Period Poverty: The Dire Issue That Does Not Need To Exist

An estimated 16.9 million menstruating women in the United States live in poverty, two thirds of whom are low-income and food-insecure women who are unable to afford basic menstrual products such as pads and tampons. Nearly 1 in 4 students in the U.S. have struggled to afford period products and 44% of teens report stress and embarrassment due to a lack of access to period products. The impacts of period poverty on women in the U.S., especially students, is widespread and the harm caused by period poverty can be easily remedied with reform. 

Period poverty is primarily caused by stigma, high cost of menstrual products, and a lack of water and sanitation facilities. Menstrual products are outrageously expensive, which is due, in part, to gender -blind policies and tax laws. The “pink tax” on feminine products is one key example of this. In many states, Viagra (used for erectile dysfunction) is classified as a tax-exempt health product, while menstrual products are classified as ‘luxury goods’ and taxed at the highest rate. 

Female students in the U.S. are profoundly impacted by this issue. Only 28 states, as well as the District of Columbia, have laws requiring free period products in schools; implementation, most notably in New York, has been rather ineffectual. Studies have consistently shown that limited access to menstrual products can lead to students missing school, which in turn damages their overall performance. Currently, a nonprofit organization known as Period Law and an anonymous student are suing the Education Department for not providing these essential products in schools. According to the legal complaint, this failure amounts to discrimination against menstruating people. This lawsuit is critical at such a time where efforts toward equity are being reduced across the country, and serves as a way to keep this issue in the spotlight. In other states, either period products are mandated without any funding, or funding is set aside without mandating the products. Oftentimes, in these states, data on progress and compliance is not readily available. Even more, many states do not have the necessary enforcement measures in their laws. 

By Julia Panos

Sources: