Period Poverty in Lockdown: The Overlooked Impact of Covid-19
by Delilah Kealy Roberts
Young girls are growing up in a world where essential period products are out of their financial grasp. During the Covid-19 outbreak, period poverty is having a harsher impact than ever.
Living through the Covid-19 pandemic, along with its unexpected repercussions, is difficult for everyone. Yet, the current situation is disproportionately difficult for some. Studies have found that girls and young women are overwhelmingly affected by health emergencies. 40 per cent of young women aged 14-21 have said that lockdown has negatively impacted their mental health. What’s more, when it comes to physical health, the issue of ‘period poverty’ is more acute and more urgent than ever.
Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, Plan International UK announced that one in every ten teenage girls will have been unable to afford sanitary products at some stage. Dubbed ‘period poverty’, the issue has been picked up by many campaigners who fight to overcome the financial barrier between people who menstruate and their menstruation.
In light of the “new normal”, now is the time to take a closer look at the causes and effects of period poverty, the impact of Covid-19, and what we can do to alleviate the financial strain that far too many women face.
[Skip to The Impact of Covid-19 on period poverty]
What is period poverty?
Period poverty refers to the global issue of insufficient access to safe and hygienic period products. Women and girls across the world are unable to manage their periods with dignity, and are often excluded from education, work, or community experiences as a result.
One way to understand the hardships associated with period poverty is to address the ‘toxic trio’.
The ‘toxic trio’ summarises the causes of period poverty as:
A lack of vital education about periods, sex, and relationships in schools
The cost of sanitary products
The taboo and stigma surrounding menstruation.
Period poverty is not only about financial inequality; but money does play a huge part in preventing access to sanitary products. Governments have come under fire for the Tampon Tax: the profits garnered from the 5% VAT charge applied to sanitary products. While “feminine hygiene” is taxed at a significantly lower rate than the standard 20% VAT, there is an ongoing dispute over whether we should pay tax duties on these products at all.
Beyond addressing government policies to alleviate the financial strain of menstruation, campaigners are working to dismantle the stigma surrounding menstruation. We must educate girls everywhere about the normal, healthy process of having a period. Sadly, many people still don’t have access to this education.
Girls across the globe are growing up in a climate where they can’t afford essential items, they feel ashamed of their bodies, and they remain uneducated about important elements of menstruation.
The ongoing fight against Period Poverty
An understanding of menstruation often begins in the classroom. The UK government has already announced plans to introduce a thorough curriculum on relationships, sex, and health education.
In April 2019, the Department for Education announced its commitment to providing free sanitary products across England’s primary schools by early 2020. The Children and Families Minister, Nadhim Zahawi, outlined the move as a step towards enabling girls to meet their full potential, while also leading happy, healthy lives.
The UK government has also announced that relationships education will become compulsory in all primary schools, and relationships and sex education (RSE) will be compulsory in all secondary schools, as of September 2020.
The Impact of Covid-19 on Period Poverty
School closures
Overall, we’ve witnessed some impressive progress over the past few years. The government now provides free period products in England’s schools and plans to redress the sexual health curriculum. However, as a result of Covid-19 many schools are now closed or have been servicing a reduced number of students for much of this year.
With many young girls relying on their schools to provide them with sanitary products, school closures have made it more difficult to access essential period products. A report from the Independent found that one in ten girls have found it particularly difficult to access or afford period products during lockdown. A further one in ten were worried about leaving the house for their government-approved daily exercise in case of leaking. Despite resolute campaigning and new government measures, a vast number of people still face period poverty every day.
The impact of Covid-19 has also stunted the positive educational movement. Due to school closures, many vulnerable young people will have missed out on essential education this year. It’s concerning that many may have forgone sex education altogether.
As mentioned above, menstrual hygiene education is vital in the fight against period poverty. Without proper education at crucial ages, young girls may suffer undue fear, confusion, and lack of knowledge about their periods. They may also face period stigma, unarmed with the proper education to break the taboos. As schools close and normalisation of menstrual education is put on hold, many girls fall into the trap of feeling ashamed about the normal, healthy process of having a period.
The changing face of education
With the current ongoing crisis in mind, schools have had to adapt and find new ways to offer sex and relationship education to their pupils. Most schools have moved at least some lessons to an online platform.
Thankfully, the NSPCC has published resources, guidance, and training so that teachers can still offer essential menstrual health classes. The young people’s sexual health and wellbeing charity, Brook has also created an e-learning platform , offering free training to adults who work or live with young people. The charity are offering help when it comes to addressing topics such as puberty, sex, relationships and mental health.
Financial implications of Covid-19
As of the 18th of May, 24 per cent of people in the UK have been severely impacted financially by Covid-19. Many businesses have faced turmoil, in turn rendering a vast number of staff unemployed or earning a lower wage due to pay cuts and furlough schemes. In fact, as many as one in five British workers have been furloughed since the outbreak of the pandemic.
Between financial difficulties and inability to access fully-stocked shops, people are finding it more difficult than ever to source necessities, including sanitary products. Naturally, it has been even more difficult for those who require organic tampons for heavy periods or other cycle-specific sanitary-wear. Many cannot afford basic period products, let alone those specific to their unique cycles or preferences.
Charitable support to combat period poverty
Thankfully, charitable operations have been working tirelessly throughout the Covid-19 crisis. Many food banks and volunteer groups have even seen a surge of volunteers since the furlough scheme was rolled out.
Talking to volunteers at the West End Food bank in Newcastle, we found that companies (such as Morrisons) and individuals alike have been generously donating sanitary products throughout the pandemic. Sanitary products are now being included in every pre-packed parcel. This means that everyone who relies on this particular food bank now has access to some essential products for free.
However, as you might expect, food banks cannot control what products they receive. One Newcastle West End Food bank volunteer informed us that sanitary pads are far more commonly donated than tampons. Whilst charitable giving goes a long way towards tackling period poverty, some people are forced to use sanitary products that they are not familiar with or comfortable using. Now, more than ever, people who menstruate require education and support in order to access and use period products.
How you can help
Supporting food banks is a relatively easy and local way to help tackle period poverty. By learning which non-food donations are in great demand, we can drop off vital donations or even volunteer our time.
Beyond physical donations of period products, it’s important to continue to raise awareness and promote education regarding period poverty. Online training and resources can prove invaluable when it comes to approaching the topic of periods, as people of all ages and genders still find the subject uncomfortable.
Period-focused charities and campaigners continue to work with determination, even during lockdown. Reaching further than our local community, there are always opportunities to get involved with charities such as ActionAid UK and Bloody Good Period.
Lockdown and Covid-19 have consumed news coverage and conversations, whilst period poverty is often overlooked, even as it becomes worse. Together we can get through all of this, but only if we continue supporting those who are vulnerable and in need of financial aid during this challenging time.
About the Author: An experienced and passionate writer, Delilah specialises in technology, travel, and culture. After achieving an undergraduate BA (Hons) degree in English Literature from the University of Leeds, she has gone on to write for many online and print publications across different sectors.
