Campaigning Journalist of the Year: Winner

Every month, 15 million women and girls in the UK get their period. Obviously, when you’re on your period, the most important thing you need is period products- pads, tampons, menstrual cups. These products aren’t just a comfort; they are a necessity, like clothing, or other toiletries. Yet one in seven women and girls struggle to afford them, and one in ten can’t afford them at all (Plan International For  Children and Equality for Girls, 2017). That is period poverty, and it causes both physical and mental health problems to all those impacted by it.  

The average period lasts five days (NHS, 2019), but many have to deal with heavier or longer periods,  which require more products, which in turn require more money. On average, women and girls in the  UK spend £13 a month on menstrual products (Brooks, 2020). Often, if women and girls can’t afford to buy any more products, they try and make the ones they have last longer or are forced to use unsuitable alternatives, putting themselves at risk of vulval infections, yeast infections and toxic shock syndrome.  

The dangers to physical health aren’t the only thing women and girls have to face. Periods and period  poverty take a huge toll on menstruators’ mental health. With all the societal and cultural stigma surrounding periods, it’s hard to talk about period poverty, and the impacts it has. One survey showed that 39% of women and girls who faced period poverty would later suffer from anxiety and depression (Elsworthy, 2018). Last year, the UK government poured £15 million into ‘levelling up mental health’ (UK Government, 2021), yet they claimed that a universal offer of free period products for all females under 19 ‘would not represent good value for taxpayers’ money’ (UK Government,  2021).  

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has seen a surge in period poverty in the UK. 36% of girls aged 14- 21 had difficulty affording or accessing period products during the pandemic (Plan International For  Children and Equality for Girls, 2021). Some were able to afford these products but were forced to cut back on other necessities. Period products are not a luxury, yet they aren’t a priority, and they aren’t considered among other essentials. This needs to be changed- and soon. Every month, inflation rises. Every month, these products get more expensive and harder to access. Every month, the  situation gets worse.  

In November 2020, Scotland became the first country to make all period products free, and this has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on women and girls all over the country. Women and girls no longer have to choose between period products and other essentials. The United Kingdom is considered to be one of the best places in the world to be a woman (EVE CONANT, 2019) and what could make it even better for women and girls? Free period products. No more period poverty. If it has been done in Scotland, I don’t see why we can’t spread this throughout the UK. I truly believe that it would make our country a better place and I’m sure that women and girls everywhere would agree with me. It’s more than just ‘an important policy for women and girls’ (Sturgeon, 2020), it’s a life changer that every woman and girl deserves.