Period poverty is the inability to afford or access menstrual products, as well as education and awareness of menstrual health management (Jaafar et al., 2023). Pads and tampons are basic hygiene products, and a lot of women and girls are not able to afford to care for their health due to the inability to purchase menstrual and hygiene products. The problem impacts women, in particular students, people who are homeless, and families with low incomes (UN Women, 2025). Period poverty should be considered not only a personal hygiene concern but also a health concern. A lack of regular access to sanitary products can lead to absenteeism from school, work, appointments, or other routine activities, and some individuals use them longer than recommended or use inappropriate products.

Two in five women and girls struggle to afford and access period products in the United States. 2 out of 5 women and girls in the United States face difficulties in accessing and purchasing period products. In Texas alone, approximately 6,831,757 women and girls live, with approximately 1 out of 6 of those women and girls living in poverty. In other words, approximately 1,100,712 Texans may be missing out on access to menstrual products and are also unable to afford basic needs like food, shelter, and transportation (Alliance for Period Supplies, 2026). Almost 60% of low-income families are strapped for cash and unable to pay their bills or cover unexpected costs. Although an estimated 1,010,325 women in Texas between 12 and 44 years of age receive health coverage through Medicaid, Medical Assistance, or other government-sponsored programs and services, menstrual care materials are typically not covered. Approximately 211,306 women participate in the Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC), but WIC primarily provides nutritional assistance and does not provide menstrual products. This report indicates that many health and nutritional needs are being addressed by existing support initiatives, but there is still a significant need for access to essential menstrual items (Alliance for Period Supplies, 2026). Period poverty is not just an inconvenience; it's an educational, economic, and public health matter.

Strategy To Address Social Issue 

One option to combat period poverty is to create free menstrual product programs in community spaces like homeless shelters, schools, and other public facilities. It's important that women are not left to solve their problems alone; providing free sanitary supplies in public facilities can help address some of them. This strategy makes changing the environments where people live, attend school, and access community services the main focus.

The first step in implementing the plan would be to educate the community about period poverty and its effects on women. Information and statistics about this issue could be shared through school and community events, flyers around the community, and social media. The goal would be to inform the community about issues that affect women's employment, education, and ability to participate in everyday activities. Research shows that 64.4% of high school students experienced period insecurity, and 33.6% reported missing school due to a lack of adequate menstrual products (Kuhlmann et al., 2024).

The next step is to create a petition calling on schools, public facilities, and shelters to provide free period products in spaces where women will be present. The petition would identify local decision makers and organizations- such as school boards, shelter administrators, and city officials- that have the power to implement and support these programs. The request would be for free product stations to be established in school bathrooms, public restrooms, and shelter facilities. A key aspect of implementing this strategy is developing community partnerships that can provide and maintain the products placed in public spaces. The main focus is to make products easily accessible for everyone who needs them while also reducing the stigma surrounding menstrual cycles. The products could be placed in private, convenient locations where individuals can access them; this is important for those who may feel embarrassed or uncomfortable explaining to someone that they cannot afford period products. 

This petition calls upon Texas officials to create and finance a statewide menstrual product program. Pads and tampons should be available free of charge in publicly funded facilities, such as government buildings, public schools, recreation centers, and libraries. No Texan should be denied educational or employment opportunities, be embarrassed for a lack of basic hygiene needs, or be forced to sacrifice health due to a lack of basic hygiene needs. The increase in access to menstrual resources helps to eliminate gender inequalities and ensures individual health. Menstruation should be considered a basic right, not a privilege. No basic hygiene and dignity are secondary. It's still a hard topic to discuss directly.

References

Alliance for Period Supplies. (2026, July 21). Period poverty - Alliance for period supplies. Alliance for Period Supplies - It’s that time. *. https://allianceforperiodsupplies.org/period-poverty/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=14857369183&gbraid=0AAAAADvpB95ZWXWZV1aoPW8U4hnjmzqck&gclid=Cj0KCQjwk5nVBhDiARIsAHNGqafE-mL8DaKWw8LR2iVBI6z8Zq0wDNdHllyOfX5bINjuFFDc4h2Zf7YaAllgEALw_wcB

Jaafar, H., Ismail, S. Y., & Azzeri, A. (2023, July). Period poverty: A neglected public health issue. Korean journal of family medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10372806/

Kuhlmann, A. S., Teni, M. T., Key, R., & Billingsley, C. (2024). Period product insecurity, school absenteeism, and use of school resources to obtain period products among high school students in St. Louis, Missouri. The Journal of School Nursing, 40(3), 256–264. https://doi.org/10.1177/10598405211069601

UN Women (2025, July 28). Period poverty – why millions of girls and women cannot afford their periods | UN women – headquarters. UN Women. https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/explainer/period-poverty-why-millions-of-girls-and-women-cannot-afford-their-periods