What Period Poverty Looks Like Around the World
Period poverty is a global sanitation issue that affects millions of women and girls around the world. Actually, more than 800 million women and girls menstruate daily, and period poverty has hindered their abilities to go on with their daily activities, whether it may be work, school, or even leisure.
Contrary to popular knowledge, period poverty does not only dictate lack of access or affordability of sanitary products, but also incorporates period health education, sanitary facilities, and waste management altogether. This in turn proves that poor period sanitation affects the whole population as a whole, and not just females. Now, let us take a look at how bad the situation is in a few countries:
In Kenya, 65% of menstruators do not have the financial capacity to afford menstrual hygiene products monthly! While these products are categorized as necessities, they are disregarded by the local government. Actually, they are even perceived as luxury products, and are taxed as such, which in turn also reduces proper access due to their high costs.
This idea of high taxes, normally referred to as “pink tax,” is not restricted to emerging or developing countries on4ly according to “The Borgen Project.” European nations in the likes of Sweden (25% tax) and Hungary (27% tax) also suffer from high rates. In parallel to decreased accessibility, women and girls also suffer from period stigma on a daily basis. Said stigma is so enforced in countries like Uganda, that 50% of young girls skip schools 5 days a month and are banished to their homes due to their menstrual cycles.
While often unspoken of, period poverty is a very concrete and alarming issue that affects millions around the world, whether living in developed or developing nations. The stigma causes embarrassment and banishment from daily duties, and the lack of sanitary products has made it even more difficult for women and girls to embrace their periods. All in all, belittling such a basic need will only generate more stigma around the topic, and will ultimately magnify it. That is why governments and INGOs have been taking actions to fight period poverty and its implications.
