Whether they are students, single mothers, precarious workers or homeless, many women live in precarious conditions. The cost of periodic protection reinforces this situation.
The Feminist Association of Huoise Synergy Wallonia for Equality between Women and men conducted a survey of 4133 women. Among them, 30% say they are having financial difficulties buying periodic protection. Periods remaining a taboo subject, only 4% of them turn to aid associations.
How do these women protect themselves? “We have collected testimonies from women who then use newspapers, toilet paper, unsuitable fabrics, their children’s nappies, masks. Anything that absorbs, explains Line Mullens of Synergie Wallonie. Worse, some also use small, unsanitized, dangerous glass containers.
This is a real health risk: the study shows that 14% of these women have already had infections and sometimes even a toxic shock from which they might have died.
