Period Poverty is defined as the inability to gain access to clean menstrual hygiene products, such as pads, tampons and menstrual cups, and/or having poor knowledge of menstruation often due to financial constraints, or societal shame and stigma. Period Poverty affects people who menstruate in the UK, and all over the world.
Access to menstrual products,safe spaces in which to use them, and the right to manage menstruation with dignity, is a human right. However, for over 500 million people who menstruate across the world, and 1 in 5 in the UK [1], this is not a reality.
Period poverty can have severe implications on those affected: preventing education, causing physical health problems, and negatively affecting mental health. In 2017, it was estimated that over 137,000 children across the UK had missed school days due to period poverty in the past year [2].
Sources: Further reading:
Access to menstrual products,safe spaces in which to use them, and the right to manage menstruation with dignity, is a human right. However, for over 500 million people who menstruate across the world, and 1 in 5 in the UK [1], this is not a reality.
Period poverty can have severe implications on those affected: preventing education, causing physical health problems, and negatively affecting mental health. In 2017, it was estimated that over 137,000 children across the UK had missed school days due to period poverty in the past year [2].
Sources: Further reading:
With increased inflation and rising energy bills, many have been forced to prioritise other household essentials over buying sanitary products.
According to a survey in 2022 commissioned by ActionAid UK, nearly one in eight women in Great Britain have struggled to buy menstrual products since the start of the cost of living crisis at the end of 2021.
More people who menstruate than ever are having to resort to makeshift sanitary products, and are being denied the dignity that everyone deserves. There has also been a rise in the use of Hygiene Banks in the UK – services that provide access to toiletries and other essential hygiene items, including sanitary products.
Free products can also be found at most food banks, in schools, universities and ALL Jsoc/ Hillel Houses.
Sources for further reading:
According to a survey in 2022 commissioned by ActionAid UK, nearly one in eight women in Great Britain have struggled to buy menstrual products since the start of the cost of living crisis at the end of 2021.
More people who menstruate than ever are having to resort to makeshift sanitary products, and are being denied the dignity that everyone deserves. There has also been a rise in the use of Hygiene Banks in the UK – services that provide access to toiletries and other essential hygiene items, including sanitary products.
Free products can also be found at most food banks, in schools, universities and ALL Jsoc/ Hillel Houses.
Sources for further reading:
- Launched Let My People Flow- a campaign against period poverty
- Supply hygiene products, storage and information about period poverty to all Jsoc and Hillel Houses in the UK and Ireland , and at all UJS National Events such as Convention
- Reimburse the cost of sanitary products to all JSocs when bought for Jsoc spaces.
- Provide Welfare Support For Students at the Welfare Line and as part of our Mental Health, Inclusion and Social Action Work.
To find out more, contact Eve, the Inclusion and Mental Health Sabbatical Officer
As part of both our inclusion work, and as per current policy(COM5), UJS endeavour to tackle period poverty and its stigma on campus, UJS national spaces and in wider society.
You can reach out to your Sabbatical Officer, or to Eve for support with any of our Inclusion work and specifically with our "Let My People Flow" campaign, or if you want to get involved!
Find out what work your University and/or SU are doing to support the provision of sanitary products and let your JSoc members know
You can reach out to your Sabbatical Officer, or to Eve for support with any of our Inclusion work and specifically with our "Let My People Flow" campaign, or if you want to get involved!
Find out what work your University and/or SU are doing to support the provision of sanitary products and let your JSoc members know