The Federal Government has proposed to exclude period products from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) eligible supports, categorising them as “lifestyle-related” alongside vapes, gaming consoles and cinema tickets. Reproductive services including surrogacy and IVF have also been listed in the same category and excluded in the draft list. After being questioned by Independent Senator for the ACT, David Pocock, on whether period products are a lifestyle choice like the other items in the draft list, a representative responded with “in the Government’s view, where those products appeared on the list was the wrong place for them to appear on the list”. In typical political language, this response is vague and did not clarify that period products are not a lifestyle choice, and still managed to avoid using the word “period”. Listing period products as “lifestyle-related” is a huge oversight. Bleeding is not a lifestyle choice. This exclusion of period products and reproductive services from eligible NDIS supports not only poses day-to-day complications for people with disabilities to be able to manage their period the way they choose, practice personal care and hygiene and participate in their community, more largely it speaks to the deeply entrenched social stigma around disability and menstruation.
Menstrual taboos are born through a lack of understanding of menstruation. These taboos and social beliefs have led to people who menstruate internalising this stigma, and this internalisation can be seen in the silencing surrounding periods in Australia and especially menstrual health management for people with disabilities.
The menstrual cycle and menstruation are normal, physiological processes. But an individual's experience of menstruation is shaped by social, economic and structural factors. People who menstruate and the systems that determine access to menstrual health management are deeply influenced and shaped by the shame and stigma associated with menstruation. This is reflected in the lack of period products available in public spaces, the lack of social awareness and conversations around periods, and the inaccurate, incomplete, or missing education around menstrual health.
Period poverty is experienced when someone cannot afford or access appropriate period products, menstrual education, sufficient sanitation facilities, and waste management facilities to deal with their period. Period poverty commonly has greater ramifications for people who are already marginalised, as it can exacerbate their existing social, health or financial inequalities. A newly published survey from Share the Dignity found that 78% of respondents with a disability found it difficult to afford period products. When people experience barriers to period products and menstrual health management, they are often forced to wear products longer than is safely recommended, use unsuitable and unsafe alternative absorption materials, or forced to isolate while they are bleeding. This has a significant impact on people's physical and mental health and wellbeing as it increases risk of infection and reproductive health issues, and fuels cycles of shame and embarrassment.
Menstruation is managed differently across people, populations and cultures. Therefore how someone experiences period poverty will vary significantly across population groups. Barriers to menstrual health management are typically financial, social, cultural, geographical, educational and infrastructural. People with disabilities face the same challenges to menstrual health management as people without disabilities, however they face additional layers of stigma and vulnerability that intersect with menstrual and disability discrimination.
If someone with a disability is unable to access the period products of their choice, they may limit their movements while menstruating, or experience forced isolation from carers as a coping mechanism to avoid blood stained clothes in public. Moreover, people with disabilities are at risk of menstrual suppression practices like forced sterilisation, which is still lawful in Australia. The lack of menstrual health education and support available to people with disabilities who menstruate and their carers, often stems from the idea that people with disabilities won't understand the information or that people with disabilities do not need to have a menstrual cycle. This is harmfully intertwined with the societal belief that people with disabilities are not sexual beings or shouldn’t be parents. These social prejudices contribute to the inadequate attention to sexual and reproductive health and rights for people with disabilities.
Every person who menstruates has the right to menstrual health and the right to experience menstruation without detraction from engaging fully in society and their community. This includes an environment free from stigma and discrimination so people can make informed decisions about their menstrual health.
People’s choice and autonomy is compromised when necessary supports and period products are not accessible for menstrual health management. Without including period products under eligible NDIS supports, people with disabilities are at risk of losing their independence and ability to self manage their menstrual health.
Menstrual health management efforts are improving in Australia but the shift must involve the voices and guidance from people with disabilities. Increasing social awareness and breaking menstrual and disability stigmas are imperative to enable opportunity for discussion and education around menstrual health management.
People with disabilities menstruate and bleeding is not a lifestyle choice, but going to the cinema is.
Head to Women with Disabilities Australia to read their response and concerns to this draft list. You also have the opportunity to provide feedback on the Federal Government’s draft list of NDIS supports here until August 25th.