Period Poverty: Part 1

     In my previous post I mentioned about what I am passionate about, and that is period poverty.  I will go into more detail about that in today's post and it will go over several other posts.  So, let's get started.

    I know that some people may be uncomfortable with this topic.  But, it is something that needs to be addressed.  Some of you may have heard of such organizations like Days For Girls, On the Dot, Period Project and the Pad Project just to name a few.  Days for Girls, for example,  provide reusable menstrual products to girls in places like Africa.  Girls miss school once a month due to their lack of supplies and end up falling behind.  The result is that all too often, girls drop out of school.  In many places, period products are considered luxury items and therefore, many do without because they can not afford them.  Sadly, in many cultures, girls are shamed when they have their periods.  Some even have to live elsewhere each month because she is considered "dirty".  

Let's look at some numbers, shall we? The rate for girls who miss school on a monthly basis due to their cycles is 20% in Ghana, Ethopia and Sierra Leone.  In Nepal, South Africa and Afghanistan it's 30%.  40% in Sengel, 50% in Kenya and in India the rate is a whopping 70%.  But it doesn't just happen in the really poor areas of the world.  1 in 7 girls miss school in the U.K. and even here,  in the United States, that number is higher, at 1 in 5 girls.

The average female will menstruate about 40 years.  She will spend roughly $13.25 per month on supplies.  That is $159 per year and over 40 years comes to $6,360.  That's not all.  Thirty-one states even charge sales tax on menstrual products.  Thankfully, for us in Pennsylvania, we don't have to.  And to add insult to injury, government aid programs like Snap and Wic,  classify pads and tampons as luxurious and places them under the category like cigarettes, pet food and alcohol and therefore do not qualify. That is just unreal to me.  After all 50% of the population menstruates.  It is a part of life.  Why the shame?  Why the unfairness of the way women are being treated?  If men got periods would we even be having this discussion?  I don't think so.  

There is another charity called Cloth Connection Outreach that I have been a part of for several years.  It is based in Michigan.  I came across it on facebook.   Donors sew reusable menstrual products and send them to Michigan.  From there, they go into kits.  Those in need can fill out an application and a kit will be shipped to them.  All they pay is shipping.  If they can't even afford the cost of shipping, which is about $8, a donor will sponsor that person and cover the fee.  Over the past 4 years or so, I have made and donated more than 300 reusable pads.  

    I will continue this topic over the next week or so.  Please stop back to learn more on this topic.