Menstrual Poverty Worsens Mexico’s Gender Education Gap

The absence of adequate sanitary conditions, particularly for mensuration hygiene, in Mexican schools is contributing to the gender education gap, according to Educación Futura (EF). The lack of basic infrastructure, such as water, toilets, sinks, and electricity, impedes students’ ability to manage their menstrual health, often leading to absenteeism among girls, which restricts their right to a complete education.

A 2022 survey by UNICEF revealed that 43% of female students in Mexico choose not to attend school during their menstrual period due to inadequate sanitary facilities. This finding highlights how poor infrastructure can disrupt students’ ability to complete their education, especially during puberty, when menstrual hygiene management becomes essential, as reported by EF.

According to data from the National Commission for the Betterment of Continuous Education (MEJOREDU), during the 2021-2022 school year, 54,662 out of 205,766 public schools in Mexico lacked access to potable water; 50,996 did not have separate bathrooms for female students; 42,474 did not have sinks; and 25,890 schools were without electricity. These conditions make managing their menstruation hygienically challenging, compelling many students to stay home during their periods instead of attending school. This inadequate sanitary infrastructure exacerbates gender inequalities and may limit these students' future opportunities.

There are approximately 9.3 million girls and adolescents of menstruating age in Mexico’s primary and secondary education system, as reported by EF. Without appropriate facilities, menstruating students often report feeling unsafe and uncomfortable in school during their periods, further hindering their educational experience, as reported by EF.

Patricia Vázquez, Executive President, Mexicanos Primero, has advocated for the inclusion of funding for essential sanitary infrastructure in the federal 2025 budget to ensure that students have access to adequate hygiene facilities. She also emphasized the importance of local authorities in the 11 states that mandate menstrual product distribution, urging them to include sufficient funding in their budgets to help address menstrual poverty.