Almost one in ten girls has at some point not had enough money for sanitary pads or tampons

Menstrual shame

In addition to period poverty, the study by Plan International also shows that there is shame surrounding menstruation in the Netherlands. Almost half of the girls and young women surveyed in the Netherlands feel dirty when they have their period, the study shows. A quarter therefore keeps it entirely to herself when she is menstruating. One third considers menstruation an uncomfortable subject to discuss with friends, and one fifth does not talk openly about menstruation within the family either. Almost half of the girls would like people in the Netherlands to be able to talk more openly about the subject.

Raising awareness

One thing that may help with communication is the period emoji, a drop of blood, which Plan International developed and that has recently become available. Feminist platform De Bovengrondse simultaneously worked on its own study into period poverty and shame. To raise awareness, we decided to present the results of our studies jointly at the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Diapers as sanitary pads

De Bovengrondse spoke with around 50 organisations that work with people in the Netherlands who live at or below the poverty line, such as Food Bank clients, homeless people and undocumented migrants. A woman receiving social assistance said that she sometimes used her young children's diapers instead of sanitary pads. In one case, a woman said that she stayed at home so that she could ‘let it flow’.