It’s about that time of the month again. Are you ready for it? The painful 7 days out of the month that a woman bleeds and feels pain from what may feel like every part of their body. The worst part? They can’t even control it! Why is it that women can go through a natural bodily function, and walk into a bathroom without the products needed to help maintain cleanliness? How come condoms and free sex education can be given out at pharmacies, but pads and tampons aren’t? It is completely unfair how a woman can approach that time of the month, and there is a possibility they don’t have the finances to take care of their needs. Women bleed blood, not money, they shouldn’t have to pay over 5 dollars for something that is a necessity.
While everyone defecates and urinates, only women get their periods. Why should women have to pay so much for sanitary products when they are priorities? Why is it that they are around the same price as condoms or even more? Although these products are for the monthly bleeding cycle, they seem to be expensive. Women have no other choice than to go through the menstrual cycle. Tampons and pads are necessary products that women should not have to worry over being able to afford. With all of the natural stress that this time of the month brings a woman, finances shouldn’t have to be thrown on top.
Bleeding, cramping, even crying, are all a part of the menstrual cycle process. In order for the woman’s body to prepare itself for a possible pregnancy, it must undergo shedding of the lining of the uterus. This is the process in which the body gets rid of natural wastes that have been built up since the last cycle (about 28 days). In the article “period equity: what is it, why does it matter?” by Gynecologist Humid Farid, she argues that feminime hygiene products are a necessity not luxuries , and should be treated as such. The author illustrates this in the text when she writes “People with heavy periods, requiring frequent changes of these products particularly face financial challenges, as they must buy even more pads or tampons than an average menstruating person ;If they try to extend the life of products by using them for multiple hours they can end up with vulvar irritation and vaginal discomfort. Humid statement demonstrates the necessity of women being able to access sanitary products and what can occur when a woman doesn’t have the finances to tend to her natural bodily functions.
While sex is a natural thing, it isnt a something that is mandatory. Young women from the age of (as young as) 10 are forced to go through the menstrual cycle. In the article “Condoms Should Be Sold, Sanitary Pads Should Be Given For Free” by Chimwemwe John Paul Manyozo addresses the issue of sanitary products not being accessible to women and are left with no other choice but to improvise with something to prevent her bodily fluids from leaking through. The author illustrates this when she writes “during menstruation we improvise! We Use chiteje mostly, or whatever we can use at the time’ said the prisoner.” This statement the author included supports the fact that sanitary products are not accessible to women in places they should be, like prisons and pharmacies. Because of this women have no other choice but to find an alternative and are left with an even more uncomfortable menstrual experience. The author mentions in their article that we have a free condom system almost globally. It should be the bare minimum for places like schools, jails, and pharmacies to have free sanitary products for those in need. If men can have access to free condoms why shouldn’t women have access to free pads?
Period poverty has been an issue for many homeless, and low income women around the world. It is the inability to afford menstrual hygiene products. Misha Valencia, a journalist and clinician, addresses the impact that inadequate access to sanitary products have on women in her article “period products should be free in public bathrooms”. The author introduces this when she writes “A 2019 study found that 36% of the women surveyed missed a day or more of work per month due to period poverty”. Women who don’t have access to these products often find it hard to concentrate, and risk bleeding through their undergarments, forcing them to miss work. The author also mentions how students are also heavily affected by period poverty. Four out of five students claim they have missed school during their period because they didn’t have access to products. It’s sad that young women have to suffer because they don’t have the necessary money to afford tampons or pads. Buying these products can be very expensive, and even stressful as women spend around an average of $19,000 on period products in their lifetime. Women shouldn’t have to spend almost 300 dollars a year for something that is inevitable. Some of those years are spent having to rely on others to receive their necessities. No woman dealing with poverty should be faced with the decision of cleanliness or eating.
Companies shouldn’t capitalize off the needs of women. Tampons and pads should not be more expensive than toilet paper, when they’re only used for 7 days a month, 84 days a year. Condoms should not be given out for free, it’s not mandatory to have sex. The anticipation of getting to that time of the month, shouldn’t bring upon the worry that you won’t be able to provide for your basic needs. Periods need to be tended to properly or it can quite literally put a woman’s health in danger. It is not a luxury having a period, which means it is not a luxury
which means it is not a luxury product. Sanitary products for natural bodily functions should be made available to every woman in need of them, without a question.
Work cited
- Humid farid, “Period equity: what is it ,why does it matter?” harvard health publishing, June 1 2021 https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/period-equity-what-is-it-why-does-it-matter-202106012473
- Chimwemwe John Paul Manyozo “condoms should be sold, sanitary pads should be given for free”, november 13, 2016 https://medium.com/@chimwemwejohnpaulmanyozo/condoms-should-be-sold-sanitary-pads-should-be-given-for-free-c2eeca77b741
- Misha valencia “ period products should be free in public bathrooms”, may 4, 2021
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/period-poverty-pads-tampons-free-20210504.html
