Period Poverty: A Risk Factor for People Who Menstruate in STEM

Abstract

In the United States, lack of access to menstrual hygiene products (MHPs) is contributing to a serious problem, period poverty. Period poverty has negative impacts on physical and mental health, as well as long term decreased productivity in educational and professional outcomes. Therefore, it is critical that action be taken to reduce period poverty and improve menstrual equity particularly for young menstruators, as inaction can result in lasting negative effects on both health and prosperity. The inability to afford and access MHPs results in recurring absences from school, which is a critical time for nurturing interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). To ensure the development of a diverse STEM workforce, significant action needs to be taken to reduce period poverty and improve menstrual equity. We recommend instituting a requirement that all public K-12 schools provide free MHPs to students, an expansion of Section 2 of the Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2019 (ME4ALL Act, H.R. 1882).