Girls missing school because of poverty

[user1496170327]

Hi All,

I'm a 17yr old girl who started a thread yesterday to raise awareness of girls in UK missing school because they can't afford sanitary products.

Over a 8.3k of you have signed the petition: https:/www.change.org/p/theresa-may-mp-free-sanitary-products-for-girls-on-free-school-meals-freeperiods

Thank you so very much!

The thread has been moved so I'm cheekily putting this here to get more traffic as suggested by some of you this afternoon! The more signatures we get, the greater the chance of the next government having to respond and these girls being helped.

Girls are using socks, toilet roll and newspaper and from the stories you have shared, many of you know how this feels and the long term impacts are physically and psychologically damaging.

May I ask you to please add your name to my petition to the government, and if you could share on social media, that would be amazing!

One last thing- I've been contacted by a German newspaper who's seen this thread. They're now writing an article about poverty affecting girls in the U.K. They are looking to hear some first hand accounts and if you're happy to share your experiences with the journalist, please let me know and I can put you in touch with her. My email is: [email protected]

Thanks you so much!

25p pads would not have contained my flow as a teen and wouldnt contain it now in my 40s.

they can also make you very sore. They are that cheap for a reason.

Ive heard the suggestion on here and fb that they should use a Mooncup.

Some women have been quite insistent on this. But surely they should have a choice over what to use in or on their own body. If a man on here or a male politician was telling women what to do with or put in their bodies there would be threads on here miles long denouncing him and it would be trending on Twitter. Yet its ok for women to tell other women what to put in their bodies?

Of course it isnt.

Using a moon cup isn't for everyone. I've never been comfortable with it and yes it's unfair to dictate what women should put in their bodies.

As for suggesting it's appropriate for young girls, of course it's not. It's practical and for young girls, probably quite scary to stick something inside that's as intrusive.

in my experience cheap sanitary towels just leak really quickly rubbish for anyone with a heavier period.
Also a lot of women need the night time towels which add more costs.

Signed. Its bloody ridiculous that this is an issue in this country.

A good idea also that I have started doing when I can afford to (so not too regular, just a few times a month) is buying sanitary products to donate to foodbanks. They will be greatly appreciated I am sure.

I find it so sad that this happens in this country in 2017.

The cheap pads are no good if you have a heavyish flow, they can also irritate. Tbf lot so pads irritate me, I have to be careful what I buy.

Honestly I don't understand how if pads can cost so little- let's say even a pound, how can it be beyond a parent to buy a couple of packets for their daughters? A couple of quid per month, that's it.

And how can it NOT be neglect if parents watch their kids stay off school because their daughters are on their period and are using socks for pads? It's neglect..

Shockingly inaccurate view of other people's lives Crony

It really doesn't matter. It's not the girls fault either way. Neglect or not, these girls need help.
Signed and shared OP

FFS just sign it and share it if you can. If we can help these young girls then we should.

Signed and I've posted on FB
Yes we should help these girls and yes we should stop thinking we have the right to judge everyone else's parenting. It is wholly irrelevant.

I find this a tragic state of affairs in 2017.

With all these horrendous terrorist attacks which are out of our control, let's try and change things for the better where we possibly can.

Signed in a heartbeat