As a daughter of immigrant scientists, it has always been my dream to be a doctor. Being raised in a family of strong women who all pursued STEM-oriented careers has been such an influential force and I want nothing more than to follow in their footsteps and serve others. Healing others is based on working until you are confident that you have done everything in your power to help others. In 2017, I volunteered at a rural clinic in India, where I witnessed the difficulties that a lack of basic healthcare causes an entire village. While I can't fix the healthcare system in my home country yet, I believe that I can make a difference in the United States, with the help of other passionate individuals who understand that service is the grassroots for change.

After completing my undergraduate degree, I hope to attend medical school and specialize in obstetrics and gynecology (fingers crossed). The US healthcare system is severely flawed, but I believe the most underserved population is minority women. Despite the trend of maternal mortality declining worldwide, the United States stands as an outlier with a higher maternal mortality rate than any other developed nation. Moreover, women of color who lack the access to prenatal healthcare are three to four times more likely to die from childbirth than women not of color.

I want to work towards reducing this disparity in women's health by serving the underserved. Specifically, I want to increase inclusion of minorities in healthcare access. Health issues don't discriminate and neither should healthcare. While this article doesn't necessarily focus on maternal health, it does address the seriousness of women's health and the lack of attention placed on women in need.

If you've kept up with popular culture and entertainment recently, you might be aware that a documentary titled "Period, End of Sentence." won the Oscar for Best Short Documentary, and rightly so. Maybe this is the first time that you've heard of the issue of menstrual health and lack of access to menstrual hygiene products, but this definitely shouldn't be the last.

In a nutshell, the documentary focused on Indian women who fight the stigma surrounding menstruation and begin manufacturing sanitary pads. For some of us who are privileged enough to not have to worry about that life need, it seems like an alien concept to us. But if you live in Athens, Georgia, you should probably know that the issue of stigma in women's health lies extremely close to home.

As of 2017, Athens, Georgia has a 34.4% poverty rate, which unfortunately only keeps growing (US Census Bureau). If you're not a native Athenian, it's almost impossible to recognize this disparity on a surface look. Part of this is because of the bubble of privilege and opportunity that encloses the University of Georgia- one of the main components of what makes Athens unique. A majority of the homeless population in Athens tends to be women- specifically, single mothers. There are many active organizations that work to decrease the difficulties these women face, such as fem(me) @ UGA, the Athens Area Homeless Shelter, and Project Safe. But even more needs to be done.

While society has its common misconceptions and stereotypes about homeless populations, it is critical to realize that women often face a more difficult time because of their biology. As women, we all experience menstruation- it's one of the things that people (at least medical experts) say makes us "feminine", hence the name for feminine hygiene products. When a homeless woman doesn't have access to menstrual hygiene products, whether that be tampons or sanitary pads, she is affected not only in physical health but also in mental health.

The experiences of homeless women differs greatly from the experiences of homeless men. Women have the added worry of dealing with their menstrual cycle. Homeless men are able to put any earned money or resources towards food, shelter, or clothing. Women are forced to choose between paying for a meal or a box of tampons/pads, which are very expensive. Seven dollars may not seem like much to us, but is a momental amount to spend on a few pads that will only be used for about a week. Women essentially choose to sacrifice their health in exchange for having more long-term security in food and shelter. If a woman is unable to acquire any menstrual products, she is left with several health problems that accompany her cycle.

To elaborate on the huge health decisions women have to make, this could include a women risking her health by leaving a tampon in for too long because she doesn't have many supplies left. Doing this can lead to serious health risks, such as Toxic Shock Syndrome and infection. Some women may also turn to makeshift sanitary products, typically made out of toilet paper or some sort of absorptive material that isn't safe.

Why is this an important issue to address? Menstruation is a sensitive subject for anyone- it's considered taboo, and women are generally told to keep their "personal" issues away from the real world interactions they have. The truth of the matter is that this makes it problematic for homeless individuals to have access to something they truly need for survival. Unfortunately, men do not prioritize or even think of donating these products; thus, the majority of support for increasing access to feminine hygiene products comes from female-powered organizations.

I think it's extremely easy for anyone to be blind to their own privilege. We get sucked into our own lives, but taking a minute to acknowledge that privilege and using the moment to uplift those who don't have it has taught me more about humanity than anything else. In the United States, at least to the extent of my own knowledge, we do a fairly well job of addressing issues when complaints are raised and continuously publicized. When the issue of women's health and homelessness was first considered, I think some very strong individuals took the reins and worked to make sure that there is some basic level of awareness. But in some countries, young girls aren't able to go to school. Their education is put on the line for what could just be a very simple health issue if handled properly.

On this topic, there are some critics of the documentary mentioned earlier that claim the issue of lack of access to menstrual hygiene products isn't as "severe" as the film makes it seem. In other words, one critic claimed that young girls in third world countries don't actually lose access to education because of their period. To them, I would say: think again. I think it's extremely judgmental for a privileged woman to downplay the struggles of other women just because it seems to be dramatized. I know for a fact that there are girls in India who, as soon as they come of age, are married off and taken out of school. In Indian culture, menstruation is considered to be "dirty, impure" and against God. So, to balance out the sins of being female, families will take away the opportunity of advancement from young girls and simply make them child brides.

See more: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/02/...

This is where the significance of the Oscar win for the makers of the Period, End of Sentence documentary comes into play. This meaningful and impactful story captured by an Indian woman hits close to home for me, as it ties together my passion for women's rights and my culture. Further more, it highlights the leading women who are working in my home country to fight this battle. For this reason, and many others, I want to say Thank You to Rayka Zehtabchi. Thank You, for bringing this issue into the spotlight.

If there's anything you take from this story, it's this: if you think you can't be an active part of empowering women, you're wrong. More than ever, we need everyone to contribute. Not necessarily physical donations, unless you feel inclined to do so, but primarily by being aware of the issues affecting women, both impoverished and not. Raise awareness, and this month especially, uplift the women around you. Let the women share their stories, speak their truths, and use their voices this March.