Angie Agrawal-Holstein, RSW
Founder & Clinical Director,
Shanti Psychotherapy
Tracy Pumfrey
Education Manager, The Period Purse
Access, education, and advocacy are the keys to overcoming shame, inequity, and period poverty.
Periods are normal. Period poverty shouldn’t be. But for some people who menstruate, it can be a struggle. Not having access to a clean, safe place to change a pad or tampon; not having the money to afford period products; and not being confidently educated is what’s known as “period poverty.”
Menstruating is as normal as sweating. But stigma about periods can lead to problems. “When the most basic biological reality of your body is treated as shameful, it’s hard not to wonder what else about you is supposed to be hidden,” explains Angie Agrawal-Holstein, RSW, the Founder and Clinical Director at Shanti Psychotherapy.
Equity is important when it comes to periods. Reliable access to free, quality products that work for a person’s body is key. Rural, remote, and Indigenous communities can face different barriers, such as exorbitant pricing. Menstrators should feel comfortable in their body and have the confidence to ask questions or seek care. Education needs to include all genders. “When people understand periods, they are more likely to support each other and challenge the attitudes and policies that create barriers,” explains Tracy Pumfrey the Education Manager for The Period Purse.
Defeating period poverty
The Period Purse (TPP) is Canada’s first registered charity dedicated entirely to menstrual equity. Its mission is to ensure that periods are understood, products of choice are accessible, and period-friendly policies are as common as periods. TPP focuses on the three pillars of menstrual equity: access, education, and advocacy.
Advocacy is needed because period-friendly policies require government support, and time is running out. The federal Menstrual Equity Fund’s current pilot is set to expire in March 2027. “We’d love to see it turned into a permanent program, with menstrual health built into Canada’s broader reproductive health strategy,” says Pumfrey. If you want to support menstrual equity, the easiest way to start is to talk about periods matter-of-factly. “It sounds small, but treating periods as an ordinary part of life makes it easier for someone to ask for what they need,” says Pumfrey.
Change starts with making periods part of the conversation. Donate, organize a period product drive, volunteer with The Period Purse, or book one of their free, one-hour period-positive workshops for a classroom or community group. Every action helps create a world where menstrual equity is the norm.
Learn more about menstrual equity and find out how you can get involved with The Period Purse through education, advocacy, volunteering and support at theperiodpurse.com.