Research Essay:
The War on Period Poverty:
Why menstrual products should be free
Breanna Centeno
Regent University
ARTA 486: Senior Project 1
Professor Nathan Tillett
February 4, 2023
Menstrual cycles affect more than 300 million women worldwide and 16.9 million of those women are living in poverty. While poverty in the United States is a battle to be fought, the battle of period poverty fights a separate war on its own. The present trials of period poverty cannot be grasped or fully understood without an understanding of the historical trail of menstrual taboos placed on women by society. Menstrual products should be free, if not, then at a minimum they should be tax-free. The concept of menstrual cycles and menstrual products is commonly considered taboo among society, despite menstruation being one of the oldest occurring phenomena in humans. Whether menstrual cycles can be attributed to the fall in the book of Genesis or merely a natural biological process, most women have their first period before the age of fifteen.
Menarche, the first time a woman menstruates, "is an important milestone that marks the beginning of your fertility" (Cleveland Clinic). While most women experience menstruation, there is not a set year for each woman. "The timing of menarche is influenced by a person's genes (family history), behavior, and environment. Genes likely play the biggest role — about 60–80%. For African Americans, an earlier age at menarche may also be a result of genetic factors, including genes associated with body weight. Socioeconomic factors also play a role" (HelloClue).
With menstruation comes the need for feminine products. Feminine products have been a part of society since the days of Ancient Civilizations. Ancient Egyptians often used rolled-up cotton as tampons. "These tampons were cheap to make and so individuals of different socioeconomic backgrounds were able to benefit" (Get Truth). In Ancient Greece, some people used bits of wood tied together with lint while others used sea sponges. During Medieval Times, religious shame consumed women during menstruation and every attempt to hide menstruation was made. Herbal-scented pouches were worn on hips and necks to mask any odor of blood. In Medieval Times, women who suffered from menstrual cramps were not given medical attention due to the religious belief that menstrual cramps were a direct punishment for Eve's sin in the Garden of Eden. Women would burn toads and wear the ashes around their waists to cure the menstrual cramps they suffered from. "Additionally, there were fewer periods due to a poor diet among most women at the time.
Many were underweight, and as a result, their cycles were irregular (oligomenorrhea) or absent altogether (Amenorrhea). These conditions can be seen today and often affect those with very low body fat percentages such as athletes and populations sadly affected by eating disorders like anorexia" (Get Truth). Women in this time sometimes used rags to absorb blood, leading to frequent stains. The utilization of rags as a solution to menstruation, unfortunately, led to the coining of the phrase, "on the rag." Women who chose not to use rags to absorb their blood would 'free bleed' onto their voluminous gowns leading this error to be believed to be one of the most unsanitary.
The sanitary conflict with using lint-wrapped wood, rags, and sea sponge as menstrual products led to the invention of the first menstrual product, the Sanitary Apron. The Sanitary Apron, known to have been unsanitary and uncomfortable, failed to absorb blood as intended but did assist in the protection of women's gowns and seats from stains. Shortly after the invention of the Sanitary Apron came the invention of the first menstrual pad-like product. Johnson & Johnson created the "Lister's Towels," which were also known as 'Sanitary Napkins for Ladies.' Lister's Towels were created using gauze and cotton. "Though, before being used as a menstrual product, these napkins were part of a maternity kit used to absorb postpartum blood" (Voxapod).
Though the evolution of menstrual products was becoming more of a priority, society widely rejected the idea of a woman touching her vagina, even during menstruation, due to moral, sexual, and religious reasons. Menstruation and feminine products were still considered taboo for women, so feminine products were not widely offered and when they were, they were often unaffordable for a large percentage of the population that needed them.
A common theme among society, those religious and not, is to use Yahweh's word to push an agenda. This agenda may not always align with the intentions of the Bible and can be shifted to fit the desires of man. In the book of Leviticus, multiple scriptures are given about how a man should behave toward menstruation. "Anything she lies on during her period will be unclean, and anything she sits on will be unclean" (NIV). Another scripture in Leviticus says, "When a woman has her regular flow of blood, the impurity of her monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean till evening" (NIV). These scriptures display a perception of shame toward women and menstruation. Upon initial reading, the perception is that even Yahweh considers menstruation to be dirty and shameful. The teachings on the laws of menstruation, the menstrual cycle, and birth were all spoken in the Old Testament.
