What is Period Poverty?
Scotland has become the first country in the world to make period products free for all. Such a historic event has demonstrated that there is now a legal duty on local authorities in Scotland to ensure that items such as tampons and sanitary pads are available to "anyone who needs them"(BBC 2020). The bill was brought forward by MSP Monica Lennon who had been campaigning to end period poverty since 2016.
But what is period poverty? And why is Scotland teaching an important lesson to the world?
Period poverty is often linked with the stigma surrounding menstruation worldwide. In Nepal, women on their period are seen as impure, in Uganda, a study found that many girls skipped school to avoid being bullied by classmates (Global Citizen 2020). But it also hits closer to home, research by Plan International UK (2017) found that in the UK, 1 in 10 girls cannot afford to buy menstrual products, while 1 in 7 has struggled to afford them. Further research found that 49% of girls have missed an entire day of school because of their period (Plan International UK 2017).
If you are a female reading these lines, the fact that you can afford sanitary products does not mean that the girl queueing up behind you at Tesco did not have to move mountains to menstruate hygienically this month. A "luxury" we take for granted.
Therefore, not having access to a safe and hygienic way to deal with periods can have profound consequences on a woman’s life, particularly on a girl’s education. Action Aid states:
"Period poverty affects women and girls all over the world. Access to sanitary products, safe, hygienic spaces in which to use them, and the right to manage menstruation without shame or stigma, is essential for anyone who menstruates."
The Global Period Problem
Scotland tackled period poverty head-on by making international headlines as becoming the first country to provide period products free. Many campaigners across the world demand for this, as it is "the first step to normalise periods is to destroy the taboo" and to do to this countries must make period products, sanitation and hygiene easily accessible (Global Citizen 2020).
The UK finally announced the end of “tampon tax” in the 2020 annual budget, coming into effect in 2021. Currently, in the UK, tampons, sanitary pads, and menstrual cups are viewed as 'luxury' items just like in most of the member states in the EU who deem them luxury rather than essential. In the UK, they are taxed at 5% (Glamour 2020). However, the per cent of tax varies across Europe with Hungary at the highest rate at 27% and Ireland as the only European country to not tax on these products (Statista 2020).
Why is an ESSENTIAL item for 49,58% of the world's population to do basic daily life activities considered a luxury? and, most importantly, by who?
Whilst in more impoverished parts of the world like Africa, one in 10 girls in Africa will miss school when they have their periods (Action Aid 2020). In Kenya, 65% of females are unable to afford menstrual hygiene products (Menstrual Hygiene Day 2016). Without political intervention, many non-governmental agencies are the ones campaigning and improving the lives of girls faced by period poverty in impoverished countries.
But, why do governmental institutions not work to create a fairer future for women? It is not only a matter of a patriarchal system (men dictating the rules from a position of power) but also a matter of empathy. There are some women in politics (an extensive minority), but overall politicians tend to afford these items and beyond. It is more bewildering to think that there are people who cannot afford to buy these items whilst others can effortlessly stock up on these products.
In China, about 4 million schoolgirls are suffering period poverty, according to state-owned media China Comment. In parts of China, pads can cost more than a month's salary (ABC 2020). In India, a quarter of girls miss school because of menstruation, and only 12% have access to sanitary pads (Eachother 2020). With poor affordability and accessibility in these two densely populated countries, period poverty is an extreme issue which has accentuated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Covid-19 and Period Poverty
The number of women and girls facing period poverty has risen sharply during the coronavirus lockdown, according to charities working to help them (BBC 2020).
Quarantine measures and girls out of school have massively disadvantaged women and girls across the globe during the pandemic. Some women and girls have resorted to socks and old newspapers when getting their periods as menstrual products become more expensive or harder to obtain (ABC 2020).
Leeds-based Freedom4Girls said it had seen an even larger five-fold increase in the number of free sanitary products it supplied in and around the city. Tina Leslie, who runs the charity, said it normally delivered about 500 packs of pads, tampons and liners a month. But since the start of lockdown it had distributed more than 7,500 packs (BBC 2020). Across the world in Kenya where period poverty was already rife, even more, girls are falling into the poverty trap.
Says 16-year-old Nisera.
The IMF’s World Economic Outlook projections on Covid-19 related Period Poverty is damning; (Forbes 2020)
“Covid-19 is likely to cause the first increase in global poverty since 1998. It’s predicted it’ll push 49 million people into extreme poverty in 2020."
Again many charities and NGOs are continuing to tackle period poverty, especially in the midst of a pandemic. But governmental bodies should be addressing the issues more. Scotland has shown the world you can prioritise the importance of period poverty.
"Periods don't stop for pandemics and the work to improve access to essential tampons, pads and reusables has never been more important."
Labour MSP Monica Lennon.
Tackling Period Poverty
Scotland has set a precedent across the world but in the words of Ms Lennon;
"Scotland will not be the last country to make period poverty history — but it now has a chance to be the first."
Across the world different countries have created policies to tackle period poverty;
Free period products were rolled out in all primary and secondary schools in England in January. (BBC 2020).
