Recently named "Young Australian of the Year" is on a mission to de-stigmatise periods and fight period poverty around the world.
Isobel Marshall, is co-founder of the social enterprise Taboo which funds sanitary care and education for women and girls living in period poverty. Until last night I hadn't even heard the term period poverty. I was aware that access to sanitary products is a massive problem in some countries, where girls have to miss or drop out of school because they can't afford feminine hygiene products, but I hadn't heard the term. It is a sobering thought that women and girls the world over can't afford what many of us take for granted. What I also didn't know is that women living in wealthy countries like Australia, the UK and USA are also living in period poverty. Worldwide, up to 500 million women and girls are in this situation.
What is Period poverty?
It is a global issue affecting women and girls who don't have access to safe, hygienic sanitary products and/or who are unable to manage their periods with dignity, sometimes due to community stigma and sanction. It doesn't just refer to those who have no access to sanitary products - in some cases, women and girls have limited access, leading to prolonged use of the same tampons or pads, which can cause infection.
Isobel, along with her business partner, Eloise Hall, crowdfunded Taboo to the tune of $56,000 whilst they were still in high school. Taboo sells quality, ethically-sourced, organic cotton pads and tampons. 100% of the profits are directed to the charity ONE GIRL, who "break down the barriers that girls face in accessing an education...by running girl-led programs in Sierra Leone and Uganda to drive positive change for girls and their communities". As Isobel said in her acceptance speech, "Period poverty is real, It is still a major reason for inequality in the world," "Periods should not be a barrier to education. They should not cause shame."
In Australia it is estimated 1 million girls live in period poverty so Taboo has partnered with Vinnies Women's Crisis Centre to provide free pads and tampons to women in emergency accommodation in South Australia. "Menstrual products should be accessible, affordable [they are] not a luxury or a choice." Unbelievably, as recently as 2018 menstrual hygiene products sold in Australia were subject to a "luxury goods" tax. Fortunately this tax has now been abolished.
I am so in awe of young people like Isobel and Eloise who saw this problem and didn't sit back and say "isn't this terrible and unjust" but they crowdfunded and set up Taboo and are now empowering women and girls around the world with the knowledge and resources to safely manage their periods and giving them the dignity that everyone deserves.
There are great alternatives to single use sanitary care products for those of us who are lucky enough to be able to afford the products and have the choice. Period undies and menstrual cups are two reusable products to consider.
By Allison Licence
Allison Licence is a Sydney-based freelance writer and 1 Million Women volunteer who is passionate about the environment and finding ways to live more sustainably.
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