Monthly period products are a necessity, but for some of us, they can be hard to come by. Having to choose between buying groceries and paper products is a tough situation—and it’s all too common in Canada.
This is why the United Way has a campaign called Period Promise to address period poverty, while also helping to lift the stigma around talking about it. Proceeds from this month’s Vicars School Giving Clinics—on May 26 on both Edmonton and Calgary campuses—will go to support this campaign.
Of everyone who menstruates in Canada—women, girls, non-binary, and trans people—more than a quarter have struggled to afford mentrual products, including having to go through a period without having any menstrual products whatsoever. And not having the product you need when you need it can make going to school, work, or staying connected to community difficult.
When people have access to the product they need, it improves their health and well-being and makes it easier for them to stay connected.
The United Way works with its member agencies to collect and distribute products to those most in need, but it also partners with producer Procter & Gamble to supply free products in some Alberta schools, and has a pledge program that encourages local organizations, businesses, and labour unions to commit to supplying free menstrual products to employees, members, guests, clients, and visitors.
One of the main goals of Period Promise and similar campaigns is to get past misinformation, such as:
MYTH: It’s not polite to talk about periods.
FACT: Stigma is a significant contributing factor to period poverty. Periods are nothing to be ashamed of – they are a natural, biological process. But too many people report being shamed, bullied, or isolated because of their periods. By being upfront about the reality of periods and period poverty, we can show people that periods aren’t scary or shameful — they’re just a fact of life.
MYTH: Period products aren’t that expensive.
FACT: The average person will have 456 periods in their life and spend about $6,360 on period products alone. This doesn’t factor in other costs such as laundry, underwear, pain medication, or other supplies. And up until 2015, period products were subject to GST.
MYTH: Period poverty is just an inconvenience.
FACT: While periods aren’t dirty or unhygienic, there are health risks if period products aren’t properly cleaned, if they are used for too long, or aren’t a regulated period product. Unfortunately, this is a reality for people in vulnerable situations without regular access to washrooms, or who can’t afford products. There is an added layer of complexity for trans men and non-binary people who menstruate and have a hard time accessing menstrual products safely.
How we’re helping (and you can too)
Vicars School has taken the United Way Period Promise (though in fact, we’ve had free period products available on both our campuses for decades).
Typically, each month’s Vicars School Giving Clinic raises between $1500 and $2000, split between our Edmonton and Calgary campuses. This money will go a long way toward making “that time of the month” easier for people in our communities. You can also help by making a direct donation to agencies near you that support vulnerable people and youth.
This is just a sampling: The Calgary public library foundation, accepts financial donations for their Free.Period. initiative, provides free products in library washrooms throughout the city. In Edmonton, No Period Without accepts menstrual products at a locations throughout the city and in St Alberta and Sherwood Park. Food banks throughout the province accept and distribute period products along with other non-food items like dish soap and diapers.
