A survey by a student organization highlights the need for financial aid for menstrual pads for young women. To fight against this precariousness, associations distribute hygiene kits.
- More than one woman in ten has already had to choose between these protections and another essential product.
- To fight menstrual poverty, the government has planned to put 5 million euros on the table in its 2021 budget.
Distress has not ceased to strike students since the start of the health crisis. A survey carried out by the first student organization, la Fage, and unveiled this Monday, February 8, reveals that 33% of female students need financial assistance to buy protection. This study was conducted among 6,518 students. More than one woman in ten has already had to choose between these protections and another essential product.
One in 10 students skipped class or work for fear of leaking
To fight against this precariousness, associations have decided to organize distributions of hygiene kits. This is the case of ADN, the Agence du Don en Nature. “Too often in our country today, non-food insecurity is neglected, analysis to France info Romain Canler, Managing Director of the Agence du Don en Kind. Menstrual insecurity is a glaring illustration of non-food insecurity. She touches the intimate. This is a very heavy budget for populations in precarious situations. Today, the Don in kind agency distributes hygiene kits in Île-de-France and, throughout the territory, distributes approximately 1.4 million menstrual protection products. The demand is very strong, because this taboo is being lifted.”
The National Association of Student Midwives, which carried out the survey with FAGE, calls for menstrual protection to be made available to women. They must be “accessible to precarious people, with self-service distribution in public places and not just in toiletspleads Bérénice Brazs, vice-president of the Association, in charge of social affairs and the defense of rights. It’s a taboo. When we see that there is one student in 10 who missed classes or work for fear of having a leak, it is still alarming. We would also like there to be an information and awareness policy on the subject for everyone.”
5 million euros to fight menstrual poverty
The cost of tampons and sanitary napkins is around 285 euros per year, according to the survey. A cost on which the students do not necessarily want to lower. “It’s not because you don’t have the means as a student that you have to take anythingbelieves May, a student, to Franceinfo. It has an impact on our body and it’s true that it’s not easy since when I’m at the supermarket, sometimes I make concessions and maybe take slightly cheaper pads with all the harmful components in them. this moment.”
To go further, the national association of Midwifery Students also asks manufacturers to communicate the list of products. “In terms of health, there is the toxic shock syndrome that exists, especially with internal protections, cups or tampons, describes the vice-president of the association, Bérénice Brazs. This means that a staphylococcus can pass into the blood, cause organs to malfunction resulting in coma, or even death..”
To tackle menstrual poverty, the government has planned to put 5 million euros on the table in its 2021 budget.”It’s not sufficient”, answers Bérénice Brazs who pleads for free hygienic protection. Last November, Scotland became the first country to make sanitary protection free.
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