Marking World Menstrual Health Day - How the property sector can make a difference

Please note that this article was published prior to the new brand name of PREACH Inclusion® on 25 April 2024, so you will notice references to BAME in Property.

Thursday 28 May marks World Menstrual Hygiene Day, a global day that advocates and promotes good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) for all women and girls. This day is marked annually, bringing together non-profits, governments, individuals and the private sector to raise awareness about and break the stigma against MHM, as well as urging governments to make it a priority.

This year, amidst the pandemic, MHM is more important than ever. From access to menstrual products and toilets under lockdown, to cultural stigma in some ethnic minority communities, the period hardship felt by women and girls all over the world has been exacerbated.

For something that has occurred since the beginning of time, it is ridiculous to see that society in general does not prioritise women during their periods. In this piece, BAME in Property founder Priya Shah, talks about some of the challenges women and girls are facing, as well as the important role the property sector can play to help promote better menstrual hygiene, such as good design and prioritising diversity and inclusion in policy decisions. Priya also talks about how you can support our charity partner, Binti Period during the pandemic and beyond.

Access to products

Throughout this pandemic, we’ve seen our supermarkets raided for basic supplies, most notably toilet roll. However, there has been less press coverage on period product shortages, which have also been difficult to find in shops.

Research by Plan International UK showed that almost a third (30%) of girls have had issues either affording or accessing period products during the lockdown.

Over half of these girls (54%) have used toilet paper as an alternative to period products. However, stockpiling toilet paper during the lockdown has made managing periods for these girls more difficult.

The lockdown is also exacerbating period poverty for many young people and their families. Many parents/carers are under increased financial strain, making it more difficult to buy tampons, pads and moon-cups.

Lockdown and poor housing exacerbate period challenges

The pandemic has demonstrated how good housing and a pleasant lockdown experience come hand in hand. We’ve seen how overcrowded homes with no access to open space or even a balcony, make lockdown significantly harder for individuals, usually those who are already experiencing poverty in some capacity.

These challenges intensify an experience that is already difficult for young people due to the stigma around periods.

In overcrowded homes, often with little privacy, this issue is multiplied, when young girls or women feel embarrassed to talk openly about periods or ask for products if they cannot access them, due to fear of shame.

Developing countries and menstrual hygiene

With many developing countries under strict lockdown measures, menstrual hygiene has become an impossible task for millions of women and girls. Imagine living in a slum with multiple generations sharing a tin shack room, public toilets, which are rarely cleaned, and all under immense heat, during lockdown. Add to that mix a period and this becomes an even bigger challenge.

Take India for example, a country that has some of the highest figures of period shaming in the world. The lockdown would make the cultural taboo of having a period even worse and put millions of women and girls in compromised positions, due to not being able to use public toilets safely or isolate appropriately within cramped homes.

In some instances, women are required to separate themselves from male counterparts during their period, as it is considered ‘dirty’, however, lockdown has made this impossible, increasing the risk of shaming and in some cases, domestic violence.

Additionally, communal toilets in slums increase the risk of infections during a girl’s period. During COVID-19, this has become a bigger issue, where communal toilets are cleaned less frequently due to essential workers, such as cleaners, also isolating.

How can the property sector support better menstrual hygiene management?

I believe the property sector can support better menstrual hygiene and health, through the use of good design and prioritising diversity and inclusion in policy decisions. This would include:

• More toilet space for women. Visit any public place and you will always see a longer queue trailing outside the female toilets. This is because females generally take longer in the toilet (due to caring responsibilities sometimes), and longer still when on their periods. (You can read more about this here, where I talk about how planning policy has failed to adequately consider women’s toilet and menstrual needs). It is about time the planning sector allocates more toilet space to females to accommodate for different needs.

• Ensure gender-neutral toilets are not the only option. Although unisex toilets should be welcome, due to embracing diversity and transgender individuals especially, they are simply not for everyone. Some women and girls feel uncomfortable using unisex toilets, due to health or cultural reasons. They do not want to be seen in the same environment as males when using the toilet, so may prefer not to change sanitary products when actually required, further increasing the risk of infections.

It is so important for public buildings to offer the option of separate male and female toilets and this is something that can and should be incorporated into good design.

• Prioritise diversity and inclusion in the property sector. Having greater gender balance and more ethnic diversity in the property sector and the built environment industry more widely, would result in better policy for gendered needs, such as periods. Not only should we be having female and BAME voices around the table, but we should also be inviting them to talk about accessibility and cultural issues, which if not considered, could negatively impact half of society.

• Offer free menstrual products in public toilets. Many of us in the built environmental sector own public places, such as shopping centres. These places could offer free menstrual products to women and girls, if they need them.

No one should be in a position where they cannot access or afford menstrual products. We have the power to ensure that does not happen.

I hope this piece has given you all something to consider this World Menstrual Hygiene Day. I feel privileged to be in a position where I can both afford and access menstrual products, something, which millions of women and girls around the world cannot do. I chose to support Binti Period because I truly believe that every girl deserves period dignity and that the property industry can make some positive changes in this cause.

Please visit Binti Period to learn more about our charity partner and see how you can support their latest campaign to purchase a hand-made protective facemask, to not only support the COVID-19 efforts, but also support the charity in surviving during this pandemic.