What’s the cost of a pad? £2? Yet for millions of girls, it’s the price of their dignity, education, and even their future. How did we get here—where something as basic as menstrual care decides whether a girl stays in school or drops out forever?
Are these girls machines? Expected to endure the pain, bleed in silence, and push forward as if their lives hold no value? In the UK, one in ten young women cannot afford menstrual products, forcing them to use rags, socks, or worse. The shame keeps them from school, from work, and from living.
When they can’t afford a pad, they find solutions such as the use of rags, socks, toilet paper, and even ash as substitutes for menstrual products leads to dire consequences—both physical and emotional. These makeshift solutions are unhygienic, increasing the risk of infections like urinary tract infections (UTIs), bacterial vaginosis, and reproductive health issues. Left untreated, these conditions can escalate, leading to infertility or life-threatening complications.Let’s understand the crisis.
What is Period Poverty?
Period poverty is the lack of access to essential menstrual products, safe sanitation, and education about menstruation. It perpetuates a cycle of shame and stigma, forcing girls and women into isolation. In the UK, one in ten girls has been unable to afford sanitary products at some point, highlighting a glaring gap in gender equality. In humanitarian crises, the situation worsens—reports by the UNFPA show that menstruation needs are deprioritized, leaving refugee women and girls vulnerable to violence and exploitation.
The Ripple Effects of Period Poverty
Education Interrupted
Girls who don’t have access to sanitary products often skip school. A 2023 survey found that 20% of girls in the UK missed classes during their period due to a lack of supplies. For every day a girl misses school, her chances of staying in education diminish, locking her into a cycle of poverty.
Mental and Emotional Toll
The stigma surrounding menstruation exacerbates the issue. Girls feel embarrassed, ashamed, and excluded. A lack of understanding from peers and educators adds to their emotional burden, affecting their mental health.
Violence and Vulnerability
In low-resource settings, period poverty increases girls' vulnerability to gender-based violence. Action Aid highlights how girls in Uganda face exploitation, as they are forced to exchange sexual favors for sanitary products. The connection between period poverty and violence is undeniable, making this a global crisis of dignity and safety.
Breaking the Cycle
Recognizing the Signs
Missed School Days: If a girl frequently skips school, it might be more than a health issue—it could be period poverty.
Emotional Withdrawal: Shame often leads to silence. Be a safe space for open conversations about menstruation.
Improvising with Unsafe Materials: Girls using rags or tissues need immediate support.
What Can We Do?
Advocate for Policy Change: Campaigns like Free Periods have pushed for free sanitary products in UK schools, but more needs to be done to ensure universal access.
Community Action: Volunteer with organizations like Bertha’s Legacy to distribute supplies and raise awareness. Every contribution makes a difference.
Normalize the Conversation: Menstrual health should be a part of education, free from stigma or shame.
Fighting Period Poverty with Action
Join the Movement
At Bertha’s Legacy, we’re on a mission to combat period poverty. By providing menstrual products, education, and a safe community, we’re empowering women and girls to reclaim their dignity.
Join us as a volunteer or donor to create a world where no girl misses school or faces humiliation because of her period. Your support can rewrite their stories.
A Call to End the Stigma
Period poverty is a crisis that demands collective action. It’s time to end the silence and confront this issue head-on. Let’s ensure that no girl has to choose between her education and her dignity. Remember, the abrasive materials used as a substitute, damage the skin, causing irritation and open wounds, which become breeding grounds for bacteria. Using unclean rags or socks further heightens the risk of tetanus or sepsis, particularly in areas with limited access to healthcare.
Emotionally, these unsafe practices reinforce shame and stigma. Period poverty is a crisis affecting health, education, and basic human rights.
Together, we can break the cycle of shame and provide every woman and girl with the resources they deserve. Stand with Bertha’s Legacy to create lasting change—one pad, one conversation, one life at a time.
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