Attitudes
With much of the stigma contributing to the severity of this issue, women have to resort to other ways in managing their periods.
​
As in many places, period products are taxed as a luxury, leaving women to resort to cardboard, newspaper, cloth and more to try and alleviate the extent of their flow.
​
Much of the unhoused population has no way of privately handling their menstruation as public bathrooms, showers or running water are out of the picture.
Kay Wright Co-Founder of Women4Women Tempe, a non-profit that create packages of pads, tampons, liners and wipes to give out to those in needs shares how women “are humiliated and, and have to steal products and have to cut a fabric and have to use cardboard or paper towels.”
​
Her work to collect, package and distribute is fueled by a story she heard on NPR of a woman in Houston not able to afford her period products.
Kay Wright at Women4Women Tempe Packing Party. Andi Ruiz
She also recalls a moment when driving down the highway and seeing a woman with a sign.
​
Wright said “I look out my window and ask you what do you need? She said 'I need tampons'.”