The Period Poverty Project

emain unaffordable for many individuals. Two major groups of women affected by Period Poverty are adolescents and homeless women. To understand the impact of period poverty, it’s critical to understand the setbacks women face when they cannot hygienically manage their period. Due to the stigmatization of menstruation, the shame associated with having a period, and lack of safe and clean products with which to manage a period, many girls will skip school or drop out. Data released by UNICEF shows that one-third of girls in South Asia miss school during their period. Another study by Always found that 44% of women who have experienced period poverty have issues finding employment. In some parts of the world, girls may manage their periods with dirty rags, sands, or tree bark. These unsanitary ways of managing menstruation can lead to disease and health complications. Poor menstrual hygiene has been linked with reproductive and urinary tract infections. Alongside physical complications, Period Poverty can potentially result in anxiety and depression (Maria Volkova, The Global Implications of Period Poverty and What You Can Do to Help). To be shamed for something that is a normal human function is damaging to our self confidence and sense of dignity.