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Period Poverty In Canada
Period poverty, defined as the lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, waste management and education affects one in six people with periods in Canada.
Period poverty may look like
Having to make budget sacrifices to afford menstrual products
Having to choose whether to eat or to buy menstrual products
Having to re-use menstrual products multiple times (This can have serious health effects).
Having to skip school or work due to lack of access to menstrual products
Increase in anxiety due to lack of period products
Period Poverty In Indigenous Communities
Period poverty is even more rampant in Indigenous communities. The Toronto Star reports that in some Indigenous communities, a box of tampons can be anywhere between $16-$45. Additionally, the Toronto Star reports that reusable menstrual products are not an option for many Indigenous communities as there are 34 long-term drinking water advisories across indigenous communities making it impossible for Indigenous menstruators to properly clean reusable menstrual products.
The Kwek Society, a period poverty organisation, works to eliminate period poverty in Indigenous communities in America and Canada. Here is a video from The Kwek Society's founder, Eva Carney, speaking on period poverty in Indigenous communities and the work of the Kwek Society.
How Are Period Stigma and Period Poverty Related?
Period poverty is a growing issue in Canada, yet period stigma makes it a silent issue. If we are too ashamed to discuss menstruation how will we be able to solve the problem of period poverty?
“If we cannot talk about periods because they are ‘taboo’, we fail to address serious issues around accessibility and affordability of menstrual products.”- Lindsay Glassco, Plan International Canada’s President & CEO.
Jana Girdauskas is the founder of the Period Purse, a Toronto-based charity aimed at providing menstrual products to those in need. In an interview with CBC, she discussed how period stigma amplifies period poverty.
“When we have that stigma there is going to be less knowledge around periods and more menstrual health issues because of it. [...] We need to talk about it more, like we are doing here. [...] When we talk about it more we are going to have more policy changes”
How Can We Help End Period Stigma And Period Poverty?
Period poverty is a huge issue that does not have a one size fits all solution. However, we can't end period poverty until we are ready to speak openly about periods. That's why the How I Flow movement is starting the conversation, and encouraging people to speak openly about periods.
If you want to get involved, check out the #howiflow campaign on Instagram @how.i.flow and share your period story on social media to aid in ending period stigma.
XOXO- How I Flow Founder, Quinlan Carnegie
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