Podcast #29: Period poverty

In this episode, Feli (she/her), a MindMate Ambassador speaks to Charlotte (she/her) from the charity Freedom4Girls about period poverty. They cover what period poverty is, the different parts of period poverty, how to tackle stigma around menstruation and what resources are available in Leeds.

Content warning: We speak about period poverty which can encompass distressing information about what those experiencing period poverty face, eg. lack of money, funds, menstrual products and stigma that hurts those who menstruate.

This episode is a long one! Here are the timestamps if you want to listen to a certain topic.

*TIMESTAMPS*

• 0-1.36: Intro, who we are, brief definition of period poverty, and the different sections in the podcast
• 1.36-7.00: What is a period? What is period poverty? How does it affect you and everyone?
• 7.00-17:40: Different parts of period poverty, what do those facing period poverty experience? *CONTENT WARNING: reference to war, genocide and displacement*
• 17:40-27:03: What can we do to combat period poverty? What freedom4girls do!
• At 13.54, my voice turns into a robot! Sorry in advance!

# SOURCES

• Period poverty: Why is it everyone’s business?
• Study looking at American youth’s knowledge and experience with menstruation
• Addressing period poverty globally, focusing on Gaza, Lebanon and beyond
• Academic essay about addressing period poverty as a critical public health challenge
• Article explaining period poverty, and the impacts of ‘pink tax’ (higher expensive for menstrual products + other feminine hygiene products)
• Information about menstrual products being brought into schools in the UK
• Action aid, looking at period poverty statistics around the world
• Plan international with statistics surrounding periods in the UK, really interesting! The statistics are slightly different to what I referred to in the podcast
• ‘Where to be a woman’ podcast, talking about different ways the 2 amazing guests have fought against period poverty and the stigma it creates!

## RESOURCES + EXTRA INFO

MindMate article by Lydia, referencing period poverty and how we can tackle it through art!

• Information surrounding periods, menstruation and other conditions surrounding menstruation
• Freedom4Girls is the organisation that Charlotte works for, which fights against period poverty are based in Leeds and West Yorkshire, pushing for education that challenges the stigma around menstruation. They also have worked around Leeds to create spaces to access free menstrual products
• Rainbow Junction, where there are menstruation products available – Rainbow Junktion, All Hallows Church, 24 Regent Terrace, Burley, Leeds LS6 1NP