Welcome to Day 5 of 11 Days of Action! 

Today, we are discussing menstrual hygiene and period poverty. Specifically, we will examine the role period stigma plays and the impact this has on girls around the world. We will also discuss different ways we can all come together to combat period taboo, a root cause of period poverty, to ensure equity for girls in menstrual hygiene. 

Participate in our Twitter chat from 11:00am ET – 12:00pm ET as we bring together thought leaders and prominent organizations in this space. You can follow along at #11DaysOfAction #OctobHERGLOW

Global G.L.O.W. is an organization that creates and operates innovative programs designed to equip girls with the resources and skills they need to thrive. When girls are strong, healthy and educated, they change their communities and transform societies. 

Unfortunately, lack of access to sanitary supplies, among other menstrual hygiene issues, can often keep girls from attending school or participating equally in society. After working alongside girls to help identify obstacles they face and how to overcome those obstacles, we created the Healthy GLOW program. Healthy GLOW works not only to give girls the knowledge they need to live healthy lives, but the skills and confidence to advocate for their own health and well-being.

Though menstrual hygiene is a sharp focus of our Healthy GLOW programming, we recognize that this is a barrier we cannot overcome alone. We are proud to use this day to raise our collective voices to speak out against period poverty.

How Can We All Take Action?

• Educate yourself! Learn about period stigma and period poverty and their devastating impact on girls; their well-being, gender equality, education and rights. 
• Speak out! The first step to ending period poverty is to destigmatize the topic of menstruation. We must all continue to use our respective platforms to educate one another and create change. 
• Contact elected officials in your local community to discuss legislation that can help end period poverty. This can include things like:
  • Abolishing the tax on menstrual supplies in the United States (often referred to as the “Tampon Tax”)
  • Providing free feminine hygiene supplies in schools (currently only 4 U.S. states require schools to provide them)
• Research and support local, national and international organizations (like Global G.L.O.W.) working to provide girls and women the education to address menstrual-related shame, sanitary supplies, and water and sanitation facilities, particularly in schools.