Suggested Policies and Programs That Could Address Period Poverty

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, federal aid has failed to address “period poverty,” when someone can’t afford to access menstrual products, clean and sanitary facilities, or accurate information about menstruation. Fortunately, some policies and programs could bridge this gap.

The impact of menstrual inequity runs deep. A 2019 study found that among low-income women in St. Louis, nearly half (46 percent) had to choose between buying food and spending money on menstrual products. People experiencing housing insecurity report isolation and even illness and infection caused by using tampons and pads for longer than recommended. Sometimes they have to improvise with items like discarded paper bags or newspapers.

SOURCE: Marie Claire • AUTHOR: Jennifer Weiss-Wolf • LAST UPDATED: September 16, 2021