100 Sisters on Security: Menstruation and Period Poverty
The second season of 100 Sisters on Security opens with a conversation that many people still shy away from. And yet, it is one that affects hundreds of millions every single day. This episode features Karen Farley, an entrepreneur and sustainability researcher whose work spans sustainable menstruation, policy development, and menstrual equity mapping across Canada. Their insights illuminate a crucial truth: menstruation is not just a health issue, it is a human security issue.
When we broaden our understanding of security beyond national defense to include peace, stability, and human dignity, access to menstrual products becomes undeniably relevant. Without products, running water, safe disposal, and privacy, menstruators face daily insecurity. Something as simple as managing a period can become a source of danger, shame, or exclusion. “Access to menstrual products is really critical as a basic necessity,” Farley notes, emphasizing how resource scarcity can heighten competition and vulnerability.
The conversation also explores why menstruation remains taboo. This secrecy, passed down through families and reinforced by social norms, shapes how people talk (or don’t talk) about their bodies. Yet change is happening. Farley shares a story of a teenage boy confidently accepting a pad “for my sister,” prompting his peers to follow. Small moments like this signal a cultural shift toward openness.
Period poverty, however, remains a stark reality. In Canada, one in four menstruators struggles to afford products, a number that has grown alongside rising living costs. In the Global South, the challenges multiply: limited infrastructure, unsafe materials like rags or leaves, and the heartbreaking reality of girls missing school because they cannot manage their periods safely. Education, innovation, and community-led initiatives, from banana‑fiber pads to school distribution programs, offer hope. But, the need is immense.
The episode closes with a call to action. Normalizing conversations, placing products in homes and workplaces, advocating for policy change, and using accurate, inclusive language all help dismantle stigma. Creativity, from period pantries to media representation, continues to push the conversation forward.
Menstruation is not an unmentionable topic. It is a human experience, a matter of dignity, and a cornerstone of human security. By talking openly and acting intentionally, we can help ensure that no one is left behind simply because they menstruate.
