[November reflection] The Answers

There are mainly two things I want to reflect on for November.

The first one is, I have a plan/thoughts about where this project could go. As I mentioned, my oroginal long term goal was to establish a communication platform for people to connect and discuss feminine issue or ask for help. that didn't change, but the prerequisite for that is to gain a considerable number of audience.

Therefore, before that plan become feasible for its implement, I have another thought which could be achieved by daily effort, and produce a meaningful product.

As I mentioned, I haven't seen much NGOs established in China because of some regulations (there are certificates and licesnses those organizations need to obtain). And specific statistics about feminine hygiene product/condition/perception in China is unheard.

Thus my new plan is to esbalish a database that collects information of small villages and cities. This might sounds big and it is also a slow process, but I could practice data collection, and group data analyse later on. I wish to give prople a clear view of the problem, whether if it's severe enough or not, needing attention or not.

The steps to achieve this goal is also easy. I just need anyone who's having a trip to countrysides/rural area/ small villages to go to the grocery store and check (for example) how many and what brands of feminine product are selled in their grocery store, how many grocery stores do they have, the average women population there, etc.

After I research more about those statistics and confirm that no data can accuratly cover the condition of small towns and villages, the steps could begin.

The second thing that I want to reflect on is my consideration of what is Period Poverty. During August, I arranged a trip to the rural area of China, to investigate and do a field research on the feminine hygiene condition there. Because estimations can't be made since there isn't much statistics.

I had this stereotype (I admit) that period poverty only exist in rural area. Because the definition of poverty is poor, and period poverty (i thought) should be lack of pads in that community. Because when someone have other more important things to consider about, keeping their underwear sanitized and clean does not appear that important.

But I didn't expect the result; Pads is not a luxury here, people are comfortable to discuss period as a open topic, and almost 0% women population die because of gynecological diseases. The owner of the grocery store reports that they starts selling pads even in the 1989, which is 20 years away from now.

Thus, period poverty definately can't defind the condition of this village. And the reason could because of the attention of Chinese government on poverty areas. Chinese government aimed for a long time to eliminate poverty and provide comprehensive education. (and they decleared that they completed this goal on November 26, 2020).

However I was still confused about that result. there must be a time before, where all China is under poverty and see pads as luxuries, so what changed their mind?

I asked the ladies I interview again, and found that it is those education provided by the government that changed their perceptions.

They had a time when no one have heard of pads, but situation changed when their children went to school and recieved menstrual education in school. Their shame became meaningless when their offspring weaken the perception. Menstrual experience of those ladies keeps on elevating as time pass by, and natrually period poverty vanished.

Therefore period poverty don't only exist in some villages, but also in city. Because communities in cities are ignored when they're "assumed" to be more open about such topics.

Furthermore, to decrease period poverty, equal amount of work should be done in the city and in the rural area.