‘This is a serious public health crisis’: Milwaukee Diaper Mission addresses period poverty
“Johnson notes that period products are taxed like a luxury good, despite being a necessity for people with periods. In addition to the cost of period products, there’s also a stigma built around menstruation and access to periods products, so oftentimes people feel hesitant to ask for assistance.
This lack of access can lead to people resorting to using household products such as socks, toilet paper, newspaper or cardboard to absorb blood during their period. ‘Unfortunately these items are not sanitary, and when people aren’t using sanitary products to keep themselves clean during menstruation that can lead to infection,’ she explains.”