The UK started a global fund to end period poverty by 2030 – with a move of two million pounds of UK aid to be given to charities talking period poverty (Action Aid 2020).
India, Australia, Kenya, Canada, and Ireland removed tax on period products (Statista 2020).
In the US ten states do not tax products and a handful of US states like New York and New Hampshire have passed laws mandating free period products be provided in schools (Statista 2020).
South Korea abolished the tax on sanitary pads and in the capital of Seoul launched a pilot program where free female sanitary products are now provided at 10 public facilities in the capital (The Korea Herald 2018).
In the past 12 months, three Eastern and Central European countries - Poland, the Czech Republic and Lithuania - have lowered the "tampon tax" to 5 percent. Germany has also slashed taxes on feminine hygiene products to 7 percent from a high of 19 percent and Luxembourg has even gone as low as a 3 percent tax (Statista 2020).
However, NO period product should be taxed. This is not a luxury but essential item. We hope that Scotland leads the way for other countries to take this issue seriously.
Additionally, thank you to all men for reading this article and educating yourselves on a matter women struggle with regularly. Period poverty can only be tackled if men empathise and support historical events like the Scottish tax ban on sanitary items. Affording them should not be a matter of our socio-economic status.
Period Poverty Charities
Freedom4girls https://www.freedom4girls.co.uk/
Bloody Good Period https://www.bloodygoodperiod.com/
Action Aid https://www.actionaid.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/womens-economic-empowerment/period-poverty
Period Poverty http://periodpoverty.uk/
Plan International UK https://plan-uk.org/blogs/our-menstrual-manifesto
The Homeless Period http://thehomelessperiod.com/
Hey Girls https://www.heygirls.co.uk/
The Red Box Project http://redboxproject.org/about/
References
Abc.net.au (2020). 'A Painful And Lonely Issue': Period Poverty Impacts 4 Million In China. [online] Available at: <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-03/coronavirus-poses-period-poverty-worse-around-the-world/12700290>
ActionAid UK (2020). Period Poverty. [online] Available at: <https://www.actionaid.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/womens-economic-empowerment/period-poverty> [Accessed 1 December 2020].
ActionAid UK. 2020. Periods And Girls’ Education. [online] Available at: <https://www.actionaid.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/womens-economic-empowerment/periods-and-girls-education>
BBC News (2020). Period Poverty: Scotland First In World To Make Period Products Free. [online] Available at: <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51629880>
Bodyform.co.uk (2020). What Is Period Poverty? | Bodyform. [online] Available at: <https://www.bodyform.co.uk/our-world/period-poverty/>
Broster, A. (2020). Period Poverty Is Getting Worse During Coronavirus, Warns Charity. [online] Forbes. Available at: <https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicebroster/2020/05/28/period-poverty-is-getting-worse-during-coronavirus-warns-charity/?sh=4a28394a3f73>
Buchholz, K. (2020). Infographic: Where The "Tampon Tax" Is Highest And Lowest In Europe. [online] Statista Infographics. Available at: <https://www.statista.com/chart/18192/sales-tax-rates-on-feminine-hygiene-products-in-europe/#:~:text=In%20the%20past%2012%20months,tampon%20tax%22%20to%205%20percent.&text=Equally%2C%20Spain%20has%20been%20discussing,supplies%20in%20Europe%20is%20Ireland.>
EachOther (2020). Fund Launched To Tackle Global Period Poverty By 2030 - Eachother. [online] Available at: <https://eachother.org.uk/fund-launched-to-tackle-global-period-poverty-by-2030/>
Global Citizen (2020). Period Poverty: Everything You Need To Know. [online] Available at: <https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/period-poverty-everything-you-need-to-know/>
Herald, T. (2020). Seoul City Dispenses Free Sanitary Pads To Tackle ‘Period Poverty’. [online] Koreaherald.com. Available at: <http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20181011000893>
Menstrualhygieneday.org (2020). [online] Available at: <https://menstrualhygieneday.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/FSG-Menstrual-Health-Landscape_Kenya.pdf> [Accessed 1 December 2020].
Pantony, A., 2020. The Tampon Tax Has Finally Been Scrapped In The UK. [online] Glamour UK. Available at: <https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/tampon-tax-abolished-budget-2020>
Plan International UK (2020). 1 In 10 Girls Have Been Unable To Afford Sanitary Wear | Plan International UK. [online] Available at: <https://plan-uk.org/media-centre/1-in-10-girls-have-been-unable-to-afford-sanitary-wear-survey-finds>
Plan International (2020). Helping Girls Manage Their Periods During COVID-19. [online] Available at: <https://plan-international.org/case-studies/helping-girls-manage-their-periods-during-covid-19>
Wow, this is such an important topic! 🌟 Scotland's initiative to provide free period products is a groundbreaking step towards equality and breaking the stigma around menstruation. It's inspiring to see how one country can lead the way and spark global conversations about period poverty. Let's keep pushing for change everywhere! 💪✨