Share the Dignity: Opinion Editorial

Intended Publication

ABC News

By Rochelle Courtenay, the CEO of Share the Dignity 

8 May 2024

An Urgent Call: It is Time to Make Menstrual Products Free to Homeless Women

Menstruation can be inconvenient and exhausting for many women, but for those who are homeless, it becomes a horrible nightmare. The inability to buy essential menstruation supplies such as sanitary pads exacerbate their already stressful situation. This overlooked issue not only affects women's hygiene but also violates their fundamental rights and dignity, necessitating immediate intervention.

According to the latest statistics, the average Australian woman spends $10,000 over her reproductive lifetime, measuring more than $20 per month for menstrual hygiene products. With recent inflation, many women report having difficulty purchasing these menstruation supplies, which were previously tough to afford. Consider the condition of homeless women who are already fighting to meet basic daily necessities. Menstrual products now become unattainable amidst their daily struggles. 

Working closely with numerous homeless women, I have witnessed firsthand even more heart-wrenching stories. There is a homeless woman named Amy who related her traumatic experience: "I've had to resort to using toilet paper in public restrooms or even parts of my own clothing, like old T-shirts or socks, as makeshift sanitary items." Amy admitted that when they were desperate, homeless women would steal pads from stores and supermarkets. "We have no money, and we're left with no other choice, you know," she said. 

It is even more distressing when the lack of access to menstrual products can result in severe reproductive health issues such as reproductive and urinary tract infections in homeless women, underscoring the critical need for prompt action from both charitable organisations and government authorities.

A prime example of practical action in addressing menstrual access for homeless women can be found in Scotland, which implemented the Period Products Act in 2021. This legislation made period products free for all women, including those experiencing homelessness. The positive effects of this law are clear, with more than 80% of women, including the majority of homeless women, now benefiting from sanitary items that they previously could not afford. This example demonstrates that providing free access to menstruation products is not difficult to execute, but the value to society is greater. Therefore, Australia could consider following suit in addressing this issue.

The Minister for Women in the Government of Australia, Katy Gallagher, stated, "As a woman, it bothers me tremendously to watch homeless women struggling throughout their monthly cycles, even though being unable to buy menstruation supplies is a fundamental human rights issue. It's time for government entities to take notice and implement comprehensive programs that guarantee free menstruation supplies for all homeless women."

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Reference

Convery S (26 May 2023) ‘Young Australian women struggling to afford period products as inflation soars, surveys show’, The Guardian, accessed 26 April 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/26/young-australian-women-struggling-to-afford-period-products-as-inflation-soars-survey-shows 

Diamond C (16 August 2022) ‘Period poverty: Scotland first in world to make period products free', BBC, accessed 26 April 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51629880# 

Moore L (13 October 2015) ‘What It's Like to Get Your Period When You’re Homeless', Cosmopolitan, accessed 26 April 2024. https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/news/a47596/what-its-like-to-get-your-period-when-youre-homeless/ 

Ricardo da Costa MFM (27 October 2023) ‘Thinking Period Poverty Economically', GRC Insights, accessed 26 April 2024. https://insights.grcglobalgroup.com/thinking-period-poverty-economically/ 

 The World Bank (12 May 2022) ‘Menstrual Health and Hygiene’, The World Bank, accessed 26 April 2024. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water/brief/menstrual-health-and-hygiene 

WH staff (29 November 2019) ‘Women On Average Spend $9379 On Their Period Throughout Their Lifetime’, Women's Health, accessed 26 April 2024. https://womenshealth.com.au/average-cost-of-period/