Menstrual Health Equity and Period Poverty
An Analytical Scoping Review for Social Workers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18060/28451Keywords:
Menstrual health equity, period poverty, menstrual health management, social justice, scoping reviewAbstract
Menstrual health equity and period poverty create barriers to attendance at work, school, and social events, in addition to serving as barriers to menstruating with dignity, autonomy, and choice. Social workers need to accurately understand the impact of inequitable menstruation and period poverty on the lives of their clients who live with these experiences of social injustice. Current literature on these topics in the United States does not center research in a social justice lens, nor does it accurately represent the population of menstruators within this country. This scoping review aims to answer the question: Based on current research, what is known about menstrual health equity and period poverty as it relates to social justice within this country? A thorough literature search warranted 17 articles meeting the inclusion criteria for the scoping review. Themes found across the literature include taboo and stigma, menstrual health management (MHM) and menstrual hygiene, systems of oppression, health equity and period poverty, and intersectionality and menstruation. Recommendations for creating menstrual health equity for all American menstruators require the assessment of accessibility to MHM products for clients across all areas of social work practice.
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