Period Poverty: Everything You Need to Know About Menstrual Equity

Menstrual equity is an umbrella term that encompasses not only affordability of, and access to, safe period products, but at its very root is the need for gender equality. Soap and toilet paper are free and available in most public washrooms in North America and other developed nations. Menstrual equity advocates believe period products should also be available at little to no cost to those who need them, and that menstruators should be able to manage their menstrual health with dignity.

In addition to not being able to afford tampons, liners and pads, period poverty is experienced by people who don’t have appropriate access to toilets or adequate hand-washing and sanitary waste facilities. For many people around the world who can’t afford the monthly costs of period products, they are often forced to ration the products they do have, using them for far longer than is healthy, increasing the risk of infection, disease, anxiety and depression, or making the distressing choice between food or menstrual products.

There is still so much stigma attached to menstruation that people will say almost anything other than the words ‘period’ or ‘menstruation’. Instead, strange euphemisms take their place. In fact, there are over 5,000 of these alternative sayings that save people from having to acknowledge periods. While some of these appear to be cute or funny, many of them are damaging and perpetuate the undue stigma of our most natural biological function. From “surfing the crimson wave” to “the curse” and “I’m untouchable”, skirting the reality only confirms the idea that menstruation is something to be ashamed of. One of the most damaging aspects of menstrual stigma is the deafening silence surrounding periods.

The stigma attached to periods ripples through all parts of society. When a young womxn doesn’t have access to pads or tampons, and instead needs to use sawdust, toilet paper or dirty old rags during their period, they are much less likely to attend school, more likely to be bullied or ostracized, and less likely to get an education. In many parts of the world, menstruation is still considered unclean and those who bleed are viewed as disgusting rather than being revered as a person who is facilitating a normal and healthy bodily function. Until advertisers, decision-makers, health-care providers and individuals start normalising periods and prioritizing menstrual health, this stigma will continue to limit the life potential of millions of womxn worldwide. When young girls are able to get an education, households, communities and countries can rise out of the cycle of poverty.

There are countless myths and superstitions about periods that contribute to the degradation of womxn’s self-worth. While you may know that food won’t rot if you touch it while menstruating and that your partner won’t die if you have sex with them during your period, there are societies that wholeheartedly believe these to be true. Womxn then internalise these harmful taboos and as a result feel shameful, dirty or even poisonous.

Activists are raising awareness through education, rallying, and advocacy in an effort to eradicate period poverty and achieve menstrual equity. Menstrual justice activists have accomplished some pretty cool things like securing May 28 as Menstrual Hygiene Day — a day that helps drive advocacy and action for menstrual health. Until periods are normalised, menstruators will always risk being othered, shamed and ostracised making the period movement vital in achieving menstrual equity.

Between 1991 and 2015, Canadian menstruators were required to pay GST on period products. The government deemed these necessary products ‘luxury’ items. Yeah, because sports cars, watches and monthly bleeding are all so similar! In 2004, Canadian MP Judy Wasylicia-Leis said, “The taxing of essential and necessary products used exclusively by women is unfair and discriminatory. It unfairly disadvantages women financially, solely because of our reproductive role.” In other words, for 14 years, the government was making money off of womxn’s bodies.

U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng proposed the Menstrual Equity Act for All to increase affordability and accessibility of menstrual products. This bold act would enable states to use grant funds to provide students, incarcerated individuals and homeless folx in shelters, access to free menstrual products. The Act would also require all federal public buildings to provide free menstrual products in washrooms, and large-scale employers to provide free period products in the workplace. In Canada, a motion has passed whereby the Government of Ontario provides free period products in all publicly funded schools, and the City of Toronto is boosting funding for menstrual products for city-run shelters, and some community centres.

Some mensturators are pushing the movement one step further with free bleeding. Free bleeding is the choice not to wear fluid-barriers (to be clear — to let the blood flow). By exposing the body’s most natural process, the world can see that period blood is normal and shouldn’t be shamed. Toronto poet and photographer, Rupi Kaur, posted a photo of herself fully clothed in bed, leaking blood (an experience that all mensturators can relate to). Instagram removed her image stating it went against community guidelines, meanwhile blood in violent TV shows, movies and graphic video games is perfectly acceptable. Period blood is still too shocking for society to look at, no matter how little of it is seen, and this needs to change.

Most of us could use a little help unlearning years of negative menstrual ideology. Adopting inclusive and positive language will increase your menstrual literacy and will help others do the same. So, help change the future of menstruation by being period positive. Refer to menstrual products, not sanitary products (periods aren’t dirty!); say menstruation instead of hiding periods behind euphemisms; talk openly about menstruation around people of all genders, even if it makes people uncomfortable; and advocate for menstruators on the margins.

The movement is gaining traction and has seen some successes. Scotland has become the first country in the world to offer free universal access to period products. Way to go Scotland!

Recently Toronto, Whitehorse, Nova Scotia and British Columbia have passed legislation making period products free in public school restrooms.

Three years ago red liquid, depicting real blood, was used in a maxi pad commercial for the first time, instead of the inexplicable blue liquid that we’ve been forced to look at for years. Thank you Bodyform marketing team for playing a huge part in normalizing periods!

The Red Box program was set up in the UK to reduce period poverty by giving girls free menstrual products. One school in Portsmouth credits the project for increasing girls’ school attendance by a third.

Period poverty is a complex and under acknowledged socio-economic issue. While access to pads and tampons are a step in the right direction, addressing and understanding the root causes of period poverty is the ultimate goal, and will be what moves us into a truly period positive world.