Girls missing school because of poverty

[user1496170327]

Hello Everyone!

Thanks to everyone who suggested posting in this thread!

I'm a teenage girl who's started a campaign to help girls who can't afford sanitary products.

Some of you may have read recently that girls across the UK skip school because they can't face the shame of going to school without adequate sanitary care.

Some use socks, toilet roll and sellotape, or even newspaper. Young girls are living in such extreme poverty, and I believe this must be discussed and addressed, especially when this can harm their health.

I was absolutely horrified that this is happening in Britain and felt that something had to be done. So, I'm calling on the government to provide free sanitary provision for girls in need, as a first step. I'm writing to MPs every day and the response, so far, has been really positive. I think that this is something that can happen with enough support!

I'm really hoping that you will agree that this is so very important- that all girls should be able to access essential care and go to school with confidence and that we should not be disadvantaged because of our gender. May I ask you to add your name to my petition to the government, and if you could share on social media, that would be amazing!

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

I'm writing an article for a newspaper about period poverty in schools, and if you've been in this dreadful situation yourself, I'd really appreciate it if you could get in touch, if you're happy to!

Thank you so much for your support!! I really appreciate it, and I believe that if enough people want to change this situation, we can make it happen. Thanks again!

[email protected]

[LuluLovesFruitcakes]

Nor me Minor. The nearest one is a £5 bus ride away 🤔

[TheBogQueen]

I'm nit trying to solve your difficulties-just helpful for people who are skint and have a high street. I was surprised at how cheap they were!

Asda do a 10 pack of sanitary towels for 25p. 32 tampons appear to be 60p.

[Zaphodsotherhead]

I grew up making my own sanpro out of soft toilet paper (which I stole from school, we only had the hard stuff at home) and a piece of plastic. We were hard up but not critically poor but I wasn't given enough pocket money to cover the massive amounts of towels I needed and was too shy to ask for more (not everyone has an open relationship with their parents about periods etc),

So I agree with making towels/tampons available to all schoolgirls, whatever their income levels. Because some parents just don't think.

Incidentally, we live very rurally, only small shops and independant chemist (and those not within walking distance). Nearest 'cheap' shops an expensive bus ride away. My daughters went to school in a village with no shops, so unexpectedly coming on meant borrowing from friends in any case. Having supplies in the girls' toilets would have been brilliant.

[PrettyPupper]

I've signed. Hopefully something will change

20 years ago I had to make pads from school paper towels, and free bleeding at home (A mix of poverty and parental neglect)

to those saying that a pack only costs 15-75pence, 'no excuses' etc..
I simply just wasn't given any money to go buy them.

And, sometimes I did have to resort To shoplifting toiletries products like deo and shampoo

as an younger adult- in the days before food banks - I've been so poor that I've had to steal toilet roll from supermarket toilets

If you don't have 15p, you simply don't have 15p.

[ghostyslovesheets]

Oh FFS even if they are missing school because their parents are buying 'big TV's, Sky TV, goats etc' they are still MISSING SCHOOL

so we either go 'ah well fuck it they have shit parents - who cares' or we strive to make it possible for them to go to school

it's not a hard concept

[Morphene]

It is totally ridiculous that girls would miss school for the lack of something that, as people are so indignantly pointing out, costs 50p.

So lets make sure they don't eh?

[LucyLocketLostIt]

Well done OP. Such a worthwhile issue to highlight.

No girl should have to miss school because of this but it sounds like many are.

I've signed, donated and shared on social media.

[angieloumc]

Well done OP, I've signed.

[MorrisZapp]

I'm happy for schools to provide sanpro, seems sensible anyway given that it's easy to be caught out by your period and that teenagers aren't known for their planning skills.

But as a genuine question, what proportion of the population have no affordable access to supermarkets? Surely the schools most kids attend are within walking distance of supermarkets. If not, aren't those kids entitled to a bus pass, as how else would they get to school?

There must be a simple solution ie in rural schools set up a stall at the nurses room or something?

[murphys]

Hi OP

I don't live in the UK, but I just wanted to share as we have a similar campaign here in SA. Many many girls do not attend school during their period, simply as they cannot afford to buy sanitary items. There is a foundation that is working with a big pharmacy chain, you are encouraged to buy a packet of pads and then put it into the pad collection bin as you leave. They then distribute these to the areas, which have been researched, to be the most in need.

In most schools, a portion of the fee structure includes sanitary items, so that the girls who need, are able to be issued with what they need in order to not miss out on schooling.

