No woman or girl should have to compromise their health or confidence because they cannot afford the products they need to stay healthy.
The average woman’s period lasts between 3 to 7 days, every 28 days from the age 13 until 51. That means the average woman endures some 456 total periods over 38 years, or roughly 2,535 days with her period, which is almost 7 years of her life. That's 7 years of making sure you have a pad or tampon, finding a makeshift solution if you don’t, and managing pain and discomfort associated with ones period. Unfortunately, menstruation, a normal bodily function that half the population experiences, is still seen as a taboo topic.
Scotland will become the world's first country to make period products free for anyone who needs them. The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill passed with an unanimous vote by the Scottish Parliament. The bill is designed to create a legal obligation for the government to ensure sanitary products are free and accessible for all who menstruate, including tampons and pads in public facilities nationwide. And Scotland has taken pride in blazing this trail by taking it to their country's official twitter account, stating "That's right, Scotland has become the first country in the world to make period products free for all. Because in Scotland, we believe it's fundamental to dignity, equality and human rights."
“Menstruation is normal. Free universal access to tampons, pads and reusable options should be normal, too. Period dignity for all is not radical or extreme, but is simply the right thing to do” - Scottish Labour MP, Monica Lennon.
Sanitary products are needed every month, this can become a financial struggle for those in low income families. For a woman living in poverty, her period can be a source of stress and shame. Trying to meet their family’s basic needs—food, water, shelter and education—they also must find a way to access enough pads or tampons each month. When you have to decide whether you feed your family or to purchase feminine sanitary products, you’ll feed your family and try to “make do.” In some cases, women are forced to resort to non-friendly alternatives like socks, newspapers and old rags because they can't afford sanitary products.
Period poverty refers to having a lack of access to sanitary products due to financial constraints, and it’s a global issue. It comes in many forms: a lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, toilets and hand washing facilities, or waste management. A survey conducted by Plan Canada International, found that almost 75% of the women they spoke to reported missing work for reasons related to their periods, such as not having the supplies they needed.
Across the globe there are approximately 500 million women and girls are living each month in period poverty. In Australia, that figure is over one million.
A report conducted by the Victorian Government identified lessening period poverty could lead to positive outcomes including:
"No woman or girl should have to compromise their health or confidence because they cannot afford the products they need to stay healthy.” - RANZCOG President, Dr Vijay Roach
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) is calling for government action to enable free access for all women and girls' to sanitary products. RANZCOG President Dr Vijay Roach said “No woman or girl should have to compromise their health or confidence because they cannot afford the products they need to stay healthy.”
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