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Periods and Poverty in the UK.

There is a major lack of national research on period poverty, education and taboos in the UK.

We have conducted two pioneering major research programmes across the UK.

Download our Research Papers here:

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Tackling Period Poverty Report Break the Barriers Report

Tackling Taboos Overseas.

Menstrual health, toilets and sanitation are all taboo subjects which affect millions of people globally, particularly in developing communities. They can cause embarrassment, uneasiness and division. Our founder Chloe has conducted first hand research on menstruation practices in Bolivia, Uganda and Nepal. We have collected some of the widely believed taboos here as part of our work.

The world’s views on menstruation:

Bolivia

If you eat onions whilst on your period you will get cancer [Fundacion Sodis 2014]

Bathing or touching cold water during your period will cause infertility. [Fundacion Sodis 2014]

It is believed burning a menstrual pad is burning a part of your own body and you will become covered in sores, so they must be buried. [Fundacion Sodis 2014]

africa

UNESCO estimates that 1 in 10 African girls miss school during menses, eventually leading to a higher school drop out rate. (Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2014)

In many parts of Africa it is believed a touch from a menstruating girl or woman will cause a plant to become dry, milk to curdle, and a mirror to lose its brightness (House, Mahon, & Cavil)

uganda

It is believed if you cross a field of g-nuts (peanuts) growing whilst you are menstruating you will kill all of the crops.

It is believed you should wash several times a day, as menstruation is considered to be very dirty.

burkina faso

83% of girls have no place at school to change their sanitary menstrual materials. (Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2014)

niger

77% of girls have no place at school to change their sanitary menstrual materials. (Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2014)

tanzania

Some believe that if a menstrual cloth is seen by others, the owner of the cloth may be cursed (House, Mahon, & Cavil)

asia

In South Asia, 20% of the women interviewed, who had access to toilets, refrained from using them during their periods, partly due to fear of staining the toilet (House, Mahon, & Cavil)

32.5% of schoolgirls from South Asia had not heard about menstruation prior to menarche and an overwhelming 97.5% did not know that menstrual blood came from the uterus. (Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2014)

Bangladesh

In one study by HERProject, 73% of the Bangladeshi garment workers interviewed miss work for an average of 6 days per month (resulting in unpaid work days) due to vaginal infections caused by unsanitary menstrual materials. (Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2014)

nepal

‘Chhaupadi’ is a Nepalese practice where women are forced to sleep in separate huts or sheds during menstruation, alongside other harsh restrictions, although declared a violation of women’s rights in 2003 it is still widely practiced. (Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2014)

india

In India, 66% of girls-only schools do not have functioning toilets. (Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2014)

10% of girls in India believe menstruation is a disease.(Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2014)

In rural India, many women and girls use unsanitary materials such as old rags, husks, dried leaves, grass, ash, sand or newspapers (Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2014)

In some communities, women and girls are not allowed to use water sources during menstruation. In communities in Gujarat, India, 91% of girls reported staying away from flowing water. (House, Mahon, & Cavil)

A study in India found that inadequate menstrual products make girls drop out of school for approximately five days a month, or 50 days a year. With 23% leaving school altogether when they begin to menstruate. (Rose George, WaterSupply and Sanitation Council)

Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, the word “gazag” means to become infertile. It’s said (in old Afghan tradition) that during the week a woman has her period she cannot wash or shower or she will gazag. [Global Citizen 2015]

japan

According to a cultural belief held by some sushi chefs in Japan, women cannot be sushi chefs because of menstrual cycles. The myth here is that menstruation causes an “imbalance in taste” and therefore sushi cannot possibly be properly prepared by a woman. [Global Citizen 2015]

Bolivia

If you eat onions whilst on your period you will get cancer [Fundacion Sodis 2014]
Bathing or touching cold water during your period will cause infertility. [Fundacion Sodis 2014]

It is believed burning a menstrual pad is burning a part of your own body and you will become covered in sores, so they must be buried. [Fundacion Sodis 2014]

Africa

UNESCO estimates that 1 in 10 African girls miss school during menses, eventually leading to a higher school drop out rate. (Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2014)

In many parts of Africa it is believed a touch from a menstruating girl or woman will cause a plant to become dry, milk to curdle, and a mirror to lose its brightness (House, Mahon, & Cavil)

UGANDA

It is believed if you cross a field of g-nuts (peanuts) growing whilst you are menstruating you will kill all of the crops.
It is believed you should wash several times a day, as menstruation is considered to be very dirty.

BURKINA FASO

83% of girls have no place at school to change their sanitary menstrual materials. (Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2014)

NIGER

77% of girls have no place at school to change their sanitary menstrual materials. (Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2014)

Tanzania

Some believe that if a menstrual cloth is seen by others, the owner of the cloth may be cursed (House, Mahon, & Cavil)

asia

In South Asia, 20% of the women interviewed, who had access to toilets, refrained from using them during their periods, partly due to fear of staining the toilet (House, Mahon, & Cavil)

32.5% of schoolgirls from South Asia had not heard about menstruation prior to menarche and an overwhelming 97.5% did not know that menstrual blood came from the uterus. (Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2014)

BANGLADESH

In one study by HERProject, 73% of the Bangladeshi garment workers interviewed miss work for an average of 6 days per month (resulting in unpaid work days) due to vaginal infections caused by unsanitary menstrual materials. (Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2014)

NEPAL

‘Chhaupadi’ is a Nepalese practice where women are forced to sleep in separate huts or sheds during menstruation, alongside other harsh restrictions, although declared a violation of women’s rights in 2003 it is still widely practiced. (Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2014)

INDIA

In India, 66% of girls-only schools do not have functioning toilets. (Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2014)

10% of girls in India believe menstruation is a disease.(Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2014)

In rural India, many women and girls use unsanitary materials such as old rags, husks, dried leaves, grass, ash, sand or newspapers (Menstrual Hygiene Day, 2014)

In some communities, women and girls are not allowed to use water sources during menstruation. In communities in Gujarat, India, 91% of girls reported staying away from flowing water. (House, Mahon, & Cavil)

A study in India found that inadequate menstrual products make girls drop out of school for approximately five days a month, or 50 days a year. With 23% leaving school altogether when they begin to menstruate. (Rose George, WaterSupply and Sanitation Council)

AFGHANISTAN

In Afghanistan, the word “gazag” means to become infertile. It’s said (in old Afghan tradition) that during the week a woman has her period she cannot wash or shower or she will gazag. [Global Citizen 2015]

JAPAN

According to a cultural belief held by some sushi chefs in Japan, women cannot be sushi chefs because of menstrual cycles. The myth here is that menstruation causes an “imbalance in taste” and therefore sushi cannot possibly be properly prepared by a woman. [Global Citizen 2015]

Our Research and Impact

Be Part of the conversation. Sign up to our newsletter here!

Our impact.

To find out more about the impact and growth of our organization, please see our Four Year Impact Report.