WHAT IS PERIOD POVERTY?
An Always Confidence & Puberty Survey revealed that nearly 1 in 5 American girls have either left school early or missed school entirely because they did not have access to period products. At puberty, a girl’s confidence plummets, with the onset of menstruation marking the lowest moment for many girls. But the drop in confidence is so much worse for girls that lack access to period protection. It can force her to miss out on important confidence-building activities in the classroom, on the field, in extra-curricular school programs, and limit her potential far beyond puberty. While lack of access to period products is typically associated with girls in other countries, period poverty isn’t just someone else’s problem. It’s happening right here in North America.
PERIOD POVERTY IN THE US
How Access to Period Products Removes a Barrier to Education
A growing number of states are exempting menstrual products from tax. Advocates for period equity argue taxing these supplies is unfair because periods are a necessity, not a choice. And some schools and universities are now opting to provide these products free in an effort to reduce absences and ensure that low-income students have access to them. Education Week's Kavitha Cardoza reports.
Charlotte Doctor Donating Period Products to Students in Need
Dr. Elesia Glover said she's donated tens of thousands of pads to schools around the East Coast, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) through her nonprofit Posh Pack, Inc.
Governor Shapiro Calls for Free Feminine Hygiene Products in Schools
Gov. Shapiro discusses a budget that allocates funding to ensure students have access to free period products in schools.