COVER STORY
Period Poverty MULTIPLE OKLAHOMA GROUPS AND POLITICIANS FIGHT THE STIGMA OF PERIOD POVERTY WHILE PROVIDING MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS TO THOSE IN NEED. By Ryan Spencer
Menstruation can come as a surprise, but for many, the reality of being unable to afford hygiene products becomes a regular obstacle. “I was in seventh grade at school and I got my period in class. I went to the restroom and literally thought I was dying … Later, my best friend got a pad from her mother’s purse and showed me how to use it. I was very surprised. I thought I was dying,” Sahara Obaid said. Then she lived with a dozen other women in a three-bedroom dwelling on Oklahoma City’s northwest side. “I had been kicked out of my house and didn’t have a source of income, didn’t have a job, everything was very unstable. I got my period there and I remember we actually didn’t have running water. I went back to my mom’s house and begged her to let me in, drank some water. “She had hit menopause – I scavenged through every old drawer, closet, everything I could find to get some pads because I had no money, I couldn’t afford it. I couldn’t do laundry. There were so many of us in the house, when I brought the pads back a bunch were used up pretty quick, because we just didn’t have any other means. It made me feel ashamed. It was very embarrassing. I felt alienated,” Obaid said. Her story, while personal, is not necessarily unique.
Jen Green of Period OKC. Photo provided.
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Period OKC, founded and run by Jen Green and L i n le y Fay e Smith, is a volunteer-driven nonprofit geared to collecting and prov iding tampons, pads, cups, and other menstrual sup- The staff of Sustain Salon. Photo provided. plies to those in need and raising awareness in the effort and anxiety. We’ve partnered with to eliminate period poverty and menorganizations to hold product drives strual inequity in central Oklahoma. – the Women’s Craft Beer Society, “We were inspired to help people University of Oklahoma Women’s because of our common situation, Health Advocacy, Obstetrics and dealing with the pandemic and seeing Gynecology Interest Group at OU lots of people struggling to meet their Me d ic a l C ent er, st udent s at daily needs,” Green said. “I became Southmoore High School, Phi Mu aware of period poverty in fall 2019, s or or it y at O k l a h om a C it y felt that was something manageable University,” Green said. we could do to help other people. If Period OKC donated more than they’re struggling to buy groceries, 40,000 products from March 2021 they’re probably unable to afford through the end of the year. period products.” “Products should be free. They Menstruation hygiene products should be there with paper towels and are not covered under social safety toilet paper in every public restroom. net programs like SNAP and TANF, Periods come unexpectedly, for any which means that inability to acquire menstruator at any age or social scale. items such as pads and tampons leads We dry our hands; pads, tampons, all to missed work and school, she said. menstrual products should be there “It also takes a mental health toll to catch menstrual flow the same way. because it isolates them from society They’re five to 10 cents each when and causes embarrassment, stress, bought in bulk,” Green said. “Being comfortable talking about periods is so important. And educating nonmenstruators. Period myths and stigma have created lots of confusion, what the needs are surrounding the menstrual process. Sex education should be improved. Be brave, discuss your period on the day-to-day with your friends and family like anything that affects your health. Buy extra menstrual products for your work or school bathroom. That also aids conversation. Move that conversation out of the bathroom.” Period OKC has positively influenced businesses, aid organizations, and period poverty/menstrual equity a c t iv i s t s t h r oug hout c ent r a l Oklahoma, as well as civil servants as high as the state level. Sustain Salon — owned and operated by Mazey Heydman — is a local
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business that accepts donations on behalf of Period OKC.
“Products should be free. They should be there with paper towels and toilet paper in every public restroom. Periods come unexpectedly, for any menstruator at any age or social scale. We dry our hands; pads, tampons, all menstrual products should be there to catch menstrual flow the same way. ” -Jen Green “Because we’re a sustainable salon, we do everything we can to be sustainable including sustaining our community. Jen Green has been my client for years; she came to me and said she’s doing this nonprofit to help with period poverty and support our local community. Of course I said, ‘Yes, I can definitely help do that,’” Heydman said. “One of my jobs is to help get in-kind donations,” said Kinsey Crocker, director of communications for OKC’s Homeless Alliance. “As you might imagine, working at an organization where we have lots of clients who are experiencing homelessness and have nothing, and clients moving into housing, we have lots of different types of supplies we’re always trying
