When I started hearing and reading about priviledge it was centered around race. I grew up in a community that is predominantly black so I could not immediately see how it affected me. Later I learnt about how priviledge goes beyond race but everyday things that I never thought of. Things like having access to health, education, information and other everyday things. It does not make me a bad person for having access but it means I have to be more intentional in the things that I do.
Among other things I have never had to worry about menstrual pads and I never really thought about other people. It is now that more people are talking and writing about how many women especially young girls in rural Zimbabwe have to make do with a lot of unsafe materials. Sometimes they have to miss school. Unlike food, menstrual hygiene products are not something that people will openly talk about. I am happy its being talked about and there are people who are doing something about it.
There are individuals and organisations that collect and donate pads and tampoons. Like the My Pads organisation that donates reusable pads to girls in Zimbabwe. (If you know other organisations let me know so I can add them in this post.) I hope some legislation will be passed to make menstrual hygiene products more affordable and le.
Talking of reusable pads, I am sharing this pattern and tutorial. Besides being affordable, cloth pads do not have any harmful chemicals and are good for the environment. They really are for everyone. I do hope that someone will be able to use this pattern to make pads for other people or better still used to teach other women to make their own or for resale.
How to make cloth menstrual pads
Time needed: 1 hour
You will need cotton flannel fabric, cotton batting of desired thickness, thread, sewing machine/needle, pins and scissors
- Print and cut the pattern
- Trace the pattern using a fabric marker. You need two outer pieces and one pad insert for each pad.
- Layer each pad with wrong sides facing, with the pad insert in the middle.
- Stitch along the curved sides of the pad insert and an oblong shape in the middle.
- Use a serger/overlocking machine along the edges or use a zigzag stitch.
- Attach snaps on both sides or you can use a safety pin.
