Pretty Periods

I have started a Pretty Periods the aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of period poverty in the UK. Plan international estimated that

One in ten girls (10 per cent) have been unable to afford sanitary wear

One in seven girls (15 per cent) have struggled to afford sanitary wear

One in seven girls (14 per cent) have had to ask to borrow sanitary wear from a friend due to affordability issues

More than one in ten girls (12 per cent) has had to improvise sanitary wear due to affordability issues

One in five (19%) of girls have changed to a less suitable sanitary product due to cost

The statistics are shocking. I have done a survey on Twitter to see what people thought and knew about period poverty.

A LIST OF THE POLE ON TWITTER FOR PRETTY PERIODS CAMPAIGN

Did Scotland make the right choice by giving free period products to women and girls?

How much does the average woman spend on period products, replacing underwear and buying pain relief over her lifetime?

The polls showed that menstrual cups were some peoples answers to period poverty. However menstrual cups are not always suited to someone's individual needs.

Dr Marianne Trent said: "I've not spent a single penny since April 2018 when I bought a menstrual cup for £16.50. "It's superb. "It's the answer to period poverty for sure."

Here is a link for the GoFundMe Page. I am encouraging as many shares to raise awareness. We ideally want to start with erasing period poverty in the Bromley Borough in London first. Our inclusive campaign is designed to support anyone who contacts us for support.

The petition has been signed by over seventy people so far. We aim to have at least 5,000 signatures. This is needed to be debated in parliament. As it stands there is no responsibility being taken for the issue on a local or a national level.

Period poverty is an issue that is being spoken about globally it is affecting women all over the world. The more the conversation is had will increase the chances of world leaders trying to eradicate this gender inequality.

New Zealand has said they are offering free period products to all student for three years. Prime minister Jacinda Ardern announced the programme.

Al Jezeera published some statistics that estimated that 1 in 12 children in New Zealand have skipped school because they cannot afford protection.

Some universities in London have been providing menstrual products to their student already. Kent University Gillingham campus has been using this for more than three years. These initiatives are extremely helpful for students who may not be able to afford sanitary protection or have forgotten to bring sanitary protection with them.

The campaign is asking for all businesses, schools, universities, workplaces and public toilets to provide sanitary protection as they do toilet paper.

It is evident that period poverty is becoming a more widespread conversation on social media and media organisations have been giving the issue a platform for awareness to be raised on it.

Cysters a charity in Birmingham have said: "This week has been busy for us at sisters. "We have been supporting local Birmingham foodbanks with provisions of menstrual products. "It is important for us to recognise that we are in a position of privilege.

The charity said their aim is striving for Equal Access to healthcare for those from marginalised backgrounds.

There are many charities using social media to inform the world of the seriousness of period poverty and the link to the pandemic which saw thousands of people lose their job and plunge them into poverty.

The question that Pretty Periods is asking is should it be the responsibility of charities to ensure period poverty is reduced first then eradicated. Or should there be more investment in the education of period poverty for girls and boys in school? An issue that risen during the research found that transexual women are hidden within the issue of period poverty.

There are organisations providing free menstrual products & educational resources to UK women and girls. Pretty Periods would like to widen who the education is available to make it more inclusive.

We are taking donations of period pants, tampons, pads, re-usage pads and menstrual cups. Please feel free to donate to our fundraising page.