Women all over the world are often excluded from fundamental activities due to a lack of resources and the cultural stigma linked to menstruation. Given the lack of conversation and awareness about periods, discriminatory beliefs are rampant even in educated and urban households. Menstruation has become a significant barrier in eradicating gender inequality. To this day, women have to face numerous obstacles when it comes to menstruation, however, some of these challenges can be addressed and averted.
Period poverty is a term used to describe the difficulty faced by many low-income menstruators in affording menstrual products. As a result of financial instability and lack of information and understanding, many young girls and women struggle to buy menstrual supplies. Period poverty entails not only the lack of accessibility of sanitary products, but also the heightened challenges faced by women because of the lack of availability of washrooms, sanitary conditions, and proper hygiene management.
According to one study, only 36% of menstruators in the country use sanitary napkins, given the stigma and taboo surrounding periods in India. In rural India, the majority of people do not have the resources or privilege of choosing their menstrual products. The cost of sanitary pads can prove to be exorbitant for low-income families even in urban areas. Thus, a vast majority of women still rely on harmful materials like rags, ash, and sand as a substitute for menstrual products.
The affordability of menstrual products remains one of the major issues contributing to period poverty. In 2018, the problematic tax on sanitary products, which was fixed at 12% under the Goods and Services Tax Act in India, was removed after months of campaigning. In a country like India, this was seen as a stepping stone as it was believed that this would allow more girls to complete their education and accelerate women's empowerment. However, tax exemption still poses restrictions on the accessibility of menstrual products as many women still cannot afford them.
The repercussions of period poverty are everlasting. Individuals who use alternative products are more likely to get infections like UTIs and other complications that are often fatal. Due to a lack of medical treatment and poor menstrual hygiene, many women have to face serious health problems. Inability to buy menstruation products might cause girls to miss school and work, affecting their education and economic opportunities in the long run. As a result, more and more women can be vulnerable to harmful physical and mental consequences.
Period poverty is an alarming social, political, and health crisis. It is high time we stop considering periods as “woman’s problem” and start advocating for free global access to sanitary products. A simple biological function should not be a cause of discrimination and inequality for half of the human population. The possibilities are limitless if we all work together to achieve menstrual equity. Let's get rid of the stigma associated with menstruation and allow women to bleed with dignity.
Author - Maitree Saraswat
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