In this country we have a big problem with period poverty – more than 1 in every 10 girls has had to improvise sanitary wear due to affordability issues. Many miss school, not to mention the general squashing that goes on with regards to talking about the subject all together. The stigma around something that more than half the population experiences once a month is frankly outrageous.
Things are changing, though, as passionate campaigners ask the government to provide free sanitary products to girls at school who are on free school meals. Plus, excellent initiatives are starting up, like Hey Girls (heygirls.co.uk), a social enterprise company based in Scotland. Every time a box of Hey Girls sanitary towels is bought, another box is given to someone who can’t afford them.
There’s also Freda (myfreda.com) which provides an organic period-care subscription box and ‘giveback pledge’ . Follow @bloodygoodperiod, too, which provides supplies to those who can’t afford them, and @pinkprotest for productive period activism. Viva la bloody revolution.
