Now that the horses have bolted from the stable, we hope the national discussion on period poverty leads to greater enlightenment and education on this critical issue.
The World Bank estimates that at least 500 million women and girls globally lack the facilities needed to manage their periods. Additionally, 1.25 billion lack access to a safe, private toilet, and 526 million have no toilet facilities at all.
Saint Lucia is no exception to this global problem. While we may measure success by new cars on the road, rising tourist arrivals, or employment figures, many still live below the poverty line. Indeed, countless women and girls here struggle to afford sanitary napkins, just as some citizens lack other basic necessities.
The COVID-19 pandemic only worsened the situation, magnifying the challenges marginalised women and girls face every month.
What has further complicated the issue – and fuelled recent debates – is a troubling mix of ignorance and a lack of understanding of these harsh realities. Unfortunately, political partisanship has often overshadowed meaningful discourse.
Truth be told, we must also confront gender biases and outdated cultural norms, particularly among men. It may be 2025, but some still believe women should be “put away” during their periods, as under Mosaic law. Some men even boast at bars or among friends about avoiding their partners during menstruation, while others refuse to let them cook. Unbelievable, but true.
The conversation must therefore go beyond access to sanitary products. We must also address the trauma and mental abuse some women endure over a natural biological process.
Moreover, many men and boys still refuse to be seen purchasing sanitary napkins for their partners or female relatives. For young girls, especially those just beginning their cycles, the topic remains shrouded in discomfort, compounded by lingering societal misconceptions. And yes, we must reiterate: some simply cannot afford these essentials, forcing them to miss school or work, deepening their hardship.
Unfortunately, Saint Lucia lacks comprehensive surveys and statistics on this issue – data that could guide national development. But consider St Louis, Missouri (far from the poorest US city), where a 2019 study found 64 per cent of low-income women could not afford menstrual products. The statistics on clean water and toilet access are equally staggering.
Period poverty cannot be separated from the broader challenge of water access, which remains a challenge here. While providing sanitary products in schools is a start, every school and workplace should also have showers – for many reasons, including this very issue.
We recently celebrated Labour Day under the theme of Health and Safety. If we truly value workers’ well-being, then proper hygiene and menstrual equity must be prioritised. Just as schools have begun offering sanitary products, workplaces must follow suit.
These steps shouldn’t be seen as radical; they’re simply the right thing to do. If we’re serious about gender equality, marginalised women and girls, and the lofty treaties we’ve signed, then action must follow rhetoric. Real change requires dismantling regressive attitudes towards menstruation. Only then can we call ourselves a truly progressive society.
