Soroptimist Oak Harbor

06/08/2026

Have you ever calculated how much you spend on period products over your lifetime? The final number might shock you.

While buying a box of pads or tampons might seem like a routine monthly expense, those costs add up to a significant financial burden over time. As highlighted in our latest graphic, a Taiwanese woman spends an average of NT$90,000 (about US$2,800) on menstrual products throughout her lifetime.

While this specific data point focuses on Taiwan, the economic reality is universal. For low-income individuals and families, this lifetime cost represents a massive, unavoidable hurdle. When you have to choose between paying for groceries, keeping the lights on, or buying basic hygiene supplies, the "cost of living" takes on a highly stressful meaning.

The Economic Ripple Effect:
* Strained Budgets: Families with multiple menstruating individuals face these high costs multiplied.
* Forced Compromises: Financial strain often forces people to resort to unsafe, makeshift materials to save money, risking severe health issues.
* Systemic Inequality: A natural biological process shouldn't create a lifetime financial disadvantage.

Menstrual products are not a luxury; they are a fundamental health necessity. At Soroptimist Oak Harbor, we advocate for menstrual equity because financial stability and personal dignity should go hand in hand.Help us shed light on the true cost of period poverty and by sharing this post!

06/04/2026

When a family is forced to choose between food and basic necessities, a girl's education often takes the hit.

The inability to afford essential supplies creates a devastating cycle. According to Instituto Locomotiva, 33% of Brazilian girls have missed classes due to an inability to afford menstrual hygiene products.

What’s even more alarming is that this isn't usually a one-time occurrence: over 2.4 million of these girls have already been absent more than once due to this lack of access.

Missing just a few days of school every single month makes it incredibly difficult to keep up academically. Period poverty creates an unfair barrier that directly undermines a girl's education and her future economic independence.

At Soroptimist Oak Harbor, we believe that providing access to menstrual health products is about more than just hygiene—it is about keeping girls in the classroom where they belong, so they can achieve their dreams.

Help us shine a light on this global issue. Share this post and help us .

06/01/2026

Look at these empty desks. What do you see? We see lost potential.

Across the diverse countries and territories served by Soroptimist International of the Americas, the inability to manage menstrual health safely and comfortably directly impacts a girl's right to an education. According to UNICEF, 43% of adolescent girls and women in Mexico report missing school during their period.

When students lack access to necessary menstrual products, safe hygiene facilities, or supportive education, they are forced to stay home. Missing days of school every month quickly adds up, widening the educational gap, lowering graduation rates, and ultimately hindering their future economic opportunities.

Period poverty isn't just about lacking health supplies; it's about being denied a seat in the classroom. At Soroptimist Oak Harbor, we are committed to keeping girls in school and ensuring nothing holds them back from investing in their dreams.

Help us raise awareness by sharing this post so we can continue to . 💜

05/30/2026

Imagine missing out on your education or a paycheck simply because you couldn’t access basic health supplies.

Across the countries Soroptimist serves, this is the reality for millions. In Canada, for example, a staggering 70% of menstruating people under the age of 25 have missed school or work due to a lack of access to period products.

When a student misses school, they fall behind. When a worker misses a shift, their economic stability is shaken. Period poverty isn’t just a health issue—it’s a major barrier to gender equality and success.

No one should have to choose between their dignity and their education. At Soroptimist Oak Harbor, we are working to by raising awareness and advocating for better access for all. 💜

How you can help today:

* Share this post to shed light on how widespread this issue is.
* Talk about it! Breaking the stigma starts with open conversation.
* Stay tuned for more ways to take action right here in our community.

05/28/2026

Today, May 28, is World Menstural Hygiene Day. Menstrual hygiene is a universal human right. It is not a luxury, and it should never be a source of shame or a barrier to opportunity. At Soroptimist Oak Harbor, we believe that education is the pathway to economic empowerment—and keeping girls in school means ending period poverty!

A biological process should not define a woman's future economic stability. Help us break the cycle. Contact us at [email protected] or visit us at sioakharbor.org.

For millions of women and girls, getting a period still means facing stigma, missing school, or going without basic necessities. 🩸

That is not inevitable. It is inequality.

This , we must ensure menstrual health and dignity , everywhere.

05/27/2026

The physical lack of products isn't the only barrier in period poverty—the silent burden of stigma is just as damaging.

According to a study by Plan International, nearly 30% of Japanese women aged 15-24 reported feeling embarrassed when colleagues or classmates found out about their period.

This sense of shame is a global issue that crosses borders and cultures. When menstruation is treated as a taboo subject, the consequences are profound:

Silence: Young women hide their needs instead of asking for help when they lack access to supplies.

Misinformation: Lack of open dialogue prevents proper education about menstrual health.

Inaction: Advocacy for essential health resources and policy changes gets suppressed.

At Soroptimist Oak Harbor, we believe that periods are a normal, healthy part of life, not a source of shame. By talking openly about menstrual health, we can break down these cultural barriers and ensure every woman and girl has the support she needs. Let's normalize the conversation and . 💜

05/21/2026

Would you consider a period product a "luxury" item?

In 18 states across the U.S., the law still does. As of March 2026, these states continue to sales tax menstrual products while often exempting other non-essential items. This is frequently called the "Pink Tax."

For many individuals and families, this additional cost is a significant barrier to accessing basic hygiene. When we tax necessities, we disproportionately impact low-income students and workers, families already struggling to make ends meet, and the overall health and dignity of those who menstruate.

It’s time to End the Pink Tax.

At Soroptimist Oak Harbor, we believe that menstrual equity means these essential items should be accessible and affordable for everyone. No one should be penalized financially for a biological necessity.

What can you do?
1. Educate: Share this map to show the current state of menstrual equity in the U.S.
2. Advocate: Support legislation that aims to eliminate the sales tax on period products.
3. Support: Stay tuned for how we are helping locally right here in Oak Harbor.

05/18/2026

500 million.

Take a moment to let that number sink in. According to UNICEF and the World Bank, an estimated 500 million people worldwide lack access to the basic menstrual hygiene products they need.

This isn't just a "personal problem"—it is a global public health crisis. When 1 in 4 people who menstruate cannot afford or access supplies, it creates a ripple effect that impacts:

Education: Girls skipping school because they lack pads or tampons.

Work: Women missing shifts and losing essential income.

Health: The use of unsafe alternatives that lead to infection and long-term complications.

At Soroptimist Oak Harbor, we believe that menstrual equity is a fundamental right. No one should be held back by a natural biological process.

Help us raise awareness by sharing this startling statistic. Together, we can .

05/17/2026

Soroptimist Oak Harbor served lunch this week to the crew taking part in the 2026 Habitat for Humanity Island County Women's Build! Their theme is "Strong Women Build Strong Communities" and we couldn't agree more!

05/15/2026

It’s time to define the challenge we are facing together.

Across our communities and around the world, "period poverty" is a hidden barrier that holds women and girls back from reaching their full potential. But what does it actually mean?

Period Poverty is:

* The inability to afford or access menstrual products like pads and tampons.

* Lack of access to hygiene facilities that allow for safe and private management of menstrual health.

* A lack of education regarding menstrual health and how to manage it effectively.

When these basic needs aren't met, the consequences are real: girls miss school, women miss work, and the cycle of poverty continues.

Knowledge is the first step toward change. Help us spread the word and end the stigma by sharing this post!