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The Cost of Being a Woman: Addressing Period Poverty
- TheKairosTimes
- Nov 21
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 21
By: Project Red
A period is not a choice – so why is dignity treated like one? Period poverty isn’t just about pads and tampons. It’s about a young adolescent attending school, a mother going to work, or a woman participating in daily life without feeling shame. Around the world, even in our local communities, people are forced to use rags, toilet paper, socks, or even nothing at all simply because they cannot afford menstrual products. Teens skip school and adults skip work during their period, hoping to reduce some strain. Studies show an alarmingly high rate of 1 in 4 teens not attending school during their periods due to a lack of feminine products. To bleed is to live, yet so many must hide their living. We pride ourselves in living in a world of advancements and progress. But how advanced can we truly be as a society if we cannot ensure dignity, support, and easy access for the very people who bring life into this world?
Period Poverty–the lack of access to affordable menstrual products remains a major hurdle to achieving menstrual equity, which aims to ensure everyone who menstruates can manage their periods with self-worth and no shame. According to the 2025 State of the Period report by Thinx, more than a third (39%) of teens say that not having access to period products prevents them from doing their best in school. In addition, a recent study published by Kotex discovered that between 2018 and 2021, period poverty increased by 35%, mainly affecting low and middle-income women/girls across the country. This data highlights the urgent need for social support and emphasises the pressing issue of menstrual equity.
To take a step forward in our mission to reach out to these women in need, strive to raise community awareness and support underprivileged women who lack the chance to menstruate in comfort. Project Red’s active social media outreach, bake sales, and door-to-door fundraising efforts represent just a handful of the steps we’re taking to reach and inspire more people. We remain committed to finding meaningful opportunities to involve and engage our community, and would love to see others come together to support this cause.
Periods do not pause, neither should our action. Dignity delayed is dignity denied, and we cannot afford to deny it any longer. Whether it be a teen, mother, grandmother, teacher, doctor, nurse, or lawyer– every woman strives to make a difference in the world. A change for the better, tipping the scales of injustice and helping humanity. Why shouldn’t we give back? Why must we stay silent? In the wise and urging words of Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Change does not happen by waiting. It begins when we realize enough is enough.
Authors: Avantika Rajesh, Bindu Kata, Sahasra Balabhadra
Project Red aims to help women in Williamson County access basic hygiene products and reduce the stigma around menstruation. We founded Project Red after realizing the magnitude of period poverty. Although it is such a widespread issue, there is little attention paid to it in the media. We wrote this article in hopes of raising more awareness and educating people on the alarming issue of period poverty. If you’d like to contact us for further information, please reach out to weareprojectred@gmail.com or check out our TikTok & Instagram @project.red0
Join us in empowering underprivileged women; support Project Red!
Bibliography:
https://www.atlantaglow.org/periodplus#:~:text=A%202021%20study%20conducted%20by,dignity%20and%20education%20at%20risk.