Period Poverty and Women Inequality: The Unvarnished Truth
- May 19
- 6 min read
For those blissfully unaware, period poverty is when your wallet is too thin to buy menstrual products. It happens more often than you'd guess. Not having these essential items means missing work, skipping school, lousy hygiene, and some unwanted infections (Tolman, p. 4). Women inequality, a hot topic, really made headlines during the pandemic when unemployment soared and paychecks shrank. Plus, the article, Period Poverty – why millions of girls and women cannot afford their periods, points out that period poverty is a growing global issue (2025).
Impact of Period Poverty on Women
Period poverty hits women and girls hard, especially those from marginalized communities. Not having access to menstrual products can lead to:
More missed days at school and work than your average Monday blues
A nosedive in mental health and self-esteem
Health hazards from using questionable alternatives
Addressing Women Inequality
To tackle period poverty and its connection to women inequality, here are some game-changing moves:
Boosting access to budget-friendly menstrual products
Rolling out educational programs on menstrual health that won't make you snooze
Pushing for policy changes that cheer on women's health initiatives
Tackling these issues is key to leveling the playing field and ensuring all women can flourish without the hurdles of period poverty.
Why are period poverty and women inequality important?
Hey guys, gather 'round because this is important! Seriously, don't just scroll by like you're avoiding eye contact with a street performer. This could really matter to the women in YOUR life, even if you don’t realize it yet. Put on your empathy hats and dive into the financial rollercoaster many women are riding these days. Last year, a study by Dignity Grows found that about 59% of 2,000 women surveyed had incomes between $30,000 and $120,000 (Tolman, p. 5). You might think, "Hey, if they're making $100,000, they should be able to buy whatever they need, right? No excuses!"
But hold your horses! That kind of thinking is like trying to fit a giraffe in a Mini Cooper—it's just not gonna work. The cost of living has been playing leapfrog over wages, leaving even those with seemingly decent incomes scratching their heads at the grocery store. Everyday costs like taxes, basic products, and housing are making wallets weep. For example, by 2025, Illinois retail taxes ranged from 6.25% to 11%, depending on where you are (Illinois Tax Revenue). Compare that to the 2020 range of 6.25% to 10%, and you’ll see why wallets are getting thinner (Illinois Department of Revenue, pgs. 2-4). These tax hikes can really shrink what’s left for fun stuff like, you know, food.
Plus, the prices for essentials like groceries, healthcare, and transportation are climbing faster than a cat up a tree. Inflation has everyone making tough calls on what to buy. Thinking a higher income means financial freedom is like assuming a cat in a top hat is a magician—it’s a nice idea, but not quite reality. So, guys, it’s time to recognize the financial juggling act the women around you are performing. A little understanding and support can go a long way in helping them balance those budgets and improve their quality of life.
Economy impacts
While retail taxes haven't significantly increased over the past five years, it is crucial to delve deeper into the escalating costs associated with menstrual products. In the thought-provoking article titled "Soaring Cost Of Menstrual Products Is Unfairly Burdening Working Women," author Travis highlights a troubling trend that has emerged in recent years. He notes, "Since 2020, the average price of tampons and sanitary pads has increased by nearly 40%, from $5.37 per unit to $7.43 per unit, according to February 2026 data from Circana." This stark increase in prices raises important questions about the accessibility and affordability of essential health products for women.
Wow!
The implications of these rising costs are profound and far-reaching. As a direct consequence, many women are now faced with an incredibly difficult and often distressing decision: Should I prioritize feeding my family or allocate funds to purchase this necessary item that I require for one or two weeks each month? This dilemma not only highlights the financial strain that many households endure but also underscores the societal pressures and stigmas surrounding menstruation. Women are often forced to choose between basic necessities and essential health products that should be readily available and affordable to all.
Moreover, the impact of these rising costs extends beyond individual households. It affects women's health, wellbeing, and overall quality of life. When faced with the choice of purchasing menstrual products or other vital necessities, many women may resort to using alternative, less safe methods to manage their periods, which can lead to health complications and increased anxiety. This situation is further exacerbated for those who are already living in low-income circumstances, where every dollar counts and the burden of such choices can feel overwhelming.
In light of these challenges, it is essential to advocate for policies that address the high costs of menstrual products and promote greater accessibility. Initiatives such as eliminating the "tampon tax," providing subsidies for menstrual products, and increasing awareness about the importance of menstrual health can play a significant role in alleviating the financial burden on women. By fostering a society that recognizes the necessity of these products as fundamental health items rather than luxury goods, we can work towards a more equitable and just environment for all.
Pink Tax
The Legal Clarity Team describes the pink tax as "gender-based price discrimination in the consumer marketplace" (2026). Did you know that women often pay more for products than men? Yes, it's true that men typically don't use makeup, experience menstruation, or wear feminine clothing. However, when you compare female products to their male counterparts, women end up paying more. In the article, "Period Poverty – why millions of girls and women cannot afford their periods," the unknown author notes, "...in many states within the United States, Viagra (for erectile dysfunction) is classified as a tax-exempt health product, while sanitary products are considered luxury goods and are taxed at the highest rate" (2025). This highlights the preference given to a male product over essential feminine hygiene products.
Period project was born!
To help a sista out, the period project has been around. This project collects donations and gives back to the community. How, may you ask? Well, we've created period packs. These packs consist of pads, tampons, and other menstrual items bunched into a bag. This distributes one pack of tampons and pads to many people. Will this provide a woman everything she needs for the one week? No, but it will hopefully, get her by until she can get her hands on more products.
Period Project Goal
The period project was made to increase accessibility to these products while decreasing rates of infection, missed work, and missed school. The Period Poverty: A Neglected Public Health Issue article states, "The prolonged use of menstrual products, such as pads, tampons, or menstrual cups, increases the risk of infections such as urinary tract infection and bacterial vaginosis" (Jaafar et al., 2023). This shows the risk women may impose on themselves due to the inaccessibility of these important feminine hygiene products. Therefore, increasing accessibility to period products will directly decrease the infection rate while increasing attendance at work and school.
My Project
I have started a period project within my area to improve the surrounding community. My intentions were to address the goals above while expanding the impact. You can contribute the impact through reaching out or donating!
You can also follow the impact on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BEkuwgU4k/
or donate through
Amazon Wishlist:
To wrap up this topic, I'd like to ask you how period poverty impacts you?
Have you ever worn a period product longer than the suggested 8hrs because of decreased access to products?
yes, sometimes
yes, all the time
no, never
Conclusion
Today we hit on an important topic, while looking at the economic impact, and highlighting the period project as a whole. If you have further questions regarding this topic please comment, as I will respond as soon as I am able.
As always, if you have a topic suggestion that you would like to know more about, please comment below with the suggestion!
Stay tuned for more topics.
References:
Jaafar H, Ismail SY, Azzeri A. Period Poverty: A Neglected Public Health Issue. Korean J Fam Med. 2023 Jul;44(4):183-188. doi: 10.4082/kjfm.22.0206. Epub 2023 May 16. PMID: 37189262; PMCID: PMC10372806.
Comments