As of today, nearly 25%, or 500 million, of women around the world do not have access to menstrual health products and education. Despite affecting such a large population of women across the world, this issue known as period poverty is rarely talked about in the context of global health. The U.S. is not exempt from this issue. The Pink Tax, a price discrepancy between products marketed to women despite the nearly identical, cheaper versions marketed to men, is a huge reason for this. In addition to the Pink Tax, stigma and cultural taboo contribute to period poverty across the nation as well. Women in the U.S. are more likely to live in poverty than men, and despite public efforts such as food stamps being made to fight poverty, there are no policies being implemented to provide menstrual care. Furthermore, 35 states view menstrual products as luxury items and impose the “tampon tax”, making it very difficult for students as well as low-income women to afford period products. Specifically, 1 in 10 college students in the U.S. reported living in poverty according to a study done by George Mason University’s College of Health and Human Services. Period poverty has also been directly linked to depression in women in college. This directly affects their success academically and serves as another obstacle on women's education. 

Despite the lack of efforts made to address this issue on a national and international level by organizations such as Period Equity and lawmakers alike, the state of California has recently won an ongoing battle for accessible menstrual products. Recently, California passed the Menstrual Equity for All Act, which requires grade 6-12 schools, community colleges, and California State Universities to provide menstrual products for free. This is considered a huge step in the right direction as it alleviates both financial and mental stress for women during school. It was introduced by Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, who states, "Having convenient and free access to these products means our period won’t prevent us from being productive members of society, and would alleviate the anxiety of trying to find a product when out in public." More than ever, women across the nation are excelling in fields previously dominated by men, and it is crucial that mere biology does not burden their education.

While California’s new bill is a step in the right direction, there is still a lot of work to be done. The University of California system as well as private institutions in California are exempt from this bill. That is approximately 19,008 women at the University of California, Davis, who do not have access to free menstrual products. While some bathrooms offer free period products, they’re due to the efforts of student organizations such as Davis Period. At UC Davis, Davis Period works hand-in-hand with Free the Period, a grassroot coalition fighting to secure access to menstrual products in California's public institutions. They do this through multiple campus projects, advocacy, and education. These efforts made by college organizations contribute massively at the government level. Through advocacy efforts including the launch of a pilot project to make free menstrual products available to all students, as well as hosting period product drives, these organizations caught the eye of local and state representatives. With the Menstrual Equity for All Act being implemented, it will put pressure on the University of California system to follow suit. However, period equity goes beyond stocking bathrooms with menstrual products. It also includes actively funding research in women’s health issues such as endometriosis and Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The lack of conversation around menstrual health contributes directly to the lack of funding and attention targeted at these chronic issues affecting around 10% of women globally.  A survey conducted by the Alliance for Endometriosis found that 62% of the women with endometriosis were told that their symptoms were a “normal part of being a woman” by family, friends and coworkers. Regarding these issues as a “part of life” is extremely harmful for women. Given that these conditions typically tend to affect women around the childbearing age, it is crucial that healthcare workers as well as friends, family, and employers do not disregard menstrual health conditions such as endometriosis and PCOS.  California is the only state to have taken these measures to prevent and address period poverty at all levels, and it is crucial that states across the country implement similar bills while also funding menstrual health research.