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]

[BahHumbygge]

What happens if the tax credits have been suspended, due either to being paused while being recalculated, or stopped while paying back a large overpayment due to cock up on the tax office's part?

[hungryhippo90]

does it really matter why these girls are in this situation? All that matters is that they are, and they shouldnt be.

As many others have said, I was one of these girls. I started my periods at 9, I suffered really, really heavy periods. My parents very rarely bought me pads and it made having my period scary. I used toilet tissue. I spent what feels like half of my childhood worrying about blood stains.

It really doesnt matter why, we cant change the why. We need to stop periods having such a detrimental effect on these girls.

The conversation about how you can procure sanitary towels cheaply would not have had a blind bit of notice, even if this were a conversation happenning with my mother as part of it, however if i would have been able to have gone to the office and obtained some pads, yeah that would have made a difference.
If I could have stopped in a chemist with a voucher, yes that would have also helped.

Well done OP

[SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed]

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe that's a good point about the tax we pay! I'd feel a lot happier about paying it if it was being used to provide sanitary protection for girls who would otherwise not have any.

[HelenaDove]

As a teenager basic value towels would not have contained my flow They wouldnt now either.
And as for suggesting Mooncup. Well i would struggle to cope with that.

The answer for them is to be able to get hold of different brands because they are individuals and each womans period will be different and have different needs.

They dont need someone playing Lady Bountiful and telling them what product they think should be used.

[Pollydonia]

Signed, well done op.

[dunstablemoors]

As HungryHippo90 says, it really doesn't matter why, it matters that they are.
I'll help to make a noise OP! Well done on trying to change this situation. Signed and shared.

[OftheUppahUplands]

Yes there are families who are that poor. I vividly remember my mum not eating breakfast or supper as we couldn't afford for her to and I nearly always had 2 days off a month with 'period pain' so that I could stay home as that way I could use toilet paper. That way Mum could use pads and go to her cleaning job.

I can't believe the attitudes of some posters here. It's irrelevant why people are this poor - we're talking about children ffs.

[MorrisZapp]

If it doesn't matter why, then why link the whole thing to poverty?

[dunstablemoors]

MorrisZapp. It's because of real and insufferable poverty that these girls are going through this.
Clearly, you're one of the lucky ones.

[HelenaDove]

"MikeUniformMike Wed 31-May-17 12:03:35
You can get a pack of STs in a supermarket or wilko for about 15p.
Own brand tampons are about 70p.
Nowt wrong with them."


Are you willing to put your money where your mouth is and let me come and sit on your sofa wearing one of them during my next period?

[CockneyRhymer]

It's possible to both provide sanitary products for girls who really need them and work to address the reasons why they are not getting them. It's not a zero-sum game.

[dunstablemoors]

And MikeUniformMike, I hope the sofa is white as the clouds....!

[SnipSnipMrBurgess]

I grew up in a house hold where it wasn't parental neglect but lack of money which meant me and my sister's used tissue for sanitary use. We also didn't have deodorant. Clothes were washed once a week and we washed once a week in order to conserve water, electric and wash products. It didn't occur to my parents that we needed these things, they had enough on their minds trying to keep a roof over our heads, paying bills, feeding us, education etc.

I'm in a better position now and can afford my care and ive told my pre teen son and will tell my daughter that I will provide what ever is needed, and it will be there for use but if they need anything they only ever have to ask.

I would hate any girl to feel as I did going into school.

[MikeUniformMike]

I use them and have had no problems. I didn't get on with Tampx but no probs with own brands. Use pad and (super) tampon for nighttime when flow heaviest. No major leaks.

Prefer lil-lts regular to own-brand super but the price difference too great.

My sofa is white and I've cleared a space for you.

When I was at school, you could go to see the nurse if you needed emergency sanitary items.

[TrinityTaylor]

Surely the simplest way would be a machine in the toilets at schools where you just get them for free, like a vending machine you don't need money for

Or a cupboard in the office where you can help yourself no questions asked, possibly packed up in brown bags or something

[NotHotDogMum]

Bear in mind some girls periods start as young at 10 or 11 years old. This makes it even more heartbreaking for me.

Signed and shared, well done OP

[FuzzyPillow]

No idea why FreeNiki is in such denial that period poverty/ extreme poverty exists! Surely it's not a hard concept to grasp.

[RainbowsAndUnicorn]

Agree with the poster who said it's not poverty but parental neglect.

With child benefit, tax credits etc there is absolutely no need to not buy these essentials. If they are not buying these, how else are they being neglected? Target the neglectful parents not take over their duties because they won't.

[WendyBurton000]

Reading and re-reading some of the accounts on here, I despair. This is a very real issue, clearly. Those of us who don't suffer are fortunate but let's not judge those who aren't.

[rightsofwomen]

Rainbow While we're targeting (helping, surely?) maybe we should help young women by making sure they have sanitary protection. Geez.

[dunstablemoors]

I don't agree that it's parental neglect, but even if it is, is it acceptable to not intervene?
Many parents do the best they can and it's not unheard of to be faced with a choice between providing food, or buying sanpro. Foodbanks are a good halfway house, but a longer term solution needs to be in place.

[ItsNotRocketScienceThough]

I spent some time volunteering on a kibbutz years ago and there were tampons and pads in the loos just like loo roll, soap, hot water, clean towels. It struck me then that they are a basic necessity. I don't understand why we don't we do the same.
We don't expect children to bring their own loo roll to school.

[HelenaDove]

Back in the 90s i was wearing the Sainsburys value towels and they made me bloody sore (I was in my 20s then so could change brands if i wanted to. ) But they had already made me so sore that the GP had to prescribe me some cream.
I didnt realise it was the towels that were causing it.
You pay for cheap you get cheap.

Agree with Lying Witch.

[GherkinSnatch]

Rainbows And in the meantime the girls suffer?

[Cattiegardens89]

Teenage girls have enough to contend with. Having gaps in their education hinders progression throughout their lives.
We are talking about some girls being as young as 10, and as so-called adults, how can we not take action on this and accuse parents of neglect. As GherkinSnatch says, while we tackle said parental neglect, we let these girls suffer? They are just children!
I commend you OP for starting this!