Blood, Sweat, and Tears: The Case for Menstrual Product Accessibility Advocacy
Every menstruator has a period ‘horror story’ (or two) that we desperately wish we could forget. Mine involves a large audience, a presentation on period poverty, and an unfortunate stain I didn't notice until it was way too late (ironic, I know). For non-menstruators struggling to empathize, think back to your most humbling experience; add a little blood, some nervous sweating, a few hormone-induced tears, and you get the idea. As difficult as it may feel to dig up our previously repressed memories about a period gone rogue or the little tampon that couldn’t, we can find solace in knowing that nearly every menstruator has endured a similar situation. However, for the 11.3 million U.S. menstruatorsregularly struggling to afford period products, these experiences represent daily realities—ones that demand our solidarity and action.
In fact, menstrual inequity reportedly affects nearly 40% of U.S. menstruators, disproportionately impacting low-income and unhoused individuals, adolescents, and communities of color. While period poverty encompasses a range of issues—including resource deficiencies, stigmatization, and a lack of menstrual health education—the inaccessibility of affordable, sanitary period products remains at the forefront of this public health and human rights crisis. With one study finding that roughly half of low-income U.S. womenwere forced to choose between food and period products within the past year, the need for effective, evidence-based policies to improve menstrual equity is more apparent than ever before.
Thankfully, Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06) has answered our prayers in championing the Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2023(ME4A). This comprehensive bill aims to combat period poverty by expanding access to free products in schools, detention centers, workplaces, and federal buildings; requiring Medicaid coverage; eliminating the ‘tampon tax’; and providing states with grant funding to distribute products in vulnerable communities.
Despite its many benefits, the ME4A Act remains stalled due to legislative de-prioritization, committee stagnation, and political disagreements over funding. Thus, while the barriers to achieving menstrual equity may seem insurmountable, we, as constituents, must harness our collective power to implore Congress to enact the ME4A Act in an effort to reduce the burden of period poverty in the U.S.
By improving access, the ME4A Act will reduce financial burdens for millions of menstruators in America. In New York, for example, the lifetime cost of period products exceeds $7,200, excluding menstrual-related healthcare expenditures. In other words, menstruation is expensive (so unfair, right?). By eliminating the tampon tax and providing free menstrual products, this bill would simultaneously make adequate menstrual hygiene management more attainable while saving menstruators’ money.
Menstrual inequity also leads to school and work absenteeism, with 25% of U.S. teens missing class and 36% of menstruators missing work due to product inaccessibility. Serving as an obstacle to consistent attendance and engagement, period poverty contributes to an estimated 33% loss in productivity. Thus, implementing the ME4A Act would ultimately improve educational, career, and financial outcomes for millions of Americans.
Moreover, the ME4A Act will also enhance menstruators’ physical and mental health. It should be no surprise that product inaccessibility pushes menstruators to adopt dangerous and sometimes life-threateningmeans of managing their periods—such as using soiled products, socks, or rags. As a result, period poverty places individuals at a heightened risk of developingUTIs, toxic shock syndrome, or other reproductive infections. Further, the financial strain associated with period poverty is directly linked to the development of depression and anxietyamong menstruators. Therefore, in eliminating access barriers to menstrual equity, the ME4A Act will dramatically improve population health.
Because capitalistic interests too often trump efforts to enhance social justice, critics may contend that the costs associated with purchasing and distributing free menstrual products, expanding Medicaid coverage, increasing funding for state grants, and eliminating the tampon tax would suck the government—and its taxpayers—dry. And I’m not going to sugarcoat it; the ME4A Act will be expensive. While budgetary estimates have yet to be published, apprehension to undertake such a comprehensive program is more than understandable.
However, the ME4A Act will actually save the U.S. a lot of money while simultaneously protecting menstruators’ health and human rights (it’s a win-win!). By mitigating period poverty, this bill will effectively improve menstruators’ school and work attendance; therefore boosting workforce productivity and labor force participation, enhancing population educational and employment outcomes, increasing tax revenue and gross national expenditures, and consequently contributing to large-scale GDP growth. In fact, the World Bank reports that period poverty costs the global economy billions of dollarsin lost productivity annually. Additionally, as product accessibility improves menstruators’ physical and mental health, employment and workforce participation will be further strengthened while also reducing menstrual-related healthcare expenditures. In essence, the cost of not implementing the ME4A Act will vastly supersede its up-front price tag.
Ultimately, Congress should codify the ME4A Act into law to reduce the financial, health, and human rights burdens associated with period poverty in the U.S. However, in order to see this come to fruition, constituents (menstruators and non-menstruators alike) must work together to push this bill forward by contacting our legislators, raising public awareness, organizing community events, and partnering with like-minded advocacy groups. As one of the wealthiest countries in the world, the U.S. government owes it to the people to protect and advance our reproductive health. While the path to achieving menstrual equity may not be quick (or easy), it's our responsibility and right to tirelessly advocate for the policies that we believe in until they succeed. So, as difficult as it may be, don't let the uphill battle intimidate you. After all, when has political progress ever been achieved without a little blood, sweat, and tears?