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Collab Assignment Research Part 1 - Period Poverty, concepts, Insights…
Collab Assignment Research Part 1 - Period Poverty
Researcher, Jen Thorpe, estimated the average cost that a woman will spend of sanitary products in her lifetime could be between 15K and 39K. Eventually the SA government decided to scrap the TAX on sanitary pads as of 1 April 2019
in West and East Africa, young girls have been newspaper, toilet paper, cow dung powder, raw lint cotton, goatskin skirts, leaves, rags and corn cobs in place of sanitary products.
in some African cultures, tampons are frowned upon. In most cultures, even the idea of menstruation is frowned upon and code words are made up and the topic is hushed about. In reality, men make up a larger portion of the government. Some governments have made progress in the area of 'period tax'. Maruapula, 2016
Kenya dropped its import tax on female sanitary hygiene products in 2011, reducing the costs by 18%. Canada removed tax on feminine hygiene products. In England, a Bristol company has adopted a period policy for women with a justification that women may take 'period leave' during the time of their period each month
due to the lack of affordable sanitary products, females are resulting to using other alternatives such as rags, leaves, corn cobs etc. therefore resulting in infections and diseases that could lead to infertility. Also, by leaving a tampon in for too long, it can result in toxic shock syndrome
On average, a female spends between R300 to R600 a year on sanitary pads and R500 to R600 a year on tampons. Menstruation cups cost about R250 once off and need to be replaced annually.
The 28th of May is the celebration of Menstrual hygiene day and womens' health. On this day in 2019, a group of South African women began to prepare to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.They will be climbing in aid of raising funds for sanitary wear and education for young girls in South Africa.
According to research released by Stellenbosch University's law clinic in 2018, 30% of South African girl school learners miss school during menstruation due to limited access to sanitary products. Other studies show that the majority of girls in South Africa miss up to 50 days of school each year due to this.
statistical research shows that 1 in 10 girls in Africa miss school due to menstruation, resulting in lower grades and drop outs. (Majola, 2019)
Poor management of menstrual needs can lead to infections, bad odour as well as pain/ discomfort. (Majola, 2019)
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals states: "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all." As well as "Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls." This is not being lived up to if sanitary pads continue to be an expense that most people cannot afford. (Majola, 2019)
In Kenya, the government has a law that sanitary pads are accessible and free to all teenage girls across all public schools in the country. (Majola, 2019)
concepts
Comparison =
Create a campaign that compares side-by-side how those experiencing period poverty experience menstruation vs those who are privileged enough to afford all necessities and are able to carry on with normal everyday life. This will evoke empathy within others to make them feel like they want to help and make a difference.
Pad replacement =
Create simple yet eye-opening content for the campaign, showcase objects such as sand, banana peels and other non-hygienic objects these young girls experiencing period poverty have to use during menstruation. Ask your audience thought-provoking questions such as “Would YOU use this as a pad?” and show how many women have no other choice but to use these as sanitary towels. This will again evoke empathy in the target audience and show the harsh reality of period poverty
The history of the problem =
Create a campaign showing how the real problem of the lack of feminine hygiene and free sanitation products started due to historic views such as shown here:
https://theconversation.com/adventures-in-menstruation-how-period-product-ads-have-changed-to-reflect-a-more-realistic-experience-for-women-91417
Companies were afraid to show the realness of the issue and replaced the blood with a blue liquid in campaigns and that male based companies didn't want to advertise feminine products and therefore it was left to the women who had less of a budget to use to develop campaigns due to unequal pay.
Sex is a choice & periods are not=
Create a campaign that shows the reality of condoms being free and common while sanitary pads are expensive and scarce. Create comparisons of monthly, yearly etc costs of pads and compare to luxury items with luxury tax etc.
Lack of feminine hygiene products = lack of education
Create a campaign that brings back the reality of men getting paid more than women back in history and how history will repeat itself in this way if women have to miss school and tests etc due to their period and not having finances to buy correct sanitation pads to wear to school. Show how this is depriving women from their educational rights.
Playing on the idea of hygiene products that are marked up and taxed as if they were luxury items eg. having a pad made out of silk with like diamonds on it on a pedestal (it would be silly and exaggerated) with text ‘THIS IS A LUXURY’ and then a regular pad next to it with text ‘THIS IS A HUMAN RIGHT’ this could also work as more than just a print ad if the two items were actually produced and exhibited side by side in a public space.
Using the phrase ‘our history is stained with blood’ which usually refers to war but incorporating it into a message around the history of period poverty
Collecting all of the weird euphemisms that society uses to avoid saying ‘menstruating/period’ such as ‘That Time of the Month’, ‘Aunt Flo’, ‘Crimson Tide’, ‘Shark Week’ (According to an international study on menstruation, there are at least 5,000 different euphemisms and slang words for ‘period’ around the world.
https://metro.co.uk/2016/03/02/study-identifies-5000-different-ways-to-say-youre-on-your-period-5728670/
) and creating a campaign around just calling it what it is to help end social taboo
Insights
Period poverty forces girls to forfeit their education, widening gender inequality gaps
Social taboos need to be eradicated in order to prevent social stigma from forcing girls to stay at home whilst menstruating
Women and girls’ health may be put at risk, as they are forced to use dirty rags and other makeshift pads, which can cause infection.
It is undignified to have to hide in shame, using unhygienic and uncomfortable makeshift pads
People avoid talking about this issue because of the taboo that is still attached to discussing menstruation
‘Tampon taxes’ and double standards raise the price of sanitary products making it harder for girls to afford period products
Collab Assignment Research Part 2 - SafePad Brand & Product
Life time of a Safe Pad product - a safe pad product will withstand 100 washes in its lifetime. Assuming that the pad will be washed twice per period, 100 washes equates to 4 years of use. The antimicrobial charge on the fabrics' efficacy will not deplete over time as the treatment is permanently bonded to the fabric.
SafePad product care regime - 30 min soaking, rinsing, squeezing and drying
product - reusable sanitary pad
aim of product - provide women with a safe and infection free experience throughout their menstruation.
key aspects of safe pad product = high absorbency, antimicrobial, no irritation, reusable, comfortable
Problem Statement
Problem Statement:
Because of period poverty, millions of women and girls don't have access to safe, hygienic sanitary products. This lack of resources, as well as social stigma, hinders their ability to access an education or job security. Moreover they are unable to manage their periods with dignity.