In France, nearly 4 million women suffer from period poverty, meaning they do not have the means to access to proper menstrual products. According to activists, this is due in part to the widespread taboo surrounding menstruation. However, some towns in France are now beginning to address the issue.



Paris

Nearly 4 million women in France are facing period poverty, which is characterized by the lack of access to proper menstrual products. This issue is partly attributed to the widespread taboo surrounding menstruation in the country. Despite the societal challenges, some towns in France are starting to tackle period poverty, aiming to improve access to menstrual products for those in need.



Period poverty: Taking on France’s menstruation taboo

Free, self-service period products. This is the initiative launched by this town just south of Paris a year ago. The system is really good. Periods can be a week to ten days a month, it's a big budget too, so it's an advantage for us to have this available. Siem doesn't consider herself to be economically vulnerable, and yet she benefits from the measure. She's among the 150 women who use the system over the year, with 3,000 pads and tampons distributed. Here's a model of the dispenser we had installed. It's a self-service system. The principle is that there's no system for monitoring who does or doesn't use it. The aim is really to enable women to have access to this kind of protection, and also to work on the taboos surrounding menstruation, and more generally, to reduce the health inequalities that can affect women. According to the Charity Règle Élémentaire, period poverty is a consequence of the taboo surrounding menstruation. One in two women feel uncomfortable talking about their periods. Bringing them up in this way in public places, in the public arena, helps to play down the drama and get rid of the taboo. So far 25 towns in France have launched this service, and hope to see it extended throughout the whole country. This has already happened in Scotland, where period products have been free since 2022.

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