END PERIOD POVERTY, Alissar

Hi, my name is Alissar Dalloul, and I am a high schooler passionate about advocating for public health causes. I have begun an Instagram account and created a website for my organization Public Health PHC Initiatives. After hosting an in-person donation event for sanitary products where PHC raised over 1,000 dollars in items, I hope to continue my efforts in beginning this donation event for the organization Period. Check out these links for more information.

https://www.publichealthphc.com/

https://www.instagram.com/publichealth.phc/

A period is the part of the menstrual cycle where blood is released from one’s uterus. It is the body’s way of releasing tissues it no longer needs. This can last between 3-8 days, sometimes more, and generally occurs every 28 days. On different days of one’s cycle, a menstruator will undergo different flows, and lose about 30 to 72 mL of blood during their period: although some bleed more heavily. Cramping is the most commonly reported symptom.

This is a natural occurrence. Every month, your body prepares for pregnancy, and the lining of your uterus gets thicker in preparation for nurturing a fertilized egg. If an egg is released, it will be fertilized and then settle in the lining of your uterus. However, if you are not pregnant, your estrogen levels fall and hit a level that tells your body to begin menstruation. The thick lining used to surround an egg, instead is shed and passed, along with some blood, out of the body. And remember, there are also various reasons as to why not all women have periods. This can deal with nutrition, exercise, or infertility disorders.

What is needed for one’s period?

Tampons, for one, are designed to absorb period blood by insertion, and may not be worn for more than 8 hours; however most menstruators wear it for less time.

Menstrual cups are another tool and they are cups made out of silicone which can be inserted and collect menstrual flow; generally, every 4-12 hours the cup is removed, cleaned, and reinserted. Pads are also used to absorb blood and are worn in underwear. Additionally, menstrual underwear can be worn to absorb one’s flow.

Now, The Period Stigma

In many countries there is a potential lack of access to sanitation supplies, which results in period poverty. In simplest terms, Period poverty is a lack of access to menstrual products, education, hygiene facilities, waste management, or a combination of these. This poverty could be due to economic status. For example, in the Netflix documentary, Period End of sentence, the women must make their own supplies from cloth due to the lack of resources. However, another factor is due to the stigma in their culture which intends to ostracize menstruating women by perpetuating the idea that periods make a woman impure, are a curse, and this highlights the lack of education surrounding this bodily function. This poverty could also be due to the taxes and lack of supplies at schools. The notion that menstruation people are dirty or unclean results in absences in school, whether out of embarrassment or the inability to control their flow with insufficient resources. Let’s make note of a statement here: a period is the end of a sentence, not the end of a girl’s education. The fact that girls are unable to attend school due to lack of supplies, pain, or even the connotation of impurity due to a normal function, is quite alarming. This situation is namely due to the lack of knowledge regarding menstrual cycles, especially legislators who are uneducated, and also the lack of discussion in government regarding a supposedly taboo topic.

So let’s talk about periods.

North Carolina has a tax on tampons, but fraternity and sorority meals are untaxed. Shall I go on?

Tennessee has a tax on tampons but fishing tournament registration fees are untaxed.

Are we sensing the absurdity of this situation?

There is currently a national tampon shortage in the United States. Let's end the stigma and period poverty by advocating:

•TAKE ACTION BY DONATING

•TAKE ACTION BY EDUCATING YOURSELF AND OTHERS

•TAKE ACTION BY HALTING THE PERPETUATION OF THE STIGMA.

•PERIODS ARE NOT EMBARRASSING, THEY ARE NORMAL BODILY PROCESSES

•WE CAN TALK ABOUT THEM IN PUBLIC AND THIS REQUIRES THE ACTION OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING NON-MENSTRUATORS

Actions work and the proof has been seen this last week as states are moving to not only eliminate the tampon tax but also require pads and tampons to be available at all public settings including schools. So take action and make a significant difference. Don’t let periods end a girl’s education and don’t let these necessities be treated as luxuries.