Period Poverty – And what we can do about it
In developing countries, but also in Europe, low-income families as well as homeless people suffer from so-called «period poverty», a term representing the financial inability to buy menstrual hygiene products. Legislation is making steady progress worldwide to combat this long-existing but only recently talked about problem.
What is period poverty?
For families in financial need and for homeless women, the cost of mentral products is substantial and in some cases simply not affordable. This includes sanitary pads, tampons, or more expensive options such as menstrual cups or sustainable period underwear. Not having ready access to these important products has negetave social and physical implications on women and girls suffering from period poverty.
Scotland as a pioneer
In 2020, Scotland became the first country to pass a law requiring menstrual products to be provided free of charge at schools and universities. This had something of a signal effect on other European countries such as Austria, Germany and also Switzerland.
Germany
The German association Social Period e.V. has started a petition demanding free access to menstrual products in public facilities. Their aim is to give women and girls suffering from poverty or homelessness access to these products. Meanwhile, more than 80,000 people (as of January 2022) have signed the online petition. The first step was already taken by the German government by reducing the VAT tax of mentrual hygiene products from 19% to 7%.
Switzerland
In Switzerland, the cantons of Jura and Geneva has made a start. In March 2021, the Jura parliament passed a motion to provide free tampons and sanitary napkins to schools via dispensers. While other cantons have rejected similar bills, a test project has been launched in the canton of Zurich, prompted by a petition from Nadia Huberson and Angelica Eichenberger. The SP politicians demand free access to menstrual products in public schools. The petition cites the financial relief for schoolgirls and their families with low incomes as the reason for this.
ETH University has launched a pilot project at four locations in Zurich and Basel. 22 «menstruation stations» have been installed to provide female students with free access to tampons and sanitary pads. In this way, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology aims to provide the best possible working and study environment.
Door opener for companies
Developments toward free availability of menstrual products could also sweep businesses, restaurants and hotels. It is already common practice in fine-dining restaurants and luxury hotels to provide tampons and/or sanitary pads in the ladies bathroom. This could also soon become common practice in companies, which could provide free access to their female employees and guests, and thus provide them with peace of mind in case of a menstrual emergency.
Conclusion
The discussion about the free distribution of menstrual products as well as reduced taxes on mentral products is moving forward in many countries and steady progress is made in implementing these new measures worldwide. The pressure on Switzerland from developments in surrounding countries is increasing. If pilot projects like the one in the canton of Zurich are successful, this could have a knock-on effect for other cantons.
