Period poverty and not being able to afford sanitary products

[youdothebestvoices]

I recently saw something somewhere about the tax that is on feminine hygiene products (tampons, pads) and although the tax has been scrapped, this was never reflected in the cost of the products, and therefore the companies are just making more money without benefits being passed on to the consumer. This is unfair, of course.

This prompted a wider discussion around period poverty, and I suggested people try to switch to reusables if possible. Better for the environment, better for your pocket long term. I've been using them for about a year and I've probably saved around £70 this year and they're all going strong, no staining, I'll probably have them for several years before I need to think about replacing. I got a bit of stick for this saying how are people meant to be able to afford reusables if they can't afford disposables.
I think a starter pack of reusable pads will cost around £30 - £40, which includes everything you generally need for one full period, and individuals will cost somewhere in the region of between £3 - £7. There is also the option of making your own. A box of disposables will be somewhere between £1 - £7 depending on the brand you choose.
A reusable cup is circa £20 and there are other options too.

I really don't care if somebody chooses to use disposables, I opted for reusables once I realised how much I'd save long term, that I could get them customised for my flow (meaning I use three times less pads per day), better for the environment, less likely to give you thrush. Regardless of this, they aren't for everyone, that is fine.

But here is a serious question, and I am sorry if this comes from a place of privilege. Has anyone ever met anyone (in the uk) that cannot afford sanitary products? I am sure that there are people that can't, but how common is period poverty?

I can't say that I have met anyone who struggles to afford them. We are a working class household, I know several people that are on UC and receive other benefits, but none of them have ever said they struggle to buy sanitary products (this does include households with multiple women in), several of them have also opted for using period pants, cups, or similar, because they feel the initial cost is worth it longer term. Some that use disposables have just said they buy extra when they are on offer.

I'm really sorry if this is a thoughtless post and I also know that not everyone will chat to people about how easy they find it to purchase feminine hygiene products but I genuinely want to know how common this is, because I don't think I actually do know.
If you are somebody who has struggled to purchase these in the past, or now, I don't want this post to cause any offence as I genuinely want to understand if this is a common issue.

If you want to vote:
YABU - period poverty is really common
YANBU - I don't think I have met somebody who struggles with purchasing these

“Jesus christ, I enabled voting because not everyone wants to type out replies to a thread and it's easier for some people to just click a button.”

And what happens when lots of other privileged people click “YANBU” because they also haven’t come across anyone who can’t afford sanpro? Cos you know, it’s not something women shout about, is it?
How does that fit with your so called awareness raising? When you actually DILUTE the message that this is a widespread issue?

The problem is the initial cost.

It's like expensive clothes or shoes. In the long run, the items last longer so you spend less, bit you need to be able to afford the initial higher costs.

It's expensive to be poor.

It’s expensive to be poor - @Comedycook

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻So very much this

And 40% of people also don’t understand it’s an issue. Looking at the replies, they are reading your op, voting and buggaring off. How is that raising awareness?

As a teenager I was briefly taken in to care and was too embarrassed to ask anyone for pads. I had no money. These days I’d hopefully have been able to get them from school. It was a small and minor thing but I’ll never forget it

I'm absolutely poor, and because I'm menopausal, I literally never know when I will next have a ridiculously heavy period. The last two times, I've used folded up flannels in my knickers because I can't afford the amount of pads I would need. Luckily I wfh. The only person that knows is dh, it's just not something I would discuss with friends.

This!

Our town is one of the most deprived areas of the UK. Period poverty is real - when DD was in 6th form she was involved in getting grants for the school to provide SP because so many girls were missing school because of the lack of supplies. Rather than singling out pupils who struggled to afford SP the school sent supplies to every girl in the school while the school was closed.

Three years on there are several places that have SP available for free to anyone who needs it. There's a coffee shop where ladies can help themselves in the toilets and a charity shop which has baskets that anyone can take - no questions, no asking, just help yourself. The local supermarkets also have discrete packages for anyone who needs them. I'm sure there are others that I haven't come across.

Why would they put money into combatting something that does not exist.

My teen years were hell with regards to periods. My mother decided how many pads I needed, apparently the fact my body bled more than she assumed didn't matter to her.
My clothes and bedding were covered in stains.
I no longer have periods (pill back to back) but I have a daughter that does.
I make sure she has access to whichever products she chooses but we are lucky to be able to afford a plentiful supply.
The fact that girls (and women) in this day and age cannot afford* *the simple dignity of an appropriately managed period saddens me deeply.
If parents can't afford sanitary products there is a good chance they are not running the washing machine regularly and showering as needed may not be an option, it is soul destroying being in that position.
As other posters mentioned, it isn't period poverty, it is just poverty.

Yabvu. You are making yourself seem very small minded with your post and replies.

Just because YOU and anyone you know in your small bubble of acquaintances hasn't experienced period poverty, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Your tone suggests that people are making the whole thing up.

You have had plenty of examples on this thread explaining period poverty and poverty in general here in the UK from people that witness it daily or live it first hand, yet you still can't grasp that others can't afford it.

Think outside the box and your own little bubble and believe what people are telling you. Period poverty does exist.

