(The Center Square) – Period poverty impacts menstruating students across the commonwealth, but stigma around women’s health has long created barriers to speaking openly – and therefore addressing – the need faced by girls as early as elementary school.
First Lady Lori Shapiro visited Warwick Middle School to bring attention to the issue and the work of Warwick United, a parent-led organization that has provided over 40,000 menstrual products to the district in the past two years.
“Period products are a basic hygiene necessity for students – yet there are too many young girls across the Commonwealth that go to school worrying about whether they’ll have access to pads or tampons during the school day,” said Shapiro.
This year, the organization will receive funding from the state to fulfill their mission, a shift from the donation and grant-based model they’ve been using. This year’s education budget includes $3 million allocated to providing free menstrual products to students across the state.
In so doing, Pennsylvania is one of 28 states who have passed legislation aimed at assisting menstruating students in accessing the products they need. Among them, ten states and the District of Columbia have unfunded mandates in place.
“It’s been really exciting to see the commonwealth put funding behind this important initiative. We’ve seen first-hand how impactful getting menstrual products into our schools has been,” said Kayla Cook, Founder of Warwick United.
Alliance for Period Supplies notes that about a quarter of students struggle to afford menstrual products. Most women, 86%, report having gotten their period unexpectedly while in a public setting, a scenario that can be especially stressful for young girls in the complex school social environment.
According to Mitzvah Circle, a Lansdale based organization providing period supplies, lack of access to period products forces women to make difficult choices. Amongst women experiencing poverty, 34% miss work or school, 41% miss social gatherings, and 39% cancel appointments.
“Offering free menstrual products alleviates the anxiety and fear associated with not being able to afford or access necessary products. It ensures that no student is left without the resources they require, promoting their overall well-being and allowing them to focus on their academic pursuits without distraction,” says Warwick United on its goal of menstrual equity.
Beyond the social benefit, providing menstrual products has a direct impact on both mental and reproductive health.
No More Secrets is a Philadelphia-based organization known for creating The SPOT, the nation’s first menstrual hub and uterine wellness center. The group emphasizes the importance of open conversation about periods and women’s reproductive health, saying that reducing the stigma is an important step in ending period poverty and subsequent mental health toll.
They also warn that when women lack access to the appropriate products, alternative solutions can lead to dangerous infections. To that end, they offer education for women and girls around women’s health.
One of the organization’s goals is to expand period legislation beyond the school system, advocating for the inclusion of period products in Medicaid and SNAP benefits.
Another national movement seeks to alleviate the problem by eliminating the “pink tax” from 20 states who still apply standard sales tax rates to period products, rather than treating them as an exempt essential item. They are exempt in Pennsylvania.
