First and Last Name/s of Presenters

Jayden TaborFollow
Olivia DelgadoFollow

Mentor/s

Professor Brian Stiltner (stiltnerb@sacredheart.edu)

Participation Type

Paper Talk

Abstract

UNICEF estimates that every month, some 1.8 billion people across the world menstruate (UNICEF, 2020). Menstruation is a natural, healthy, and uncontrollable part of life for anyone with the female reproductive system. Me, you, your friends, your family, and everyone else on Earth would not be born if it weren’t for this routine part of life. Why, then, does society wince at the thought of periods? The effect of menstrual stigma has plagued billions of menstruators for centuries and continues to have massive negative ramifications on the wellness and livelihood of people simply trying to cope with a biological process. This stigma, plus a global misunderstanding of the reality of period care in part due to this stigma, has created a public health crisis that leaves millions of menstruators without proper education, hygiene, and healthcare. “Period Poverty” is a term colloquially used to describe the condition of menstruating people who are forced to withgo care because of social and economic barriers. While some may think of period poverty as an issue unique to only the most financially disadvantaged countries, the reality is that period poverty leaves no country, state, community, ethnic group, race, or gender untouched. The inability to afford menstrual products forces millions of people into unhygienic, humiliating, and most importantly, completely avoidable situations.

The following paper will explore the current cost of menstruation, both financial and mental, social, and ethical, analyze the success of various countries and communities who have initiated free menstrual product campaigns, and explore the intersectional, culturally competent healthcare policies regarding menstrual care through a synthesis of sources and materials from leading menstrual health advocates, world health leaders, academics, and nonprofit organizations. Furthermore, it will delineate the ethical responsibilities to provide free menstrual care from a bioethical, governmental, and Catholic lens, and call upon higher education communities to respond to the crisis of period poverty through sponsoring relevant educational initiatives and investing in community-based action as well as further scholarly research on the subject.

College and Major available

College of Health Professions, Health Science

Location

Session J: West Campus West Building W140

Start Day/Time

4-29-2022 1:15 PM

End Day/Time

4-29-2022 2:15 PM

Students' Information

Jayden Tabor- Health Science Major concentrating in Healthcare Administration, Honors Minor, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Minor, graduating 2023

Olivia Delgado- Health Science Major concentrating in Healthcare Administration, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Minor, Human Rights Minor, Management Minor, graduating 2023

Winner, Dean's Prize: College of Health Professions 2022 award. Honorable mention, Most Scholarly Impact or Potential 2022 award. Honorable mention, Multidisciplinary Research or Collaboration 2022 award.

Prize Categories

Best Multidisciplinary Research or Collaboration, Most Scholarly Impact or Potential, Most Creative

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Apr 29th, 1:15 PM Apr 29th, 2:15 PM

Addressing Period Poverty: The Cost of Menstruating in America and the Ethical Responsibility to Provide Free Menstrual Care

Session J: West Campus West Building W140

UNICEF estimates that every month, some 1.8 billion people across the world menstruate (UNICEF, 2020). Menstruation is a natural, healthy, and uncontrollable part of life for anyone with the female reproductive system. Me, you, your friends, your family, and everyone else on Earth would not be born if it weren’t for this routine part of life. Why, then, does society wince at the thought of periods? The effect of menstrual stigma has plagued billions of menstruators for centuries and continues to have massive negative ramifications on the wellness and livelihood of people simply trying to cope with a biological process. This stigma, plus a global misunderstanding of the reality of period care in part due to this stigma, has created a public health crisis that leaves millions of menstruators without proper education, hygiene, and healthcare. “Period Poverty” is a term colloquially used to describe the condition of menstruating people who are forced to withgo care because of social and economic barriers. While some may think of period poverty as an issue unique to only the most financially disadvantaged countries, the reality is that period poverty leaves no country, state, community, ethnic group, race, or gender untouched. The inability to afford menstrual products forces millions of people into unhygienic, humiliating, and most importantly, completely avoidable situations.

The following paper will explore the current cost of menstruation, both financial and mental, social, and ethical, analyze the success of various countries and communities who have initiated free menstrual product campaigns, and explore the intersectional, culturally competent healthcare policies regarding menstrual care through a synthesis of sources and materials from leading menstrual health advocates, world health leaders, academics, and nonprofit organizations. Furthermore, it will delineate the ethical responsibilities to provide free menstrual care from a bioethical, governmental, and Catholic lens, and call upon higher education communities to respond to the crisis of period poverty through sponsoring relevant educational initiatives and investing in community-based action as well as further scholarly research on the subject.

 

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