Period Poverty

[TheDevil]

Every school and college can now get free period products

Movements for women's sanitary.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51167487

[New Judge]

//I warrant that if some enterprising wannabe charity was to set up a bras and knickers bank, for women who have none, that the statistics wonks would inform us that it is a national disgrace that 58% of women are using such a facility.......and 10% of men.//

Spot on, Togo. Incredibly, if you give stuff away that people otherwise would have to buy, they will accept it. If some charity set up a petrol station near me that gave away fuel I'd be down there to have some. Then I'd be among those counted as being in "fuel poverty."

You couldn't make it up.

[Togo]

//young teenage girls by a third!//

Did the study go on to identify any particular economic or "other" social group that was now able to attend school? Or should that be the especially identified and supported school? I don't think I can remember one of my sisters being off school every 4 weeks. ( I had 7 younger sisters)

[douglas9401]

Actually, between you, you did. ^

[woofgang]

Togo the reduction was across all supported schools. I guess the group whose attendance it improved was the group who found it difficult to attend school when menstruating.

[Deskdiary]

Was that done on purpose? A charity dealing with periods being called The Red Box Project?

[emmie]

no idea, but does seem unfortunate..

[woofgang]

Yes it absolutely was deliberate. Part of the problem was that they found that the girls wouldn’t say what the problem was or what they needed. I am amazed that no one else who has commented seems to have heard of it. http://redboxproject.org/

[ummmm]

Gosh...men! You know eff all.

Do you think young ladies know precisely when their period will start? Many women have irregular periods and can't predict when it will happen.

I used to send my daughter to school with her dinner money and bus fair...if she'd spent that on the bus and food and then came on her period she'd have no money to go and buy products. There is/was products at home but would be no use to her if she was in school.

[douglas9401]

"Gosh...men! You know eff all."

Leaving aside your sexist outburst for a moment, this man would drop what may be needed into whatever I was carrying my other school gear in.

You know it makes sense. :-)

[New Judge]

//...if she'd spent that on the bus and food and then came on her period she'd have no money to go and buy products.//

Here's an idea: get some of the required products in advance and give a few to her to keep (permanently) in the bottom of her bag. She's need no money then. The products could be replaced when they are used. Do I get the Nobel Prize for the bleeding obvious? :-)

[Deskdiary]

^^^then you should have been more prepared.

My daughter has never been caught out - my wife always makes sure there's no possibility of that happening.

But that's not the story....

The story is about "period poverty", and I struggle to believe there is such a thing when the necessary products are available very cheaply, unless (which is more likely the case) the parent(s) are neglectful.

Should only women be allowed to comment on this story?

[Deskdiary]

^^^mine was to ummmm

[ummmm]

NJ - how many daughters do you have?

[woofgang]

As I understand it and as I have already said, is that part of the problem is that its just not talked about... Products are marketed as though there is something shameful about menstruating and that it needs to be kept a secret. I have quickly scanned online sales because its some years since I have needed them myself but products are marketed as "No one will ever know" "Subtle" "Discreet" I get that people may want to keep some private things private but there is a difference between that and the obsessive secrecy thing that seems to surround it.

[woofgang]

No I think that men should be allowed to join in and comment. For too long this has been a "woman's thing" maybe the men who need to can learn something.

[douglas9401]

"Rational discussion on social issue derailed by massive pout"

[ummmm]

Hopefully..

[Togo]

// I guess the group whose attendance it improved was the group who found it difficult to attend school when menstruating.//

Ahh this cultural thing again then? Bet there was a panic when they were first informed that between 10 and 11 was a free period.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Parents get £20 a WEEK Child Benefit for the first child (Male and Female)and I think £15 a WEEK for the second child. This is not a means tested benefit so you can still be working with a combined household income of up to £50,000 (I'm not checking so the maximum income may not be entirely accurate.) If a parent is getting £80 a month from the government for her teenager then she can pay for sanitary products, which I would calculate at around £10 per month. Period poverty? No.

[TheDevil]

https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/period-poverty-is-real-but-the-average-woman-isnt-spending-500-a-year-on-menstruation