The Old Testament contained many laws on various subjects given by Yahweh, including what to consume, these laws were given out of love and protection. Many diseases are transferred through blood and without modern medication and science, menstruation and lack of feminine and male hygiene both should be considered hazardous to one's health. Any teachings that are passed concerning menstruation being shameful, specifically due to what is spoken in Leviticus, are inaccurate as they discredit Yahweh's intentions in setting specific laws for Man.
"In 1931, Earl Haas, a physician in Colorado, developed a cardboard applicator tampon that was meant to absorb menstrual blood. He made the tampon inside the applicator from a tightly bound strip of dense cotton that was attached to a string for easy removal" (Horwitz). Earl Haas was inspired to invent something to alleviate women's menstruation difficulties due to witnessing the struggles his wife and other women around him faced. The tampon and applicator that Earl Haas created were marketed as what is known today as "Tampax." Haas's inspiration for the blueprint for the invention of the tampon can be attributed to a trip to California, where Haas's friend shared a personal experience of inserting a sponge into her vagina to absorb blood.
Following Haas's invention of the tampon came enhanced versions of menstrual products, including the creation of what is now known as the menstrual cup. Throughout the timeline of the menstrual cycle, women have been religiously and culturally shamed, all while seeking a remedy to the unknowns of menstruation. Taboos, like stereotypes or rumors, are not often created by one person and are the product of groups of people in society who share similar thinking. The taboo on menstruation began possibly before the concept of rumor and gossip through the tool of language. Whether spread culturally, religiously or simply by word of mouth, the concept of menstrual taboo is no stranger to women. Widespread disapproval of menstruation can be seen in the first Latin encyclopedia.
"Contact with [menstrual blood] turns new wine sour, crops touched by it become barren, grafts die, seed in gardens are dried up, the fruit of trees fall off, the edge of steel and the gleam of ivory are dulled, hives of bees die, even bronze and iron are at once seized by rust, and a horrible smell fills the air; to taste it drives dogs mad and infects their bites with an incurable poison" (Murphy).
Menstrual taboo is not limited to history, and the question at hand is if the menstrual taboo and the war against women's inevitable menstruation has decreased or if it has increased with time as well as the question of period poverty can be linked to the timeless disease of menstrual taboo. Period poverty, or a lack of access to necessary menstruation products, can affect women mentally, physically, and emotionally. A 2021 online sample from BMC Women's Health clinic discovered that 14.2% of women had experienced period poverty in the past year and 10% experienced it every month (Cardoso, L.F., Scolese, A.M., Hamidaddin, A. et al., 2022). Period poverty not only affects adult women but young girls as well. "In a 2021 national survey of college students, researchers at George Mason University and the University of Pennsylvania found that 10% of all female college students are unable to afford menstrual products each month, leading to skipped classes and greater self-reported rates of moderate or severe depression" (Gender Policy).
Period poverty is not limited to the United States. Menstrual huts are a key piece of evidence in the war on period poverty as well as the war on women. Menstrual, or period, huts are small houses of seclusion and isolation that menstruating women must remain in due to cultural or religious beliefs about the impurity associated with menstruation. Menstrual huts can be found in places like Nepal, despite the practice being considered illegal. Women in certain areas of Nepal must spend the duration of their menstruation isolated in a hut with no access to family and access to only limited food. The women in the menstrual huts are not allowed to touch anyone due to the belief that they will pollute them and ultimately make them sick.
In early September, Hindus celebrate Rishi Pancham, which is a festival that commemorates a woman that didn't follow menstrual restrictions and was considered to be reborn as a prostitute. "It is a women's holiday, and so Nepal's government gives all women a day off work. This is not to recognize the work done by women, but to give them the time to perform rituals that will atone for any sins they may have committed while menstruating in the previous year" (George).
