It is often an overlooked factor of child poverty, but one of the most significant barriers to education students face is the lack of access to period products.
Students who live in poverty or endure homelessness struggle to afford essential menstrual products, such as pads and tampons, as well as proper education about menstruation.
This part of poverty is known as “Period Poverty”, and it impacts nearly 17 million people in the US and 1 in 5 students in our community.
For students in middle and high school, periods can cause shame, embarrassment, and anxiety. This makes it hard for them to go to school and comfortably go about their daily routines.
Periods can be especially challenging for students from low-income households, or those enduring homelessness or other crises. Access to appropriate period products and proper education can be limited, which can exacerbate those feelings of shame and embarrassment impacting their physical, mental, and emotional health as well as their educational potential.
How Period Poverty Impacts Students’ Education
Students being on their period without proper products is one of the top reasons they miss school days.
According to a survey conducted by Thinx & PERIOD, 84% of students in the US have either missed class time or know someone who missed class time because they did not have access to period products. 1 in 5 have struggled to afford period products or could not purchase them at all.
Without free access to these important products in public bathrooms or at school, students don’t have many places to turn if they can’t afford these essential products.
Here are some more staggering statistics from the Thinx & Period survey:
- 80% feel there is a negative association with periods, that they are gross or unsanitary.
- 71% feel self-conscious while on their period.
- 79% feel that they need more in-depth education about menstrual health.
If students can’t afford period products what do they do?
Federally funded assistance programs for groceries such as WIC and SNAP do not cover period products.
Currently, 25 states require schools to provide students with free access to period products.
This means unless a student in poverty has immediate access to products in their schools (some students may not feel comfortable asking school administrators for these products), they may be forced to use other ways to care for themselves during their period, which may not be healthy nor allow them to go about their daily lives, including going to school.
Additionally, students may not be properly educated about menstruation and the proper ways to use tampons, pads, and other period products.
How Catie’s Closet works to end “Period Poverty” in schools across Massachusetts and New Hampshire
Catie’s Closet is committed to breaking down barriers to education for students in need. One of those barriers is “Period Poverty”.
Students who attend schools with a Catie’s Cloest have consistent and immediate access to menstrual products, including pads and tampons.
They can visit their Catie’s Closet as often as they need to get these essential supplies. They also build relationships with school faculty during their closet visits that ultimately lead to proper education and greater confidence.
Catie’s Closet is instrumental in our ability to assist students with their period needs. At least once a week, I have an embarrassed female student come to the nurse or the counselor’s office saying they need help because they bled through clothing. Having our Catie’s Closet across from my office makes it very easy to get them new clothes to change into quickly and without judgment. There’s no longer a need to wait for parents to bring a change of clothes or for them to have to go home, both of which mean they would be missing time in academics. It’s great because students know to come to us before an issue arises- asking for extra pads or underwear in case of an accident. – Middle School Guidance Counselor at Catie’s Closet Partner School
