{"id":15984,"date":"2024-05-01T09:30:17","date_gmt":"2024-05-01T14:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.nnlm.gov\/region_6\/?p=15984"},"modified":"2024-05-01T09:30:17","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T14:30:17","slug":"menstruation-and-period-poverty-information-resources-for-your-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.nnlm.gov\/region_6\/2024\/05\/menstruation-and-period-poverty-information-resources-for-your-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Menstruation and Period Poverty Information Resources for Your Community"},"content":{"rendered":"

The societal taboo surrounding menstruation, often referred to as period stigma, is a widespread issue transcending cultural, economic, and geographical divides. This natural biological process, experienced by half of the world’s population, has historically been obscured by secrecy and cultural taboos. Various factors, such as cultural norms, religious beliefs, and societal expectations, have perpetuated myths and negative perceptions about menstruation, characterizing it as unclean, shameful, or even sinful.<\/p>\n

This stigma has profound consequences, notably leading to period poverty, where individuals lack access to menstrual hygiene products due to financial limitations. Particularly in low-income communities, many struggle to afford these products, resulting in unsanitary practices and potential health risks. Period poverty not only reinforces gender disparities but also impedes educational and economic opportunities for affected individuals. Alarmingly, a quarter of young people who menstruate miss work or classes due to insufficient access to menstrual health supplies.[1]<\/a> It’s critical to recognize that essential support programs like food stamps or WIC do not cover menstrual products.<\/p>\n

Efforts to address period stigma and period poverty encompass not only providing affordable menstrual products but also fostering open dialogues to challenge societal norms. Education plays a vital role in dispelling myths and dismantling taboos surrounding menstruation. Initiatives advocating inclusivity, gender sensitivity, and policy changes are crucial steps toward breaking the silence around periods, ensuring that menstruating individuals can manage their menstruation without stigma or hardship.<\/p>\n

Attend this upcoming webinar on May 22, 2024, to learn more about the Know Your Flow <\/strong>partnership between the NNLM Region 6 Ohio State Advisory Group and Aunt Flow<\/a> to help everyone access quality health information and free period products. Together, we can reduce stigma and promote menstrual equity. Learn how you can help. Join the campaign! Register here<\/a><\/p>\n

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Projects<\/h1>\n

Period Poverty\u00a0<\/a>from the NNLM Discovery Podcast. This podcast series explores how the Network of the National Library of Medicine engages with communities to provide access to trusted information to improve public health.<\/p>\n