This article was written and researched by High Tech High intern Ivanka Lavenant for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest as part of an internship project.
“Period Poverty” has long been an issue for many. Unfortunately, people who menstruate have always had to pay for things that they need at a higher price. It is important to understand that menstrual hygiene products — which include tampons, sanitary napkins, pads, menstrual cups, and more — are a necessity, not a luxury. Even so, many people who menstruate cannot access the proper resources they need throughout their menstrual cycle. I, for one, grew up with this notion: I did not grow up in the wealthiest family so struggling to pay for certain products was common, including menstrual hygiene products. I recall having days where I would have to substitute pads or tampons with layers upon layers of toilet paper because I was too embarrassed and ashamed to ask an adult around me for those products.
People who menstruate are often raised to believe their body is shameful, their menstrual cycle is gross, and their period products are something to hide because God forbid someone finds out you are menstruating. When I did have menstrual products in my house, I was told to hide them because the male members of my family should not know that I was menstruating. Talking about my body was taboo and something to feel ashamed of due to patriarchal beliefs embedded within the mentalities of the adults around me, and unfortunately, this is a common occurrence in many people's lives. According to State of the Period 2023, 88% of teens hide their menstrual products when at school, and 74% of adults hide their period products when they are at work. Not only are people who menstruate expected to hide their menstrual products, they are expected to pay for them too. People who menstruate who do not have the resources or access to these products are told to fend for themselves. Period stigma directly ties into period poverty and period poverty can lead to issues within your reproductive system and your life in general.
According to a study done by U by Kotex in 2021, period poverty affects two in five women, most of whom are part of other marginalized communities and have low incomes. According to the same study, a quarter of both Black and Latinx people who menstruate suffer from period poverty. This study also states that 38% of low-income women miss school, work, or other notable events due to period poverty. Due to these absences, California Governor Gavin Newsom implemented the Menstrual Equity for All Act in 2021, requiring all public schools and universities to provide free menstrual products for their students. This act also strongly encourages UCs and private universities to do the same, with many providing the same products for their students. Although this is a big first step towards eliminating period poverty, some students still struggle with this issue.
A study done by Period in 2023 demonstrated that period poverty is still rampant amongst students and adults with 40% of teens and 52% of adults stating that they have worn period products for longer than recommended. 89% of teens agree that menstrual products should be provided at school for free yet 53% of these same students say that they rarely see free period products in their school bathrooms. 49% of these teens felt as though their school did not care about their wellbeing due to the scarcity of menstrual products. Period poverty is a severe issue throughout any age group or demographic that experiences menstruation and these products are only getting more expensive.
The “tampon tax” taxes menstruation products as though they were a luxury and not a necessity and makes it more expensive to purchase period products. The New York Times reported that period products increased in cost by 13% in 2022 which is close to twice the regular rate of inflation. U by Kotex found that 68% of people believe period poverty is a health issue but only 4% of these same people are aware of a place that offers free or reduced-cost menstrual products.
To reduce this barrier to accessing menstrual supplies, Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest’s Care Coordination team began providing menstruation kits at their twenty health centers in San Diego, Riverside, and Imperial counties to meet the needs of their patients. Since the start of this program in 2020, Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest has distributed over 4,000 menstruation kits to people in need of menstrual products and hopes to expand this program. Likewise, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest advocates have also been organizing to increase access to menstrual health products in public spaces, schools, and public restroom facilities throughout our tri-county region.
To learn more about period poverty and for additional resources visit:
San Diego Food Bank Period Supply Program
Free4ME: Supporting Menstrual Equity Program
What is period poverty? It's on the rise in the U.S. (harvardpublichealth.org)
The Alliance for Period Supplies
To schedule an appointment at Planned Parenthood visit:
Planned Parenthood | Find a Health Center
To donate to Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest’s Care Coordination work visit:
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