[GloriaGilbert]

OP, I admire your initiative.

This is parental neglect fuelled by an infantalisation of Britain, so I won't be signing.

[Ladydriver110]

I've signed. I'm appalled by the level of poverty that people in the UK can still be experiencing. I always try to add sanpro to my foodbank donations too.

If anyone is interested - if you search for 'menstrual cup' on ebay some of the options that come up are very cheap (e.g. 99p) non-branded silicone cups. I have no idea if they are as good as a Mooncup but from what I've read, different brands suit different women anyway.

[TheFaerieQueene]

Signed. I can't imagine how dreadful it must be for girls in this situation.

[MorrisZapp]

I feel vaguely against this and I think I know why. It's because it fosters a belief that right now in history, we have never been poorer. I'm pretty sure the opposite is true. Poverty isn't new, and I feel this is being made into a political issue when really it's a social/health issue. Of course girls shouldn't have to miss school because they're on their period. But it's the insinuation that if we were all nicer people then poverty wouldn't exist that grates I think.

[owltrousers]

Just an idea - what about moon cups or similar? They cost more to begin with (£10-£20) but then you're set for a few years. I love mine, its brilliant. They would prob need a lesson and some tips on use also.

[Pepperer]

It's like consuming painkillers instead of finding an actual cure for the existing problem.

[CarolsSecretCookieRecipe]

SIgned. Well done OP.

[Want2bSupermum]

We had a similar issue here in our school district in America, just outside of NYC. FSMs are awarded 47% of pupils so it's no surprise this is an issue.

Our school district as a PTA which set up a charity. We fundraise efficiently and successfully. One of the first programs we did was to have proctor and gamble 'buy' the right to use their products only in the girls bathrooms. All the money they gave us went towards buying Always products at low prices (Costco was cheapest). They paid us $5k and then Costco found out what we were doing and the manager gave us $2k towards buying items for the students. We bought razors, shaving foam and bars of soap.

Today in each bathroom is a box with supplies. It's a take what you need approach. The teachers all have supplies in their rooms too and will quietly put supplies in a girls book bag. During the summer these kids stay in school through the end of July. August is a tough month but through the school supplies (food and personal items) are sent home with each child.

For the poster saying it's neglect, yes it is. The issue here in America is that welfare is very low. In the UK I agree that a minor not having sanitary care should be sufficient for SS to be heavily involved. It's basic care. Benefits are not that low in the UK and as a parent I would go without so my child could go to school.

[Tootyfilou]

Thanks for starting this thread and link to petition. It shocks me that there are posters that believe this to be impossible or due to the fecklessness of parents. It is not it is due to poverty and the political decision by our government to pursue a program of austerity.
for gods sake if we want to stop this happening and build a better society we have to vote this evil government out

[LittleBooInABox]

I'm all for this. If the state can give free condoms then they can give free sanitary products for young girls.

[SparklyUnicornPoo]

More often than not, I suspect the real cause to be poor financial management or neglect on their parents' part. Yes, I suspect this was the case in my family, but as a teenager I had no say over my parents crappy budgeting skills. Freebies didn't solve the issue but they certainly made my life easier.

[NewStateswoman]

When I was younger I volunteered with a charity that paired children with, I guess, big sister or brother-type people.

The little girl I spent time with had heroin-addicted parents. She slept on a mattress on the floor; her house was littered with take-away containers as the parents were too out of it to cook. She had nothing else; no snacks on hand if she was peckish, no toiletries, no materials for school like pencils, paper, etc. No spare changes of clothes.

That girl must be about 20 now, and I'll pretty much guarantee her parents never got it together enough to do a decent shop that included enough Always to keep her going for a few months.

It's not just about finances. It's about lack of parenting and normal family constructs.

[MorrisZapp]

Can you name a previous government under which girls all had access to sanpro supplies? There were a few really sad cases at my school in the eighties. Was the nineties a golden era of no poor kids?

[TheNaze73]

If I was prime minister, I'd ensure there was a bog standard product available to all throughout life. It's as if by default women are made to pay by being female.
I do however think there should be some onus on parents not to produce if they can't afford basics for their children. It's reckless & irresponsible to expect the good old 49% of tax payers to pick up the bill for everything in this country.

[QueenOfChocolate]

I've signed it...I'm in Ireland but I am a teenage girl so know the difficulties of having periods but at least thankfully I've always been able to have a plentiful supply of pads,I can't imagine people not having access to them