Keywords

period poverty, menstruation, mental health, education, sexism

Abstract

Period poverty involves girl’s and women’s lack of access to menstruation supplies, clean and private facilities, and education due in large part to negative attitudes surrounding the female menstrual cycle (Mann & Byrne, 2023). It is estimated that up to 500 million women around the world live in period poverty (The World Bank, 2022). Period poverty can adversely influence a women’s physical health, mental health, and educational opportunities and is usually associated with hostile sexism (at worst) and misunderstanding (at best) (Eyring et al., 2023; Marvan et al, 2013). Women who are experiencing period poverty often resort to unsanitary products, such as paper, rags, and leaves, to care for their menses, which can make them vulnerable to infections (Das et al., 2015; Davies et al., 2023; Rapp & Kilpatrick, 2020). The shame that girls and women typically internalize because of period poverty can have negative impacts on mental health (Cardoso et al., 2021; Mari-Klose et al., 2023). Girls who are in school who do not have adequate supplies may be vulnerable to leaking through their clothing, which may cause peers, who notice, to tease, creating an environment of humiliation. Often, in such circumstances, girls would rather miss school than deal with humiliation, which can lead to further isolation (Crichton et al., 2013). Understanding menstruation and the effects of period poverty can potentially lead to positive attitudes regarding menstruation, easier access to feminine hygiene products, and a healthier school environment.