of refugee camps or other facilities. Nevertheless, most of these social institutions fail to provide products essential to manage menstruation with dignity, which might set back the region by years in its overall development.

However, it is not only the flip sides that should be accounted for. The current situation could prove to be a much-needed breakthrough for Western menstruators, as it may make people acknowledge the magnitude of the problem. In a matter of just a few weeks, the everyday struggles became both greater and more common. The universality of the problem could possibly make those in power realise its significance and the desperate need for the issue to be tackled. An important question we ought to be asking ourselves is whether we really should need a pandemic to shift our mindset.

Anna Wardecka

Cover illustration: Zofia Klamka & Karol Mularczyk