Let’s say what we’re all thinking – periods are uncomfortable. Physically, obviously, but also socially. The reality is we still live in a world where many women find it hard to talk about periods, or – if they do – they often have nicknames for them (Aunt Flo paid a visit recently?). Hands up if you’ve found yourself rushing to the nearest toilet, clutching your pad or tampon for dear life, praying no one catches a glimpse of that tell-tale plastic wrapping. Exactly. Never one to shy away from an uncomfortable topic, here at Cosmo Middle East we’re diving into one that’s as crucial as it is often hushed up: Period Poverty.
Period poverty
You might have seen it in headlines, caught glimpses on social media, or even experienced it yourself. It’s time to shatter the stigma and get real about a dilemma that affects countless women globally. And seeing as over half the world’s population menstruate, this is an issue that affects you – whether you realise it or not. Can you imagine what would happen if every woman on her period had to skip school or work, or was made to feel dirty or alienated because of it? The reality is that’s what it’s like for countless women around the world.
Picture this: A young woman curled up on her bed, clutching her stomach, trying to suppress the discomfort of cramps. We’ve all been there – most likely nursing a tub of Ben & Jerry’s and sobbing to Tay Tay (no judgement here). But this girl’s worry isn’t just about the pain; it’s about the daunting question of how she’s going to afford menstrual products this month. Period poverty is a shocking reality where financial constraints force many to choose between buying essentials and purchasing sanitary items.
Global Citizen defines period poverty as the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, toilets, hand-washing facilities, or waste management. Things most of us massively take for granted. You’re probably thinking, “Oh this only happens in developing countries” right about now, but nope – this is a global issue. According to the Journal of Global Health Reports, over 500 million women in the US alone lack access to menstrual products and hygiene facilities.
Let’s get informed on period poverty
Did you know that millions of girls around the world miss school because they can’t afford period products? It’s a staggering truth that not only affects their education but also perpetuates a cycle of inequality.
Inadequate access to sanitary items can lead to health issues, with some resorting to unhygienic alternatives due to lack of resources.
Period poverty isn’t just an international issue—it’s right in our backyard too. Women from all walks of life are silently struggling, living paycheck to paycheck, and having to make tough choices every month.
Via Unsplash
Rising warriors taking a stand
But guess what? The fight against period poverty is stronger than ever. From grassroots organisations to major brands, a wave of change is sweeping across the globe. Initiatives are popping up left, right and centre to provide free menstrual products to those in need, breaking down the barriers that once confined this topic to shadows. Including right here in the Middle East.
COVEN
Via @covenwellness on Instagram
“I, like many other women, leave pads in the toilet, and I realised they were being taken by other women…other women in need. I just thought it was such an unnecessary inconvenience that we’re interrupted by periods or lack of access during our busy days,” explains Alyazi Al Muhairi., founder of Coven – an Emirati brand that provides environmentally-friendly sanitary pads to spaces that want to be period positive, including schools and workplaces across the UAE.
“The biggest misconception is that period poverty doesn’t exist in a rich country. There’s a major labour force here [in the UAE] and a lot are female. We ran a survey on over 500 women in the UAE of different backgrounds and 93% said they wanted access [to period products]. We built Coven to address a perceived policy gap to enable spaces to be period positive with uncompromising quality.”
Nabta Health
Via @nabtahealth on Instagram
“Our mission is to empower women in historically underserved markets – so the Middle East, Africa and South Asia – so they can effectively manage their health. When women don’t have enough money to spend on themselves, one of the first things that goes is period care. The top three things low-income group women in the UAE ask to be donated to them are sanitary pads, diapers and formula,” reveals Sophie Smith, Founder and CEO of Nabta Health – a hybrid membership-based model of healthcare for women based on chronic and complex disease management.
“Whenever a membership is purchased by family for their female domestic employee – so their nanny, maid or housekeeper – we include a 12-month supply of eco-friendly period products with it. It’s the smallest of things, but it means one of the most basics of needs is met.”
Nabta Health is also about to start working with The Giving Family to provide the same thing for women in labour camps and has partnered with LiZZOM to get period product dispensers and corporate-sponsored periods products into workplaces.
LiZZOM
Via @lizzom.me on Instagram
LiZZOM is a female-founded femtech company based in the MENA region and nurtured right here in the UAE. Offering period products crafted from organic bamboo and corn (no chemical nasties here) whilst remaining as environmentally friendly as possible, they’re not just about good-for-you pads, but good for people projects too. With every purchase of a 10-pad pack, they gift one pad to a girl in need, because “Everyone has an equal right to menstrual products, PERIOD!”
Their devotion remains steadfast, directed towards enabling businesses and schools to offer sustainable and top-notch period products through our innovative vending machine initiative, the “Period Care Program.”
Saathi
At just 16 years old, young female entrepreneur Ahana Kotibhaskar felt it vital and necessary to start her own menstrual hygiene brand committed to fighting period poverty across the world. “The genesis of Saathi was a visit to my ancestral family home in a little Indian village”, she told Cosmo. “While interacting with the village girls, I discovered that many stopped attending school because of the uneconomic nature and general lack of menstruation products. I was told that, in most villages nearby, girls spend the duration of their periods in ‘period huts’, because it is considered ‘dirty’. This really astounded me, and I decided that I had to do something”.
The result? A brand that creates reusable, eco-friendly period panties that are affordable and hygienic. And with every pair purchased, one is donated to a woman in need. Saathi also works with the KCS Foundation in Bihar, Eastern India (one of the poorest and most rural states) to educate women about menstrual hygiene and provide them with Saathi’s products.
#PeriodProud: What Can You Do?
Spread the Word: Let’s talk about periods openly. Break the stigma and encourage conversations that empower women to ask for help when needed.
Support Initiatives: Many organisations, like the ones we just mentioned, are striving to eradicate period poverty. Get involved, donate, or volunteer to make a difference in someone’s life.
Advocate for Change: Urge lawmakers to prioritise menstrual equity by making period products more accessible in schools, workplaces and public spaces.
Empower with Education: Knowledge is power. Teach young girls about menstruation and provide them with resources, so they never feel ashamed or unprepared.
So, let’s rally together and create a world where every woman can face her period with dignity and confidence. By acknowledging period poverty, we’re taking a significant step towards equality. Let’s make a difference, one tampon at a time. Because no woman should be shamed or fearful of her time of the month. Period.