What is Period Equity? (And Why Does it Matter)

This is a question we get asked a lot here at The Period Purse.

When people hear our mission

"Achieve menstrual equity by providing free menstrual products, and to reduce the stigma surrounding periods."

- we receive a questioning tilt of the head.

"What's menstrual equity?"

Menstrual equity has a few different meanings, but generally is - 

Making sure that all people who menstruate have access to the products they need.

It's 2021 and while we've come far in many social issues the stigma around menstruation still has a ways to go.

If you bleed, you need products. And yet there is still a struggle for people who menstruate to get what they need.

They have to choose between menstruating products or other essential items.

And sometimes they outright have no way to get them.

We care about menstrual equity because a period is not something that can be controlled. Having access to the needed products should be a basic human right.

Not having the supplies needed can make people feel less than.

And no one should have to feel that way simply for bleeding.

At The Period Purse, we are working to get products in the hands of those who need them most.

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You can donate to The Period Purse by clicking here for a monetary donation.

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About the Author: Anna Worms is a wife, mother, software developer, and copywriter. Her writing career stemmed from curiosity after trying her first menstrual cup! The interest blossomed into a need to help others learn more about menstruation and fight the stigma around it.

Click here to learn more about Anna and her writing services.

It was immediate love. I felt more clean, I didn't have leaks. People thought I was weird when they got their period at work, and I told them "sorry, I don't have any pads or tampons." I was a cup user before anyone ever knew what a cup was, and I've never looked back.

That's why we are so excited to have a partner with DivaCup to bring this life changing period product to those who choose it. Menstrual cups are special and need to be donated with education. We donate these to people who have access to clean water, people living in the margins- from midwife offices to First Nations  reserves to high schools. To date, we've donated over 700 DivaCups out to those who choose and need them!

The holidays are looking different this year for all of us. To keep one another safe, many of us will have to spend the season apart.

But that's all the more reason to give each other thoughtful gifts from afar, and those same gifts can uplift the most vulnerable members of our community.

This Giving Tuesday, give someone you love the gift of knowing they've helped someone have a safe, healthy period.

• For $15, give the gift of one month of period supplies
• For $40, one menstrual cup
• For $100, one educational presentation on the importance of menstrual equity to a group of young people
• For $180 a whole *year* of period supplies

Donate today, and we'll send your loved one an ecard letting them know that they made a meaningful difference in the life of a marginalized community member.

Thank you again for all your support in these difficult times, and we wish you and yours health and peace this season.

Part of our mission at The Period Purse (TPP) is to reduce the stigma surrounding periods through public education and advocacy. Through education, we believe we can erase the stigma surrounding menstruation and shed light on the unique challenges faced by people who experience homelessness.

We are excited to announce we have a brand new initiative to help us to do just this! As the school curricula in Canada lack a comprehensive education on menstruation and period poverty, we have designed three learning modules for students from grades 5-12.

The goal of these modules is to start a conversation. At The Period Purse, we are committed to education about healthy periods and menstrual equity. We hope that awareness of menstrual equity is fostered and the stigma of periods is challenged after each presentation.

Module 1 is called Period 101 for Grades 5-8. In this presentation, we ask: what are the common misconceptions about periods? We explore terminology that generates a healthy understanding of menstruation and brainstorm ways students can reduce stigmas associated with the menstrual cycle in their communities.

Module 2 is called Period Poverty, and is open to all ages. In this presentation, we explore what period poverty is, who is affected by it and how students can work towards menstrual equity. Students work together to think of what period poverty looks like in their communities and think of ways to address it.

And last but not least, Module 3 is about Reusable Period Products, offered to Grades 8-post secondary. In line with our core value of sustainability, in this presentation we explore options for reusable period products and how these products are used. We seek to generate thoughtful and intersectional thinking amongst students by asking: are reusable products the best option for everyone?

Our presentations run 45-60 minutes and are offered remotely by a trained TPP volunteer educator in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We ask that a $100 donation be made to TPP for each presentation.

Get in touch with Jean, education@theperiodpurse.com, to learn more about our presentations.

Every bag of period products we collect equals a healthy period for someone in need. So far this year, we've made and distributed 11,000 kits of period supplies. That's 11,000 healthy periods. But we're aiming higher: our ultimate goal is 15,000.

It's just one of the ways we're adapting in this unprecedented time. It may not be business as usual, but we're still in the business of supporting marginalized people who mensturate.

It's simple set a donation goal either by yourself or with a team, and ask everyone you know to donate. For every $12 raised we can provide one month of period products for someone in need. That means just $144 is a whole year's supply of period products.

Your time, energy and generosity will directly help people who menstruate, but don't have access to the products they need to have a healthy period.

Whether it's finding new, safe ways to donate period products, or coming together to fundraise online, we appreciate all the countless creative ways our community continues to support the fight for menstrual equity. Thank you for all that you do, and for following our work during this unprecedented time.