Brock University Support Staff

What is period poverty?

Period poverty refers to the lack of access to menstrual products, education, hygiene facilities, waste management, and/or adequate healthcare for managing menstruation.

Why should I care about period poverty?

Period poverty is both a public health and human rights issue.

It’s a human rights issue

• No one should have to choose between food and menstrual products, or miss school or work because they can’t manage their period. When people are denied the ability to manage menstruation with dignity, it violates their rights to health, education, and equality.

It perpetuates gender inequality

• Period poverty disproportionately affects women, girls, and gender-diverse people. It reinforces harmful gender norms, silences menstruation through stigma, and restricts participation in public life, education, and employment.

It impacts education and opportunity

• Students who can’t afford menstrual products often miss school, fall behind, or drop out—affecting long-term educational and economic outcomes. This deepens cycles of poverty and inequality.

It’s a public health concern

• Without proper menstrual care, people risk infections, discomfort, and long-term health problems. Poor menstrual hygiene can also increase stigma and mental health distress.

It reveals broader systemic inequality

• Period poverty is a symptom of broader issues like poverty, racism, colonialism, and inadequate public health infrastructure. Caring about it means recognizing and working against systems that marginalize vulnerable groups.

It’s solvable

• Unlike some global crises, period poverty can be significantly reduced through targeted policy changes, education, and providing free or affordable products.

Status of Women Committee

This OSSTF/FEESO committee monitors the professional status of women members of our Federation and advises our leadership on the need for appropriate action with respect to any developing trends, and provides a forum for the discussion of issues relevant to women in OSSTF/FEESO.

The Committee has released a fact sheet.

United Way – Period Promise Campaign

https://unitedwayniagara.org/program/period-promise/

The Period Promise initiative aims to address period poverty by providing free menstrual products to those in need. Products are distributed through community organizations, schools, and shelters.