Share the Dignity
Period Poverty of Homeless Women in Australia
Brief: Share the Dignity is an Australian non-profit supporting vulnerable women. It aims to raise awareness of period poverty, a critical issue affecting homeless women, to mobilise support from the government, the public, and other stakeholders.
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Podcast
Podcast script
SFX (Establish): Making Progress by Dan Phillipson
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HOST/INTRODUCTION VOICE (SFX as music background): You are listening to "Dignity Matters," a podcast series by Share the Dignity organisation, where we uncover the hidden truths of period poverty among homeless women.
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SFX (fade out): Making Progress by Dan Phillipson
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HOST: Welcome back to the second episode of “Dignity Matters”: “The Untold Story Of Lives On The Street”. And this is your host, Hang Le. Today, we’ll hear the story of Sharon, who has experienced homelessness firsthand and is now a dedicated volunteer with Share the Dignity. Sharon, it's an honour to have you here.
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INTERVIEWEE: Thank you for having me, Hang.
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HOST: So, Sharon, could you share with us how you found yourself homeless?
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INTERVIEWEE: Sure. My journey into homelessness was quite unexpected. I lost my job two years ago and struggled to find stable housing. Then I ended up living on the street.
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HOST: Mentioning menstruation, it's a natural biological process that affects all women, homeless or not. Sharon, did you face any specific challenges in your menstruation during that time?
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INTERVIEWEE: Yes, I definitely did. Menstruation was a nightmare to me since I couldn't access menstrual supplies.
As a homeless person, barely scraping by each day, even affording a meal was a daily struggle. So, how could I possibly spare 6 to 7 dollars to buy pads? It was just impossible.
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HOST: It’s like never-ending struggles, right? So how did you cope with menstruation?
INTERVIEWEE: Well, I had no choice but to be creative with toilet paper, old socks and also T-shirts.
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HOST: Old socks? Oh my…
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INTERVIEWEE: Indeed, that is the reality if you don't wanna walk on the street with blood dripping between your legs. But these makeshift solutions often result in infections and discomfort. It was a daily battle to maintain my health and dignity while living in such a dire situation.
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HOST (SFX establish and play as music background): Listening to Sharon's story, I'm deeply moved and saddened by the hardships homeless women endure during menstruation. So, Sharon, thank you for sharing your experiences and bringing attention to this overlooked issue. Please stay tuned as we move into the next segment.
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SFX (fade out): Hope by Simon Folwar