This is a sponsored post for Always.
Period poverty is a fact in this country. It is sad but true that many girls are forced to quit activities, avoid social outings and even stay home from school every month because they don’t have the money for period products. Think about what that would have meant for you. What would that be like for your daughter? Read on to find out what you can do to help eradicate period poverty in the US.
Period poverty is a colossal crisis in the United States.
Though this is one of the richest countries in the world, nearly 1 in 5 girls have missed school because they can’t afford period protection. Let me say that again, in a classroom of 20 girls, 4 of them will miss school simply because they don’t have a pad! Period poverty is when girls can’t buy the basic supplies to manage their menstrual cycle each month. It’s real. And it’s a shame. I would not have been able to receive a Division I basketball scholarship if I had to quit because of lack of period protection
To be honest, I had no idea period poverty was even a thing before I heard about the #EndPeriodPoverty campaign with Always and Walmart I take for granted that I have a well-stocked bathroom closet full of all the period products I need. Now that Aunt Flo has visited my daughter too, I am going a bit overboard making sure she has absolutely everything she needs each month. But what if I couldn’t do those things? What if you couldn’t? It might be hard to imagine but what if you were like 20% of girls who don’t have money for pads?
What if you didn’t have a pad…ever?
- What if you couldn’t play tennis, or do yoga, or take your morning jog because you didn’t have access to any period products?
- What if you had to wad up toilet paper to uncomfortable lengths and prayed it stayed in place so as not to ruin your pants?
- What if you had to see your daughter miss school, a game, a field trip or even just going out for pizza with friends because you didn’t have the money to buy period products?
- What if you had to choose between pads and food?
- What if you had to choose between pads for you and pads for your daughter?
Lack of pads often means a lack of confidence.
It is no surprise to most women that during puberty girls’ confidence plummets. Just imagine going through all the changes puberty brings and then add the burden of period poverty on top of that. Having to miss activities because of lack of access to period products would make this drop in confidence almost unbearable. Activities and sports help build confidence, pride and life skills in girls who desperately need these things. Missing out can limit the potential and opportunities for each of these girls. These ramifications go far beyond puberty. However, there’s something you can do to help.
What you can do to help end period poverty
To help #EndPeriodPoverty purchase a 3-pack box of Always Pads on Walmart.com/Always during the month of January and Always will donate a pack to girls in need across the US. This donation will ONLY be made if you make the purchase from smarturl.it/WalmartAlways during the month of January. It couldn’t be easier to help.
By buying the 3-pack box of Always Pads at smarturl.it/WalmartAlways you get to easily stock up AND help a girl in need keep doing the thing she loves. These girls are no different than our neighbors, nieces, daughters, or our younger selves. In addition to the donations triggered by your purchase, Always and Walmart are donating a year’s supply of period products to 50 teams in 50 states.
Always products you can buy to help end period poverty.
I’m a huge supporter of the Always Live #LikeAGirl campaign [see my last post here] to bring awareness to the injustice of period poverty. It is all about helping girls stay confident. It is about making sure the lack of a pad won’t stop the next Lisa Leslie from playing basketball. This campaign is about giving all girls the ability to control their lives. Ending period poverty means all girls will get the opportunity (and encouragement) to stay in sports, pursue after-school activities, and keep doing the things they love.
Will you commit to helping all girls stay involved in the confidence-boosting activities they love? Will you commit to helping to ensure no mother has to choose between pads for her daughter and pads for herself?
