Reclaiming Our Blood Money: Reducing Period Poverty Through Empowerment and Reusability

There's a thing about how menstruation has long been an 'opportunity' to exploit women, intertwined in a harmful way where one problem makes the other worse.

Menstrual 'capitalism,' as I understand it, has transformed menstruation into a profitable consumer event through the commercialization and profit-driven approach of companies in selling menstrual hygiene products.

Across the globe, menstrual capitalism manifests in different ways. In the West, it thrives on innovative, tech-driven products marketed as solutions to period problems we didn't even know we had. Think sleek period tracking apps, disposable menstrual discs, and even AI-powered tampon dispensers. While these advancements may offer some convenience, they often come at a premium, further widening the economic gap and reinforcing the idea that periods are something to be controlled or managed.

In Africa, particularly in Nigeria, menstrual capitalism thrives on the fear of falling into "period poverty". There's so much stigma around periods that it has become easy for companies to market themselves as "potential solutions", when in reality all they are pushing is, "If you stick with us, we will make sure you are excluded from the category of girls and women who will have to endure the stigma".

In simple terms, Nigerian women would prefer a product that prevents stains over one that alerts them when it's time to change their pad or tampon. This is because they see period stains as a sign of being dirty or not taking care of hygiene properly.

Period Poverty is another crucial aspect of this vicious cycle. Period poverty refers to the situation where individuals are unable to afford or access necessary menstrual hygiene products, like pads or tampons. The basic effects of period poverty, especially in the Western world, is explored through school/work absenteeism, health risks, and economic inequality. 

In Nigeria, it goes a little bit beyond that. Period poverty has established an avenue for cultural exploitation. Because women can't afford popular menstrual hygiene products, they settle for cheaper and more accessible options that have potential health risks. They pass these options from generation to generation, eventually becoming a part of their "culture".

An example is a community we surveyed while preparing to launch our project. In this community, girls and women sit in shallow, dug-out sand pits during their periods. While examining them, we discovered that they had scars and marks on the parts that sit in the sand, and we tried to explain how it might be a serious health issue, but it was funny to them, because they believed the scars and marks to be signs of feminine maturity.

So what's the solution?

Capitalism feeds off the fact that "You'll always have to come back for more". Poverty is established on a lack of accessibility. Therefore, any proposed solution must aim to eliminate these two elements.

But how?

For our project, PaddedGirls,  an offshoot of the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative, identifying the problems was easier than finding a streamlined solution because we had to ensure our solution included REUSABILITY and ACCESSIBILITY.

If the product was reusable, that meant it would take a long while before you need more, hence while not essentially eliminating menstrual capitalism, it would at least slow it down, and accessibility meant no lack, which eliminated "period poverty".

We embarked on our project, learning how to make reusable pads from household clothing items and teaching girls and women to do the same. We have since been able to teach over four hundred girls and women across Kwara State in Nigeria. Our project has also provided two hand machines to the best two students in each community, as well as the materials they need. We also provide mentoring on how they can establish themselves economically by selling and re-distributing these reusable pads.

One of our best students, Maryam, from the Elemere Community of Kwara State, reached out a few weeks ago to tell us about how she has been using her machines. She says "I source Ankara materials from family and friends, wash them and dry them, then using the water-resistant cloth, as well as the absorbent cloth. I cut out my materials in different sizes and sew them all together with my hand machine, and tack the buttons to their wings, and then I put fold them into cute little nylons and resell them for #500. I have made a lot of sales, my friends sometimes buy to resell to their own friends".

Maryam's story remains proof that by working together, we can create a world where menstruation is not a burden, but a source of empowerment. We can reclaim our blood money, one reusable pad, one shared story, and one act of defiance at a time.

Join the Movement: Be the Change You Wish to See.

The fight against menstrual exploitation and period poverty requires a collective effort. Here are some ways you can be part of the solution:

●Educate yourself: Break the silence and learn more about menstrual equity issues around the world.

●Support projects like PaddedGirls: Donate, volunteer, or raise awareness about their work.

●Advocate for change: Push for policies that ensure access to affordable menstrual hygiene products and education for all.

●Challenge the stigma: Speak openly about menstruation and break down the taboos that surround it.