Menstrual Poverty and Stigma in the United States

Menstrual poverty is a rarely researched in the United States, but it affects the lives of many individuals. Menstrual poverty is when women and individuals who menstruate are unable to afford products for their menstruation. My research highlights the ways in which students at the University of Iowa have experienced menstrual poverty and stigma, and the ways in which the secrecy of this topic prohibit change. An online survey was conducted with 185 students from the University of Iowa who have experienced menstruation. Interviews were conducted with four of these students, as well as two menstrual poverty nonprofit employees. Through using both quantitative and qualitative methods, this research was able to show the scope of the problem, and the many barriers impacting possible solutions. Improved access to menstrual products is vital to the health and success of women and individuals who menstruate and must become a well-known issue that deserves to be addressed on a national level.