Many Australians are resorting to using toilet paper, socks or other unsuitable alternatives to manage their period, according to research done by charity Share the Dignity.
The Period Pride report, which is based on responses from more than 125,000 Australians, found that more than one in five people who menstruate have been forced to improvise on period products due to the cost.
Around half of those surveyed admitted to wearing a pad or tampon for more than four hours, due to not having enough products to get by.
Share the Dignity Founder and Managing Director, Rochelle Courtenay, told SBS News that she was alarmed with the number of women putting their lives at risk because they don’t have funds to buy more sanitary items.
“We found that 24 per cent of Australians have had to go without the basic essentials because they couldn't afford sanitary items in Australia, the so-called lucky country,” she said.
For Jessica*, based in regional Victoria, she struggled to afford sanitary items when she was growing up as her mum didn't provide her with any.
“I got my first period at 13 and after the second period I had there were no pads in the cupboard. It wasn't made to be an open thing that we spoke about in the house,” she said.
“So, I just made do, I grabbed hankies, and I folded them into squares and shoved them in my knickers to make- do pads”.
“It’s just that extra stress that girls don't need in navigating life.”
The report, informed by analysis from data science social enterprise WhyHive and written by Dr Jane Connory of Swinburne University of Technology, found nearly half of respondents (46 per cent) said they’ve skipped school for at least an entire day because of their period.
Alicia Millier says it took her years to be open with her managers about her endometriosis. Source: Supplied
This was the case for Alicia Millier, who lives with endometriosis. The 31-year-old says she often missed two to three days of school because of her period.
“I always had an inkling that something was wrong when I started getting my period at 13. It got worse for me [over time] and I was bedridden,” Ms Millier said.
“I remember saying I just feel sick in my tummy. And making up stuff, which was ridiculous but I just felt so embarrassed.”
Ms Millier says as she grew older missing days of school turned into missing days of work.
“If I ever had a male manager, I would just say I was sick. I would never say, ‘I have endometriosis’, because half the time women don't even understand,” she said.
“It took years for me to say, ‘I actually cannot come in today because my endometriosis is really bad’."
Ms Millier is not alone, with two-fifths (40 per cent) of respondents to the survey saying they've called in sick to work because of their period. Nearly 40 per cent said they hide anything that could give away that they are having their period.
Alicia Millier says she missed out on days of school when she was younger when she had her period. Source: Supplied
Ms Courtenay believes breaking down that stigma can start in the classroom.
“What I found the most astonishing from this research is that girls from seven years old through to 10 years old are getting their period. Yet in our education departments, we don't even address it until they're 11 and 12,” said Ms Courtenay.
“Without having these conversations, without addressing some of these issues, we're still going to be stuck back in the 80s. Really, this is so embarrassing that we're even having this data only collected now.”
The report’s release coincides with Share the Dignity’s bi-annual Dignity Drive, running throughout August, to collect and distribute sanitary products to those in need.
*Not real name
