{"id":15264,"date":"2020-12-15T03:42:45","date_gmt":"2020-12-15T03:42:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bepreparedperiod.com\/blog\/?p=15264"},"modified":"2021-08-10T07:08:26","modified_gmt":"2021-08-10T07:08:26","slug":"what-is-period-poverty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bepreparedperiod.com\/blog\/what-is-period-poverty\/","title":{"rendered":"What is period poverty?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.6″ hover_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”0|0px|30px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text content_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.4.6″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ custom_css_before=”.et_pb_section.et_pb_section_0.et_section_regular {|| padding-top: 0;||}||.et_post_meta_wrapper {|| margin:2% 0 1% 0;||}||.et_pb_section.et_pb_section_0.et_section_regular {|| padding-top: 0;||}||||article#post-15223 p {|| margin-bottom: 20px;|| font-weight: normal;|| font-size: 15px;|| padding: 0;||}||||article#post-15223 h3 {|| padding: 30px 0 20px 0;||}||.quote {|| text-align: center;|| margin: 30px 0;|| font-size: 15px;|| line-height: 26px;||}||.quote br {|| display: none;||}”]

Simply put, period poverty is the \u201cinadequate access to menstrual hygiene tools and educations, including but not limited to sanitary products, washing facilities, and waste management,\u201d as defined by the American Medical Women\u2019s Association<\/a><\/p>\n

While it may sound like a simple problem, in reality, period poverty isn\u2019t the result of any single one factor. It is rather the outcome from a multitude of factors that adversely affect those who can least afford period products, and a spotty patchwork of scant resources trying desperately to address the problem. For that reason, period poverty can manifest itself in a variety of ways. For example, a lack of access to sanitary products could be due to an inability to afford them, an inability to find a retailer who can supply them or even just a lack of knowledge on where to look for them. Conversely, for the individual experiencing poverty, the choice between affording food, shelter and other necessities may make it impossible to afford sanitary products.<\/p>\n

Other \"periodless obvious factors can also contribute to period poverty. For example, in the United States, 35 states impose a sales tax on menstrual products because they are considered \u201cnon-essential goods<\/a>\u201d, making sanitation products more costly. Period products are also not able to be purchased with public assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, nor with Medicaid, Medicare or health insurance spending accounts. Food pantries and other nonprofits often try to step in and fill this gap, but a lack of education means that people who need the products don\u2019t always know they are available.<\/p>\n

Cultural stigma around menstruation can make period poverty worse for those who are unable to source products, as emotional health takes a toll. Self-consciousness, embarrassment and shame are some of the most reported emotions<\/a> experienced by those experiencing period poverty. This can lead to development of anxiety, depression and other mental health problems, or worse, can result in suicide.<\/a><\/p>\n

Who is most at risk of period poverty?<\/h3>\n

While period poverty impacts those you might expect, such as the homeless, indigent and incarcerated, many others are also disproportionately impacted. To start with, there are at least 42 million impoverished women in the United States<\/a>, many of whom experience period poverty regularly. Of course, that number doesn\u2019t capture thousands of transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people who also menstruate every month<\/a>, and are also at increased risk of experiencing poverty<\/a>. Those living in poverty are often the ones most likely to experience period poverty month after month, as they are the ones least able to afford or access menstrual products.<\/p>\n

Working families can also be impacted, however, as the school-aged children of these families can be caught with their first period not knowing where to find what they need when their families can\u2019t afford it, or when conversations about it are too uncomfortable. In this case, a lack of education is often the leading contributing factor to a young child experiencing period poverty.<\/p>\n

Women of color are another demographic that is disproportionately impacted by period poverty. In the United States, women of color, including Black, Native, Latina and Asian women, all experience higher rates of poverty than white women<\/a>. Of that group, Native American women are particularly vulnerable to period poverty. Across the United States, nearly a third of Native Americans live in poverty<\/a>, almost triple the national poverty rate, making income a struggle. Access to period products is another challenge. Native American reservations are frequently located far away from the nearest town, and mass merchant retailers are also few and far between. Even when Native Americans are able to locate menstruation products for sale, the prices can be prohibitive. As Clare Heurter, the principal at Red Cloud High School told TODAY<\/a>, \u201cIt is incredibly difficult to have resources. There is a store in town, but the prices are just insane.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why is it important we address period poverty?<\/h3>\n

Periods already come with an attached social stigma. Young girls globally learn through embarrassing experiences that menstruation is shameful, and should be kept secret. As a result, lack of access to menstrual products can have a profound impact on the people experiencing period poverty.<\/p>\n

The impacts of period poverty are particularly devastating to the development of young girls and women. In the US, 84% of students have either missed class time or know someone who missed class time because they did not have access to period products<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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