Type: Content writing, freelance

Client: HERGhana

Status: In review, expected publication August 2025

Period Poverty: A Global Crisis

Period poverty refers broadly to the various political, social, cultural, and economic barriers to accessibility of affordable menstrual products, sanitation facilities, waste disposal, and education about menstrual health. 

According to the National Library of Medicine, of the nearly 2 billion people who menstruate globally, 500 million cannot manage their periods safely.

EDUCATION

Period poverty limits access to menstrual products and proper sanitation, resulting in lower attendance rates at schools, reduced academic performance, and increased dropout rates, perpetuating gender inequality in education worldwide.

Social stigmas and lack of menstrual education further discourage girls from attending school during their periods, reinforcing silence and shame around menstruation and deepening the educational divide. 

HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, AND STIGMA

Beyond educational impacts, poor menstrual management and a lack of menstrual education can lead to poor hygiene practices, such as using unsafe materials or wearing products for too long, increasing the risk of infections like urinary tract infections and reproductive tract infections. 

Without proper knowledge, individuals may not recognize or seek help for symptoms of menstrual or reproductive health issues, leading to delayed treatment and long-term complications. These challenges can also contribute to mental health struggles, including stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem, especially among young girls and women.

Period poverty and menstrual stigma are deeply rooted in a wide variety of cultural myths and taboos that portray menstruation as dirty, shameful, and something to be hidden. These beliefs contribute to the perception that menstruating individuals are physically impaired or emotionally unstable, which can lead to feelings of isolation and embarrassment. This stigma, whether internalized or imposed by society, restricts the dignity, freedom, and emotional well-being of those who menstruate. As a result, many experience heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and depression due to both the lack of access to menstrual resources and the social pressures surrounding menstruation.

The Pink Tax: A Hidden Cost

The “pink tax” refers to gender-based price disparities, in which products marketed to women cost more than similar male-targeted versions. In a 2015 NYC study, women’s products averaged 7% more expensive—including 13% more for hygiene items and 48% higher shampoo prices. A 2024 report found women pay about 7% to 13% more across personal care products, adding roughly $1,350–$1,400 annually.

Tampons and pads face the “luxury tax” in many countries—though some, like Canada, India, and Rwanda, have abolished it. However, in regions where they remain taxed, financially vulnerable menstruators are often put in the position of choosing between basic hygiene and other necessities.

In Ghana, sanitary pads are classified as luxury items and subjected to a 17.5% value-added tax (VAT), despite being essential for menstrual hygiene and health. This policy has sparked widespread criticism from activists and women's rights organizations, who argue that it reinforces gender inequality by treating a basic biological need as a privilege rather than a right. The high cost resulting from the tax makes menstrual products unaffordable for many women, especially those from low-income communities, forcing them to use unsafe alternatives that risk their health. The pink tax not only jeopardizes physical and reproductive health but also deepens social inequities by placing an unfair financial burden on those who menstruate.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

One of the many effects of luxury taxes, pink taxes, and period poverty — in Ghana and elsewhere in the world — is a significant contribution to environmental pollution as a consequence of low-quality, single-use menstrual products. These items are often made from non-biodegradable plastics and are not properly disposed of. Without adequate waste management systems, used pads frequently end up in open spaces, water bodies, or are burned, leading to soil and water contamination and air pollution. The reliance on cheaply made products (which may need to be changed more frequently) increases waste volume and intensifies their environmental impact.

Why It Matters

Period poverty and the pink tax undermine gender equity, damage our environment, and place education, health, dignity, and economic opportunity at risk. Tackling these issues means:

  • Removing taxes on menstrual products

  • Ensuring free sanitary supplies in schools and public institutions

  • Expanding menstrual health education

  • Addressing gender-based price discrimination

Such things do not happen in a vacuum. Period poverty and pink tax are integrated and normalized components of complex and global institutions and systems. Confronting them means fighting for human rights, public health, and gender equality worldwide.

HERGhana

So, what are WE doing about it? 

We envision and work for a future in which menstruation is no longer a barrier to accessing education. We believe that free access to environmentally sustainable menstrual health products will allow Ghanaian girls to stay in school, stay safe, and reach their full potential. And we follow through. 

HERGhana operates with an incredible team of dedicated educators and workers on the ground in rural Ghana, paired with our Board of Directors and behind-the-scenes organizers based between Canada and Ghana. 

Our mission is to keep girls in school for as long as possible by breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation through education, ensuring access to sustainable menstrual products, and empowering young girls to dream bigger, live safer, and lead fuller lives. We do this by promoting menstrual health and awareness among adolescent girls and young women through free educational workshops and product distribution. Coupled with these workshops is our commitment to returning to the schools we’ve visited to check in, gather feedback, and ensure lasting impact. HERGhana currently offers two core products: a reusable sanitary pad and a menstrual cup, both of which are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and designed for long-term use.

We have partnered with numerous inspiring individuals and organizations to help make our vision a reality, including Leisa Hirtz of Women’s Health Innovations and supplier of the Bfree menstrual cup; Real Relief, developer of the reusable Safe Pad; as well as several academic institutions and our sister-school HERVermont

We will continue to expand our reach and deepen our impact. 

We will educate, empower, and provide services in rural Ghana. 

We envision a future in which education, awareness, availability, and affordability grow hand-in-hand.