I'm another who experienced period poverty when I was a young adult earning very little and not living at home. Resorted to toilet roll many many a time, always a bonus when you found decent roll in a public/library/pub toilet to use.
I was lucky to discover the moon cup in my early twenties - I remember paying £8.50 for it on offer and it felt like a bit of an investment as a lot of money to have wasted if it didn't work for me.

Washable pads require large initial outlay, affordable access to a washing machine (I used launderettes as couldn't afford one when I was younger) and somewhere to dry them, not at all accessible for all.
Moon cups don't suit everyone, and you need regular access to clean private toilet facilities with a sink to use them.

It's less than 20 years since I was in period poverty, the cost of living compared to wages is greater now - of course there are women and girls out there experiencing period poverty right now.

You have had plenty of examples on this thread explaining period poverty and poverty in general here in the UK from people that witness it daily or live it first hand, yet you still can't grasp that others can't afford it.

I have thanked everyone who is sharing their experiences because it is meaning I am understanding more this issue. I'm not sure how I that looks like I am not grasping that people can't afford it.

Thank-you to everyone who has shared their experiences with this problem, whether it is first hand or through helping others. I started this thread because I wanted to understand this issue.

I'm off now because of the nature of some of the replies.

Do you even know how much a single person gets on UC? Less than £85 a week. This is to pay for everything. You think they aren’t living in poverty? You think they aren’t struggling financially to pay for food never mind Sanpro?

A few months ago when nurses highlighted they were using food banks to survive it never occurred to you that they are in poverty?

The question shouldn’t be are people struggling to pay for basic hygiene products, but why the hell are females/families struggling to pay for these basics? Why is it a struggle for people to put a load of washing on?

Please please to PP don’t couch this as just an upfront cost issue.

I’ve used reusable for 10 years. Wouldn’t use anything else but…

I have a utility room, sink, somewhere to keep a tub with a lid, a washing machine, a dry house with warm radiators in winter and a big washing line outside.

Imagine a family living in a flat with open plan living, a tiny bathroom and no outdoor space.

Where does the teenage daughter dry her period pants? Where does she put them each day when they’re used but she can’t afford to put a wash on for just two pairs of pants? Who is doing all this washing as the teenager is spending all her time at school to be warm and safe and the mother works two jobs? Or, more likely, they don’t actually own a functioning washing machine. So use a launderette on a Saturday morning.

If you accept some people can’t afford to eat, buy their kids new shoes or put the oven on then you can be damn sure there are women who can’t afford sanpro.

Me when I was a single parent on min wage job with me and three kids to keep, didn't get maintenance and had a 90 min commute each way.

I couldn't afford the outlay for reusables and I bought better quality pads for my girls and used the cheapest I could.

I do use reusables now - but as I said on a now deleted thread - I have to have periods pants and a flip nappy inner with a reusable pad on to hold it in place and that is only something I can do on days I wfh.

How did households cope before disposables?

And to reiterate - I can only use plastic applicator tampons, I've tried menstrual cups and they don't work for me, cardboard applicator tampons nip me and are uncomfortable, and non-applicator tampons the same.

I wouldn't have worn trousers. I'd have had a long voluminous skirt and I probably wouldn't have gone out on days 1/2 and possibly day 3 of my 10 day periods.

It’s very common , my BFF works as a teacher in a poor area just outside london and she actually buys tampons and sanitary pads as she knows some girls struggle to get them , she told me she often has to spend £40 a month to help her students .
It happens daily

@youdothebestvoices, yes I taught in a secondary school for many years and sadly there were some children whose parents who either did not provide them with sanpro, or did not provide enough so rationed it out. I used to occasionally hear one girl in my tutor group asking her friend if she had any spare. This was not a one off. I had a quiet word with her and asked if her family provided her with sanpro and she said she had 3 sisters and sometimes her Mum did not have enough money to buy them for them all. After that I made sure she could get them from school reception. This was years before schools started providing sanpro for those that could not afford it. Also there is take up of school provided sanpro and I wonder where these poor girls will get it from over the school holidays. I asked reception to make sure they gave girls enough sanpro to cover school holidays too. Period poverty really does exist and I expect it is higher now with COL crisis.

I live in Australia, period poverty is a thing here. We have a charity that raises money to put vending machines in schools, hostels etc which supply period products free of charge. They also do drives several times a year where they collect period products and distribute them Australia-wide to charities, hostels, domestic violence centres etc.

Because awareness of these issues is important? I tend to buy extra things to leave in the food bank collection bit of our supermarket, usually cupboard staples because I always see them in there so I assume they are needed. If I understand this issue more than I can drop off some extra bits, when I can afford to do so. If I genuinely wasn't aware of it, then there will be other people out there that aren't too, so if more people are aware more can be done to support people that might struggle.

Why do you need to understand to buy something the food bank is asking for?

Do you question why they are asking for pasta, or UHT milk, or teabags?

It's a problem, charities are asking for help with this, you don't need to sit there asking for reasons and judging if those reasons are good enough for you to contribute or not.

Some women can't afford to have periods. Either help, or don't.

You're here to virtue signal. It's boring.

Due to the lack of public toilets for women, females wouldn’t have travelled that far from home. They would have used whatever was at hand. It’s not something though I really like to think about considering bedpans and windows 😂