We Need To Address Period Poverty Now

Menstruation has long been stigmatized in our society, often portrayed as shameful or embarrassing rather than a natural function of the human body that occurs about every month for roughly half the world’s population. In the U.S., education on menstruation is typically lacking, if it’s taught at all. Access to menstrual hygiene products has never been prioritized as a basic right by our government. However, as major international organizations like UNICEF and UNFPA have stated, “essential hygiene products are a priority for the health, dignity, and welfare of all people who menstruate.”

Not having sanitary products, such as tampons, menstrual cups, or pads, available to students isn’t just embarrassing or inconvenient but can be detrimental to their education. According to a 2018 Always study, one in five American girls have missed school or left early due to a lack of period products.

Not having access to menstrual products is often a result of financial barriers; the inability to afford period products is known as “period poverty.” A 2021 Statista study found that 23% of teenage students in the U.S. struggled to afford menstrual products, and 16% chose to purchase these hygiene products over food or clothing. Considering that the average woman spends around $20 on menstrual products per cycle, which can add up to over $6,000 over their reproductive lifetime, it’s no wonder so many people facing financial barriers struggle to afford these products.

Without the proper sanitary products, many resort to using toilet paper as a pad, which is a poor hygienic practice that can lead to yeast infections or urinary tract infections, or using a single menstrual product more than the recommended time frame, which can be extremely dangerous. For example, the misuse of a tampon can lead to toxic shock syndrome, which can damage tissue and cause life-threatening problems. Extended use of a pad or tampon can also lead to an unhygienic buildup of bacteria.

Despite this relatively widespread lack of access, many states profit off of periods. Currently, 27 states tax menstrual products under a sales tax commonly referred to as the “tampon tax.” While some products, like Band-Aids, are considered a “necessity of life” and are exempt from tax, period products have not been categorized this way. In the U.S., the tampon tax collectively generates an annual tax revenue of about $150 million.

Eliminating the tampon tax is the first step our country can take toward recognizing the necessity of period products. Menstrual products should be made accessible and free in places like schools, shelters, and correctional facilities.

In the U.S., four states have passed legislation ensuring access to free menstrual products for public school students: California, Illinois, and New York passed such legislation in 2018, and New Hampshire did so the following year. Georgia decided to provide period products in low-income schools in 2019, and 13 states have mandated that menstrual products be provided in correctional facilities.

Other countries have gone even further. In November 2020, Scotland made headway in the period equity movement when it became the first country to pass legislation making menstrual products free for all. In New Zealand, free menstrual products will be available in all schools for the next three years.

People who have periods should never be forced to choose between using period products or purchasing other essentials, nor should they be forced to use substandard or insufficient products to protect themselves. Menstrual health must be a priority, and the basic human right of having access to menstrual products must be protected by law.