India is another example of the taboo of menstruation and the shame placed on women leading to period poverty. "In India, between 43% and 88% of girls wash and reuse cotton cloths rather than use disposable pads" (Das P, Baker KK, Dutta A, Swain T, Sahoo S, Das BS, et al., 2015). While washing and reusing cotton cloths may seem feasible due to some American customs with reusable diapers, cotton cloths are often not cleaned with soap and water and the water that is used is not considered clean. Menstrual taboo exists apart from the United States as well as period poverty. After the cotton cloths are 'cleaned,' the taboo cast on women's menstruation by society does not allow room for the cloths to be hung out in the sun to dry instead they must be hung inside closed doors, not allowing them to completely dry.
In the same way, that remaining in tight workout gear after sweating can cause Bacterial Vaginosis, so can remaining in a damp cotton cloth. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a type of vaginal inflammation caused by the overgrowth of bacteria naturally found in the vagina, which upsets the natural balance (Mayo Clinic). BV is discussed briefly on social media and through television commercials but is not a consistent or mandated topic in the curriculum of Sexual Education across America. The long-term effects of BV are unknown to many women even though BV can affect women of any age.
Studies have shown women with BV may be at higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes like preterm birth, acquisition of sexually transmitted infections, and development of pelvic inflammatory disease (Das P, Baker KK, Dutta A, Swain T, Sahoo S, Das BS, et al., 2015). The urgency to address and shed light on period poverty is out of necessity as lack of access to period products as well as education can and frequently leads to diseases for those in need. On average, a person menstruates from age 13 years to 51 years, every 28 days, with a 3–7-day range. This means that they will have 456 periods for about 38 years and use more than 10 000 menstrual products in their lifetime (Lancet, 2022). With the window of menstrual product necessity being so large, a lack of access to menstrual products leads many women to feel shamed, embarrassed, and depressed. Period poverty not only plays a role in the physical health but also the mental health of those in need. Among women who reported experiencing period poverty every month in the BMC survey, 68.1% reported symptoms consistent with moderate or severe depression (Cardoso, L.F., Scolese, A.M., Hamidaddin, A. et al., 2021).
Menstrual products are not the only products needed to prevent diseases. Condoms are also needed to prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Condoms benefit the health of those who menstruate and those who do not menstruate, while menstrual products only benefit those who menstruate. "Affordable or free condoms are often available at Planned Parenthood health centers, family planning clinics, your local health department, community centers, college health centers, or your doctor's office" (Planned Parenthood). Both condoms and menstrual products provide necessary health benefits to those who utilize them, yet menstrual products including menstrual pads, reusable menstrual pads, liners, tampons, period panties, and menstrual cups are heavily priced and heavily taxed. "Too often period products are taxed as luxury items and not recognized as necessities. Period products are taxed at a similar rate to items like decor, electronics, makeup and toys" (Meyersohn, 2022).
The abnormal tax range for period products and other feminine items has increased so extensively that the concept of being overcharged due to being a feminine item has gained the name of 'Pink tax'. Pink tax refers to the reality of items targeted to female consumers traditionally being priced and taxed higher than comparable items sold to male consumers. Due to pink becoming known in the market world as a color specific to women, a pink tax is often placed on specifically pink items. "Women are paying significantly more than men for similar goods wherein, in most cases, the only difference is the color" (Chua, Allaine & Hidalgo, Alyannah & Huyo-a, Joshua & Santos, Alain, 2022).
Though Pink tax is often used in reference to items that are traditionally pink or thought of as traditionally specific to women, such as pads and tampons, pink tax extends much further than menstrual products. Pink tax covers most items specifically marketed toward female consumers. Pink tax includes not only menstrual items and razors but also clothing, deodorants, and skincare items. Businesses such as CVS Pharmacy have committed to paying pink tax for their customers to cut down on the cost of menstrual products for customers. The price gap combined with pink tax encourages period poverty numbers to rise.
