It's past time we ended the stigma – and tax – on periods for girls around the world
On this International Day of the Girl Child, we are bringing awareness to period poverty, which hits 500 million worldwide. One in 5 girls in America miss school because of it.
Girls are brilliant, creative, powerful and strong. We are world change-makers.
There are 600 million girls in the world today and nearly 4 billion women. Together, we make up almost half of the world’s population. Imagine a global society in which everyone values the ideas, talents, leadership and contributions of girls and women. Instead, we have historically been undervalued, feared and face an abundance of stigma, ironically, because our bodies have the power to create life.
In 2011, the United Nations adopted a resolution to declare Oct. 11 the International Day of the Girl Child “to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.” The first celebration was held 10 years ago.
500 million experience period poverty
In honor of International Day of the Girl Child, we are bringing awareness to an issue that uniquely challenges girls and women: period poverty. The Journal of Global Health Reports states that more than 500 million experience period poverty. Global Citizen defines period poverty as the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, toilets, hand-washing facilities or waste management.
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Many people think period poverty is only an issue in faraway lands, such as Asia, Africa and South America. Always, a Procter & Gamble company, reports that nearly 1 in 5 girls in the United States have missed school due to lack of access to period products. Because of shame and stigma, girls do not usually speak publicly about these challenges. Instead, we shroud the most natural of acts with nicknames, such as “Bloody Mary,” “red rag,” “that time of the month,” “Aunt Flo” and “the particulars of a woman.”
We speak up boldly about our vision to help end period poverty, as well as the shame and stigma associated with it, because period poverty stifles girls in schools, athletics and at work. It also causes serious consequences on girls’ health and mental well-being. We are confident that this is a problem that can be solved by private citizens, corporations and governmental bodies working together to focus on systemic solutions.
Always first named us Period Heroes on International Day of the Girl Child in October 2020, in recognition of our work with Women in Training, Inc. Women in Training provides menstrual education and monthly kits of menstrual, dental and hygiene supplies to girls in our community.
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Why are menstrual products still taxed as nonessentials?
Recently, at the Global Citizen Festival in New York, we spoke alongside Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu about period poverty, and how it uniquely impacts girls and women around the world. In front of tens of thousands of people in Central Park and millions of digital viewers, Sandhu announced the launch of the Global Menstrual Equity Accelerator. This group is kicking off a campaign called Period for Change, which will fight stigma, influence policy and secure the resources needed to help end period poverty.
The “pink tax” or “tampon tax” contributes to period poverty. More than 20 American states still tax period products as nonessential items.
Furthermore, food stamps do not cover menstrual products.
So, what is a poor girl to do with her menstrual blood? They often use socks, toilet paper, paper towels and washcloths. Even worse, they use the same tampon or sanitary pad over and over. This can lead to toxic shock syndrome and bacterial infections.
The American Medical Women's Association reports that the two groups who face period poverty the most are students and homeless women and girls. We include underserved transgender and nonbinary youth. One of the reasons periods are associated with shame and stigma is the uneven menstrual education provided to girls – and boys!
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How you can be a Period Hero
Many girls to whom we provide menstrual education tell us they thought they were dying when they had their first period. Another group of girls say they thought they were bleeding because they had cancer. Boys, for their part, make off-color jokes when they see girls leave the classroom with a sanitary pad or tampon. We want to have mediated conversations with girls – and boys – to discuss issues surrounding period poverty and gender equity. This ignorance must stop. Period!
On International Day of the Girl Child on Tuesday, you too can be a Period Hero by taking the following action steps:
►Write to your elected officials here to encourage them to show their support.
►Volunteer with or donate to an organization in your community that addresses gender equity issues.
►Support our work to create menstrual equity for girls worldwide by going to the WIT website, www.womenintraining.org
Together, we can end poverty. Period!
Breanna and Brooke Bennett are the co-founders of Women in Training, Inc., and were instrumental in the unanimous passage in 2022 of Alabama’s House Bill 50 that allocates $200,000 to provide menstrual products to students in Title I schools at no charge. The twin sisters, 15, are sophomores at The Montgomery Academy in Alabama.
