The Realities of Period Poverty: How Homelessness Shapes Women's Lived Experiences of Menstruation

Dealing with menstruation can be especially difficult for people without stable housing. This article explores the experiences of cisgender menstruating, homeless women. Not only is menstruating often a painful experience, but it can also bring up feelings of shame and embarrassment. While menstruating, homeless women may seek shelter in other places to find comfort and access necessary supplies, including toilet paper that is used in place of menstrual products. Shailini Vora argues that we need new strategies to address period poverty among homeless people.

Through personal interviews, Vora reveals that menstruation is regarded as a negative, emotional, and expensive experience. The participants are conscious of their doubly stigmatized status as homeless and menstruating, and they mobilize strategic rationalities to manage and conceal their menstrual status.

SOURCE: The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Menstruation Studies • AUTHOR: Shailini Vora • LAST UPDATED: July 25, 2020