what is period poverty?
Limited access to menstrual products and female menstrual health education
Period Poverty can be defined as limited access to menstrual products themselves, lack of education about menstrual health, as well as insufficient sanitary facilities for menstruating individuals.
who is affected?
1 IN 5
STRUGGLE
TO AFFORD
PERIOD
PRODUCTS
SALES TAX
UPWARDS OF
7% AND PROFITING 150 MILLION
DOLLARS
1 IN 4 TEENS LACK
ACCESS TO PERIOD PRODUCTS
1 IN 4 TEENS
MISS CLASS
In the United States alone, 30 states tax feminine hygiene products because they are labeled as “nonessential” goods.
Nationally, 25 million women live in poverty; more specifically largest demographics living in poverty in the Coachella Valley are females between the ages of 45-54, followed by females between the ages 34-44. Since females are most affected by poverty, this leaves them to decide what to spend their money on.
Light Blue - Not taxed | Dark Blue - Taxed
sometimes they are forced to forgo essential menstrual products to be able to afford other necessities for themselves and their families.
Younger, school-aged females may miss school due to stigmas associated with menstruation and the lack of available menstrual products.
AMWA. American Medical Women's Association. (2019, November 5). https://www.amwa-doc.org/period-poverty/
​
Sydney Phillips (2018, May). Alliance for period supplies fact sheet https://www.allianceforperiodsupplies.org/period-poverty-fact-sheets
​
Regis College of Nursing . (2021, April 23). Looking at Period Poverty and Female Hygiene Gaps in the US. Regis College . https://online.regiscollege.edu/blog/period-poverty/.