Menstruation poverty from the perspective of Polish women

Abstract

The article presents the results of a survey on the knowledge and experience of Polish women in the area of menstrual poverty. The article raises issues such as: respondents’ knowledge of the symptoms of menstrual poverty, characteristics of groups particularly vulnerable to deprivation in terms of menstrual health and hygiene, as well as the impact of menstrual poverty on the lives of people experiencing it. The survey raises the issue of tabooing and mythicizing the topic of menstruation. Respondents were also asked about initiatives to combat menstrual poverty. The respondents’ experience of menstrual poverty was also a key theme in the survey. The results of the survey indicate that menstrual poverty is an invisible and embarrassing subject, especially in Polish society. It is therefore essential to introduce into the public discourse an uninhibited debate on the psychosocial difficulties related to menstruation.

Keywords

• period poverty
• menstrual exclusion
• menstruation
• health and hygiene
• taboo
• mythization