6 Ways to Tackle Period Inequality in the UK This Women’s Day
This International Women’s Day you can get involved in tackling period inequality right here in the UK!
What is period poverty or period inequality?
“Period poverty is the lack of access to period products, menstrual education, toilets, hand washing facilities, and/ or waste management.”
Historically, there has been the misconception that period inequality is an issue faced only in the Global South, but it’s always existed right here in the UK, and the COVID-19 pandemic has seen these inequalities increase.
Bloody Good Period - a charity working to provide safe menstrual products to asylum seekers and refugees living in the UK - revealed that demand for their services increased six-fold since the start of the pandemic. Research by Plan UK found the number of young people struggling to access and afford period products in the UK increased from 10% to 30% during lockdown.
With period products costing an average of £4,800 over one menstruating lifetime, it’s unsurprising that 60% of menstruating women find period protection products expensive, and so many people struggle to cover their basic needs.
We believe we should all have a choice when it comes to what we put in our bodies and we’ve been campaigning on the issues for years as part of our Plastic free Periods campaign. No one should have to go without safe and hygienic menstrual products. After all, reproductive rights are human rights!
6 actions we can all take for period equality
There are some very simple and tangible steps that everyone can take to help tackle period inequality, work for systemic change and improve the lives of those struggling in the pandemic (and onwards). Here are six ways you can help drive the change for period equality:
Sign your local school or college up for free period products.
Did you know that students at all state-funded schools and colleges in the UK have access to free period products for students through a government-funded scheme? Due to a lack of awareness and resource, only 45% of eligible institutions are currently signed up. Check whether your local schools/colleges have signed up to this program, and if not, encourage them to support their students!
You can use this email template from Free Periods.
2. Sign Bloody Good Period’s new petition.
They are calling on the UK government to make period products free for EVERYONE. If Scotland can do it, so can we! You can sign the petition here.
3. Sign the petition for period pants to be excluded from the tampon tax.
After leaving the EU, the UK government finally scrapped the damaging tampon tax, which has made menstrual products cheaper and more accessible for everyone. However, period pants were not included in this tax-break and continue to be taxed as a luxury good! Sustainable options should be available to everyone, no matter their socio-economic background.
If you agree, join us in signing this petition and use WUKA’s template to write to your MP, calling on them to represent your views in parliament.
4. Sign your school up for free training.
At City to Sea, we educate about the full range of products, myths and taboos, environmental impacts and period equality from the very start of menstrual education in schools. We equip teachers with free training and resources to ensure that students of all genders can talk more openly about periods and get the information they need and deserve.
Encourage your local schools to sign up for our free Rethink Periods training here.
5. Donate to organisations providing products.
Whilst organisations, individuals and grassroots groups are working towards the big, systemic changes that make period products available to all, we can support people struggling right now by donating period products to local food banks. If you’re unable to get out and donate in person, you can donate funds to organisations like Hey Girls (UK), Freedom4Girls (UK, Uganda, Kenya) and Bloody Good Period (England).
6. Support and promote brands who give back
Brands such as Lunette (menstrual cups) and Natracare (organic tampons and pads) partner with organisations around the world to make sure that people with periods EVERYWHERE have a healthy, sustainable and affordable option for period products. Cheeky Wipes (reusable pads and period pants) have a whole range that donates to plastic pollution campaigning organisation City to Sea.
Use your purchase-power to support brands who don’t just make your life better, but also do good in the world around you.
Let’s work to make period inequality a thing of the past
Period poverty is almost entirely avoidable, yet more and more people are finding it difficult to access safe and suitable period care products. Together we need to drive for positive, progressive change that ensures eco-friendly, health-friendly products and menstrual education is accessible to everyone. Please stand together this International Women’s Day, in taking action for period equality!
Find out more about City to Sea’s Plastic Free Periods campaign here, and their Rethink Periods schools program here.
Written by Jasmine Tribe at City to Sea