Daily Concept #3: 
What is period poverty? And what are governments doing to end it?

Welcome to the third edition of The Daily Concept. If you didn’t get the chance to read the first edition on the Spanish Civil War, check it out here.

If you want to read the second edition, which explored private funds like hedge funds, private equity firms, and venture capital firms, click here.

What is Period Poverty?

The Taiwanese government took a major step forward this month by providing free period products in all schools and universities in Taiwan.

The new public policy intervention is part of the Taiwanese government’s effort to reduce gender inequality and end period poverty.

Hundreds of millions of women worldwide suffer from lack of access to period products and hygienic facilities to use them in.

The impact of period poverty goes beyond the physical aspects of menstrual hygiene. It also affects mental health, self-esteem, and educational opportunities.

Many individuals, particularly young girls, may miss school or work during their periods due to embarrassment or discomfort.

The inability to participate fully in educational or professional activities can perpetuate the cycle of poverty, limiting their potential for upward social mobility and making it more difficult achieve financial and personal independence.

Here are some striking statistics about the effects and scale of period poverty worldwide:

• An estimated ~500 million women worldwide lack access to "menstrual products and adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene management.”
  

• 1 out of every 10 menstruating youth misses school during their menstrual cycle due to lack of access to menstrual products and resources.
  

• 1.25 billion women don't have access to a safe, private toilet.

What are governments doing to end period poverty?

Scotland became the first country in the world to offer free period products to anyone who wants them in 2020. New Zealand followed suit by offering free period products in schools starting in the 2021 academic year. Then-Kiwi Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at the time:

“Young people should not miss out on their education because of something that is a normal part of life for half the population.”

Tampon Taxes: The British government end stopped charging its value-added tax on the sale of period products in 2021, following a similar move by Germany in the year prior. Critics have called such sales taxes a "tampon tax", and a total of 17 countries have taken steps to ending the practice.

Women's health advocates have noted that period products are still taxed as non-essential goods in dozens of U.S. states.

Virginia stopped charging sales taxes on period products earlier this year, and Texas legislators are taking action to do so in the Lone Star State.

ART OF THE DAY

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Dan