Period poverty, A subject not spoken about enough, a global issue that affects all women and girls. The global issue includes -
Access to sanitary products. Safe and hygienic spaces. The right to manage menstruation without guilt and shame. Violating basic human rights as a woman. Period Poverty does not just effect and woman and girls mental and physical health, which includes Female Genital Mutilation, Urinary Tract Infections, it also stops women reaching their full potential of growth. It damages a woman and girls’ education as during their period cycles a girl will often refuse to go to school due to the shame of being on her period, which no one should feel the need to do because of a natural thing our bodies go through, we should be supported during these times not separated and disregarded. Period poverty also has a large effect on disabled women in day to day life, disabled bathrooms do not give an option of any sanitary products at hand, which then causes stress to anyone who may be without a product while out in public, disabled women still face periods, they are still women and human just like all of us, so why should they not have the option to sanitary products? Not only is this an issue in disabled bathrooms but also women’s bathrooms in general, I personally have been to many different public bathrooms, whether that is a supermarket, theatre club or any form of public space or group meeting. Where there has been no form of any sanitary product available to those who may need it. Sanitary products should be FREE and GOOD quality when being handed out in a public restroom or area. Not everyone can afford or even have the money or option to buy these products and no one should have to stress about having money to pay for a basic human right, Sanitary products should be easily accessible to those who need them, a menstrual cycle is stressful enough without having to worry about money on top of that or feeling ashamed because you don’t have any money to buy a tampon, pad or whatever product you feel most comfortable using. There clearly needs to be solutions beginning to take place to help end period poverty, a few of the important steps we can take towards ending this global issue is. Having FREE and GOOD quality sanitary products including tampons and pads of different sizes, in schools and all bathrooms, female and disabled. Have signs up in bathrooms giving woman advice on what to do when they first start their period how to use sanitary products, as not everyone might have been taught on how to use them. Make sure there is always a safe, clean and hygienic space in public areas for women and girls to go to while using sanitary products. Written by Catherine-star.
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