Period poverty refers to the “struggle many low-income women and girls face while trying to afford menstrual products.” This term also encompasses the “increased economic vulnerability” females face because of the economic burden caused by the high prices of menstrual supplies.
What is the meaning of period poverty?
Period poverty is the lack of access to sanitary products due to financial constraints, this can be caused by a wide range of life events that negatively impact on a girl or woman’s ability to access sanitary products to manage a most intimate and regular occurrence in her life.”
How many people suffer from period poverty in Canada?
Period poverty continues to affect 500 million people in the world. About 21 per cent of people who menstruate in Canada struggle to buy menstrual products because of the expensive prices, according to a survey from Plan International Canada.
What is period poverty caused by?
Approximately 500 million women and girls experience period poverty globally due to a scarcity of resources and the existing social stigma associated with women’s pain and health, and this figure has likely increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Menstrual health is a public health and human rights issue.
What does period poverty look like?
In a 2021 national survey of college students, researchers at George Mason University and the University of Pennsylvania found that 10% of all female college students are unable to afford menstrual products each month, leading to skipped classes and greater self-reported rates of moderate or severe depression.
How much school do girls miss because of periods?
In the official attendance data, girls are 2.4 percentage points less likely to attend school on days they have their period. Because girls have their period on about 8 percent of school days, this amounts to missing 0.35 days in a 180 day school year.
Where is period poverty most common?
Period poverty in the Global South
Meanwhile, in many countries (like Kenya and Uganda) girls are forced to miss many days of school when they have their period – or even drop out of school altogether. This denies girls their right to an education, and often shapes the rest of their lives.
Which race has the highest poverty rate in Canada?
Among racialized groups, 10.8% of South Asian, 15.3% of Chinese and 12.4% of Black Canadians lived in poverty in 2020. The prevalence of poverty varied markedly between racialized groups 1 and regions. For example, the poverty rate among Black Canadians was 15.8% in Winnipeg and 9.7% in Montréal.
How do you fight period poverty?
How you can help
- Choose menstruation products from brands that support ending period poverty.
- Donate to charity, either global or locally.
- Attend marches and events.
- Sign petitions.
- Donate period products.
- Educate yourself on the issues and listen to other stories and experiences.
What is the average age girls get their period in Canada?
Most girls get their first period when they’re between 10 and 15 years old. The average age is 12, but every girl’s body has its own schedule.
Who suffers from period poverty?
Women and girls living in extreme poverty and in humanitarian crises may be more likely to face these challenges. In one Syrian refugee community, for example, health workers reported seeing high levels of such vaginal infections, perhaps a result of poor menstrual hygiene management.
What are the 3 main causes of poverty?
Here, we look at some of the top causes of poverty around the world.
- INADEQUATE ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD.
- LITTLE OR NO ACCESS TO LIVELIHOODS OR JOBS.
- CONFLICT.
- INEQUALITY.
- POOR EDUCATION.
- CLIMATE CHANGE.
- LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
- LIMITED CAPACITY OF THE GOVERNMENT.
How many girls miss school because of period poverty?
Not having access to a safe and hygienic way to deal with menstruation can have profound consequences; particularly on a girl’s education. Research by Plan International UK found that 49 per cent of girls have missed an entire day of school because of their period.
What do homeless people do about periods?
Those living on the street, and also many of those living in shelters, reported that they tended simply to dispose of items that were bloodstained or heavily soiled, necessitating frequent replenishment of underwear, clothing, or pad surrogates (t-shirts used to manage menstrual blood flow).
How does period poverty affect girls?
Around the world, consequences of period poverty can include: Girls often miss one or more days of school during their periods, which negatively impacts their education. In Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, some girls will miss as much as 20% of their school year; some may drop out of school altogether.
Are periods shameful?
Menstruation is a human rights issue
“Because of social taboo and gender stereotypes that stigmatize menstruation as dirty, many people experience menstruation with shame and without access to the resources needed to manage their menstrual health safely,” she said. “Menstruation is a human rights issue.
Do schools teach boys about periods?
72% of boys have never been taught anything about the menstrual cycle and three quarters of children aren’t satisfied with the education on periods they receive. Typically, the details of the topic are often kept for when the boys have been scurried out the room and let outside early to play.
How did Victorian ladies deal with periods?
The Victorian Period (And Beyond)
From the 1890s to the early 1980s, people used sanitary belts, which basically were reusable pads that attached to a belt worn around the waist – and yes, they were as uncomfortable as they sound.
Is it okay to stay home from school because of your period?
Great question! Getting your period can cause mild cramps on the first day or two, but it shouldn’t cause you to stay home from school, work, or social events.
How does period poverty affect mental health?
Period poverty can also negatively affect mental health, with women who suffer from period poverty being more likely to report moderate to severe depression.
What are the top 5 causes of poverty?
But first, we need to understand what poverty is – and what causes it.
- Lack of access to clean water and nutritious food.
- Lack of access to basic healthcare.
- Inequality or social injustice.
- Lack of education.
- Poor basic infrastructure.
- Climate change.
- Lack of government support.