How Ireland is Battling Period Poverty!
By: Nithya Raghunath and Amani Khanna
Published: May 22, 2021
In Ireland, store chain Lidl announced it would offer free period products in stores nationwide to those struggling to afford them as an effort to tackle period poverty, which has risen during the pandemic. Last year, Scotland passed legislation ensuring period products are available to all who need them, and students in New Zealand will be able to get free menstrual products in school. Lidl becomes the major retailer to make period products available for free nationwide.
Period poverty has been raised as an issue by Irish politicians. For example, in 2019, The Irish Women’s Parliamentary caucus called on the Irish government to provide free sanitary products in schools, universities, hospitals, refuges, homeless services, detention centers, and police stations. The forum also called for menstrual education to be available in all public buildings.
For those living in low-income communities, period poverty can mean dropping out of school, leaving them at a much greater risk of child marriage, exploitation, and child pregnancy. Only a small fraction of these menstruators can afford sanitary products, and those who can’t have to improvise by using newspapers, leaves, and other unsanitary materials.
In a 2018 survey by Plan International, about half of girls in Ireland aged 12 to 19 reported having difficulty buying period products. Ten percent of girls surveyed said they were forced to use a less sanitary alternative, and some reported missing school out of fear. Additionally, the survey finds that half of the girls are embarrassed by their periods, while nearly a third did not know what to do when their period started.
In terms of menstrual equity, Lidl’s initiative represents a tremendous step forward, as low-income Irish menstruators now have the means to obtain free period products. While this achievement is significant, we cannot ignore that government inaction plays a notable role in the perpetration of period poverty. Establishing menstrual equity on a global scale can ensure a more equitable future for all.
Blog Sources: nytimes.com and reuters.com
Image From: twitter.com