Periods
by Logan Amos and Ela Mody
Periods. A natural part of being human. However, an important topic remains buried in silence. We are here to break that silence. We believe that access to menstrual hygiene products (including but not limited to pads and tampons) is a basic human right, and that we shouldn’t have to feel ashamed of the natural process of our bodies.
Shame.
Have you ever hidden a tampon in your sleeve when going to the bathroom? Have you ever deliberately avoided saying the word ‘Period’ in a conversation? This is because of internalized shame and taboo, a restriction or prohibition of discussion caused by societal ideals, that exists on this topic. Society tells us that the menstrual process is impure, gross and embarrassing. For these reasons, periods are implicit and there is a lack of education surrounding them.
Access.
For many, being able to afford menstrual hygiene products is a financial strain, and due to overpriced products, many cannot afford them at all. This affects health and well being, causing unnecessary issues regarding whether or not you will bleed through your clothes or if you get an infection. When wom can’t afford products they use alternatives such as socks, brown paper bags, and toilet tissue to feel some level of hygiene on their periods; however, this can be another cause of infections. Nearly 1 in 5 girls miss school because they don’t have access to such products. It is estimated that throughout a lifetime periods cost $18,172 per person. $150 million a year is spent on the sales tax of these products in America. This cost is a massive burden and is discriminatory.
Education.
Many schools provide little to no period education to all students. A period education is fairly basic, generally including a biological overview and sometimes an introduction to a few menstrual products. What is not included is what many young students, regardless of gender, need to know - such as what to expect, what is or is not truly normal, the variety of period products, and how periods progress throughout life. It is important that everyone of all genders receive a full period education. Especially in the early stages of puberty, when young girls are likely to start their periods, as 10% of girls report not having any knowledge or preparation for their first period and 1 in 4 women report not understanding their menstrual cycle. Lack of knowledge about periods can also result in medical misdiagnosis and misinformed legislation. When a woman or a doctor does not know what a normal period looks like (for themselves or others), they can either be misdiagnosed or make a late diagnosis, especially for conditions like endometriosis, which presents with similar symptoms as a period. A luxury tax on menstrual products is a clear example of misinformed legislation. When those making decisions in power don’t understand periods, they make decisions that put menstruators in tough positions.
Periods are natural. Much of the world experiences a period every month. It is not something that we chose to have. Products for period hygiene should not be a luxury. If properly educated, states or even the federal government would be able to make fair decisions on menstrual health that would benefit us all. PERIOD.
For more information or support:
https://www.yourperiod.ca/normal-periods/menstruation-around-the-world/
https://taxfoundation.org/tampon-taxes-sales-tax/
https://www.heygirls.co.uk/our-approach-to-period-education/
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/endperiodpoverty?source=direct_link&