There are 300 million people who menstruate in the United States alone. 16.9 million people who menstruate cannot afford period products, leading to what is known as period poverty. Period poverty can be linked to many factors including the price gap, pink tax, and the overall embarrassment associated with the natural biological phenomenon that occurs during a woman's menstrual cycle. While it is not possible to pinpoint the direct cause of the taboo linked to menstruating in each nation of the world, it is possible to determine that the embarrassment and shame put on women plays a role in the lack of feminine care and feminine hygiene available to women, inadvertently leading to period poverty. With the low costs associated with producing period products, the medical necessity of period products, and the unnecessary addition of pink tax, period products should be free or at least untaxed for those in need to prevent the further spread of period poverty among women.
References
Druet, A. (2022, August 17). When does menstruation begin? When do periods start? Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://helloclue.com/articles/life-stages/when-does-menstruation-begin
Martí-Henneberg C, Vizmanos B. The duration of puberty in girls is related to the timing of its onset. The Journal of pediatrics. 1997 Oct 31;131(4):618–21.
New International Version (NIV) - version information - biblegateway.com. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/new-international-version-niv-bible/
Demerath EW, Liu CT, Franceschini N, Chen G, Palmer JR, Smith EN, Chen CT, Ambrosone CB, Arnold AM, Bandera EV, Berenson GS. Genome-wide association study of age at menarche in African-American women. Human molecular genetics. 2013 Aug 15;22(16):3329–46.
Krieger, N., Kiang, M. V., Kosheleva, A., Waterman, P. D., Chen, J. T., & Beckfield, J. (2015). Age at menarche: 50-year socioeconomic trends among US-born black and white women. American Journal of Public Health, 105(2), 388–397.
Voxapod®. (n.d.). The history of Menstrual Products. VOXAPOD®. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://voxapod.com/blogs/journal/the-history-of-menstrual-products
The Embryo Project Encyclopedia. Menstrual Tampon | The Embryo Project Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/menstrual
tampon#:~:text=In%201931%2C%20Earl%20Haas%20invented,Tampax%2C%20using%20Haas%27s%20patented%20design.
Haas Learning Resources. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://www.haascnc.com/myhaas/Haas_Learning_Resources.html
Academic.oup.com. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://academic.oup.com/book/11101
J;, C. L. F. S. A. M. H. A. G. (n.d.). Period poverty and mental health implications among college-aged women in the United States. BMC women's health. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33407330/
Swift, J. (2022, May 24). Period poverty in the United States: What the law should do. Gender Policy Report. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://genderpolicyreport.umn.edu/period-poverty-in-the-united-states-what-the-law-should-do/
Das P;Baker KK;Dutta A;Swain T;Sahoo S;Das BS;Panda B;Nayak A;Bara M;Bilung B;Mishra PR;Panigrahi P;Cairncross S;Torondel B; (n.d.). Menstrual hygiene practices, wash access and the risk of urogenital infection in women from Odisha, India. PloS one. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26125184/
Menstrual health: A neglected public health problem - the Lancet ... (n.d.). Retrieved February 6, 2023, from https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanam/article/PIIS2667-193X(22)00216-2/fulltext
Meyersohn, N. (2022, October 12). CVS drops prices on its tampons and will pay the 'pink tax' | CNN business. CNN. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/12/business/cvs-tampon-tax-period-products/index.html
Chua, A. B., Hidalgo, A., Huyo-a, J. J., & Santos, A. J. (1970, January 1). Table 13 from Pink Power: The extent of awareness, driving factors, and overall perception of Filipina youth consumers in Metro Manila, Philippines on pink tax caused by pink marketing strategy: Semantic scholar. Journal of Business and Management Studies. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Pink-Power%3A-The-Extent-of-Awareness%2C-Driving-and-of-Chua-Hidalgo/f7a7abbf4e03fae9607fff2fef52aa07eb9ff46c/figure/12
When your period means you have to live in a shed. WaterAid. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://www.wateraid.org/stories/when-your-period-means-you-have-to-live-in-a-shed
