Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Petitions and activism

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Periods - Please help. This is wrong!

59 replies

annhar79 · 11/04/2017 16:40

Hi All,

Today, I heard about a 13yr old girl who ended up in hospital because she used socks instead of pads when on her period - she couldn't afford sanitary products. This is not acceptable in the UK, but it's happening and it's happening in 2017.

Please can you sign this petition to eradicate period poverty from schools. Sanitary provision is NOT a luxury, and periods are not a choice.

It's just totally, totally wrong!!! Girls should have to choose between their education and their period.

This petition to provide free sanitary products to girls from low income families was started by a 17yr old girl.

Link: www.change.org/p/theresa-may-mp-free-sanitary-products-for-girls-on-free-school-meals-freeperiods

We should support her will to help other schoolgirls! It only takes 15 seconds to sign, I know because I just did it.

Please share so we can change this appalling situation. As a mum of three teenagers, I feel really moved to help. I hope you do too

OP posts:
User7654 · 11/04/2017 16:50

Signed. Agree with you completely. Thanks for sharing Smile

Original poster
annhar79 · 11/04/2017 16:55

Thanks for signing. Please share with friends and family. I have.

I can't believe that we are living in a society where we watch this happen to girls we should be protecting.

OP posts:
ShelaghTurner · 11/04/2017 16:56

Signed and shared. Totally agree.

Original poster
annhar79 · 11/04/2017 17:08

Thank you so much for signing and sharing! I think as parents, we have to get this changed.

Our society doesn't make it easy to talk about periods, so I can only imagine lots of girls aren't telling people it's happening to them.

OP posts:
Hesdeadjim · 11/04/2017 17:17

I've signed, but how did using a sock instead of a pad land her in hospital?

Original poster
annhar79 · 11/04/2017 17:23

Well, I can only imagine it's because of bacteria. What a sad situation that comes from desperation.

OP posts:
Hesdeadjim · 12/04/2017 10:33

But that makes no sense. A sock is no more bacteria infested than regular underwear, so there's no reason why wearing a sock inside your pants would be any more dangerous than wearing pants Confused

It's an awful situation and a worthy cause, but I can't find a reference anywhere to a girl ending up in hospital as a result? It's a problem, because the message gets lost when there's inconsistencies like this.

NeverTooMuchCake · 12/04/2017 12:06

I found this article in The Metro where they discuss this:
metro.co.uk/2017/03/19/girls-in-uk-are-using-socks-because-they-cant-afford-sanitary-towels-6519528/

I reckon if the sock is not changed, there's a risk of infection. If the sock is not clean, that's even worse.
I can't believe we are even discussing using socks in 21st century Britain.

Ollivander84 · 12/04/2017 12:15

What I don't get is why, when a pack of pads can be as little as 25p
At work we have a box and I chuck in pads, liners and tampons and people can help themselves. They either leave a donation or bring some in to top it up

ShelaghTurner · 12/04/2017 12:36

Supposing that girl doesn't have 25p?

I'm friends with a now 20yo. Her family is dysfunctional to say the least. When she was 17 she very timidly asked me if I would lend her £2 as she was on her period and had no money for pads. Her mother took any money she had. Needless to say I gave her more than the £2 and made sure she always to come to me if she needed to. She's working and earning now but I'll never forget the scared little message she sent me.

Hesdeadjim · 12/04/2017 12:42

I used to work with families in abject poverty so I understand that, it's the hospital bit for me.

Ollivander84 · 12/04/2017 12:42

No I get that but if a family doesn't have 25p then there's bigger issues than just sorting free pads. I'm not phrasing this very well, sorry!

ShelaghTurner · 12/04/2017 12:46

I think it's not so much that the family might not have the money as they might not give the girl the money. Some people have screwed priorities. Oh never know what goes on in families.

But yes agree that if the family doesn't have the money then there's a real problem.

Octopus37 · 12/04/2017 12:46

Signed, agree it is so important

Hesdeadjim · 12/04/2017 12:46

NeverTooMuchCake that article doesn't mention going to hospital though.

I agree it's a disgusting situation, but even if they got a UTI from using a sock it would have to have been ignored for weeks and weeks to cause a hospital admission, and even then you couldn't accurately and definitively say the uti came from the sock.

You're far more likely to get a UTI from using public toilets at school.

TitaniasCloset · 12/04/2017 12:47

Where on earth can you buy pads and tampons for 25p? Not in my local shops.

JillJ72 · 12/04/2017 13:32

Signed and FB shared. I hope this helps make a difference.

BreakfastAtTiffanys1983 · 12/04/2017 16:53

I've signed and shared this petition. Thanks for sharing. It's definitely worth doing.

TitaniasCloset · 12/04/2017 18:10

Signed and shared.

FlyingSquid · 12/04/2017 18:17

Maybe the child couldn't afford to get to a shop selling them for 25p. It would cost my kids £6:50 in bus fare to reach the nearest Tesco or Aldi. So, local extortionate corner-shop it is, and you'd be paying about £2 a packet there.

WalkWithTheWomen · 13/04/2017 06:42

I've never seen a pack of pads for 25p either. I suppose for some families, when every penny is budgeted towards something essential, even spending pennies on pads is beyond what they can afford.

I know.

I've signed and shared with everyone.

skerrywind · 13/04/2017 06:55

I have signed.

I regularly buy Tesco 25p pads however,. Just right for me.

www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=258279522

SunsetsAndChampers · 13/04/2017 09:23

25p doesn't sound like much when you have it.
@FlyingSquid. you make a good point about travel costs.
Thanks for the link to the pads. I might try switching to these.

signed, shared too

user1492451808 · 17/04/2017 19:02

I've signed and shared this too. Good thing that someone's trying to change this.

MapleSyrupMamma · 17/04/2017 19:26

Great petition- signed and shared. What a diabolical situation in a so-called developed nation. Very sad.