What do poor women do for Tampons when they can't afford them?

Question

I have always wondered how women manage in the 3rd world or even women that are on low incomes and can't aford to buy St's or Tampons. Cos to be honest they not cheap and should be free cos it's not a luxery it's a need.

I know it's a werid question but i thinks it's a good one

I used the phase 3rd world because there are some ppl on this planet that can't afford to eat let alone buy tampons. That's LIFE some ppl r lucky others r not

Answer 1

The same thing they did "back in the good all days" before the modern conveniences. They sewed rags together and then either washed them out, or threw them away. Most of the "old time women" thought nothing of washing them out and reusing them. It was thought normal, just like cloth diapers.

Answer 2

Well before tampons or sanitary towels came about women would use cotton rags which they would wash when done with! Sounds disgusting doesn't it! I bet they didn't smell too pleasnat either!! So I imagine women in third world countries do the same!! Although tampons/sanitary towels are not cheap, they they are not unaffordable by poor people. Hence I am sure they can afford them. After all, we only get our period once a month. A couple of pounds a month is hardly going to burn a whole in someones pocket, and there are cheap tampons/sanitary towels around, although they may not be as good!

For all those who seem to be mis-informed by answer when I talk about poor people I am referring to people from Britain who are on benefits (because the question also asks about people on low incomes). Although they do not receive much benefit money, they still have enough to buy tampons each month.

Answer 3

Our grans used rags and washed them out; when I was a teenager in the 1960 'rags' was still used to mean periods. Women in poor countries use similar methods.
The idiot who says everyone can afford a couple of £ a month obviously doesn't understand that in some places women don't have any income at all; in many places there are no shops where women can buy sanitary protection

Answer 4

Tampons are hardly the only thing that can be used. In some countries, all feminine hygiene products are subject to sales tax.

In some cultures, nothing is used. In ancient Egypt, cloths were used, and a man was honoured to be allowed to wash out his partner's cloths.

Did you know that the emergency packages that are handed out after natural disasters include mentrual pads? Or at least the ones handed out after the Indian Ocean tsunami did.

Answer 5

Recently attend a womens conference where this issue was highlighted. One of the methods used in Zimbabwe was to use tree bark and rolled up newspaper as well as rags. The Women mentioned in this article ( see below ) was in attendance. Thabitha struck me a remarkable woman.

Answer 6

They probably do what we did back in the old days before tampons and towels were invented. They used cotton clothes and washed them out once they were used and reused them. When you think about it we are quite spoilt compared to our ancestors, though I am not knocking it!!

Answer 7

there is a charity that try to help women in the third world by giving out tampons and pads

Answer 8

They probably don't use tampons at all. I would imagine they would use some kind of rags or something and fashion them as pads...that's only a guess though. Ask Angelina Jolie since she goes to all of those third world countries and sees the poorest of people.

Answer 9

Not that wierd of a question. Many women use a small natural sea sponge. No kidding. They are sold at many natural health-type stores. Reusable, not expensive.

Answer 10

They would have to use rags or some other kind of absorbent. That would be my first nightmare. I always think to myself, what would I do if I was stranded on a desert island?