Amika George

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Amika Sara George MBE (born 4 October 1999) is a British activist who campaigns against period poverty in the United Kingdom.

Contents

Amika Sara George MBE
Nationality United Kingdom

Life

Amika George, who has Indian heritage, is from Edgware in north-west London. She studied Indian colonial history and Britain's ties to the slave trade as part of her degree from Cambridge University. [1] George was inspired to take action after reading an article describing how many poor British women missed school due to stigma around menstruation and/or being unable to afford sanitary products such as tampons. [2] She has said, "We need to make it very clear that we want to see equal access to education for all young people." [3] At the age of 17 she started a popular petition addressed to Westminster (which gained over 200,000 signatories), and while still in secondary school she founded the #FreePeriods organisation in April 2017. [2] [4] [5] [6] As part of her campaigning she has organised protests aimed at convincing the UK government to provide free sanitary products to schoolchildren, featuring speakers such as Adwoa Aboah, Suki Waterhouse, Jess Phillips, and Daisy Lowe. [2] [7] [8] She has written for Vogue about the role of activism among young people, [9] and also for The Guardian and The Telegraph about how the Scottish government's commitment to provide free sanitary products for poor students should be emulated in England. [10] [11] George has often commented on the lengths young people who menstruate go when they cannot afford pads or tampons, including using items of clothing, toilet roll, or using the same tampon many days in a row (putting them at risk of toxic shock syndrome). [6] She additionally has remarked upon how education for men must be improved such that they can engage with tackling menstruation taboo and period poverty. [8] [12]

In March 2019 chancellor of the exchequer Philip Hammond announced that secondary schools in England would receive funding to provide sanitary products free-of-charge to poorer young people. George and fellow campaigners welcomed the statement, and said that it should go further by expanding to primary schools (as menstruation can start as early as age seven) and enshrining the commitment in law for future governments. [8] [13] [14]

In response to her activism, George has been honoured on the Time Most Influential Teens of 2018 list, [15] The Big Issue Top 100 Changemakers, [16] and Teen Vogue 21 under 21 (after being nominated by Emma Watson for the latter). [17] George won a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Goalkeepers Campaign Award in 2018, which she was presented with in a ceremony in New York City. [18] [19]

As of April 2019 George is studying History at Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge, and was described by college master Dame Barbara Stocking as 'inspirational'. [4] [20]

George was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to education. [21] [22] At 21, she was the youngest recipient on the list. She said she initially felt "quite uncomfortable" about accepting her MBE. When considering the implications of the honour, she described the British Empire as "an horrific and exploitative endeavour". She said she decided to accept the award because young people of colour are underrepresented in politics and activism. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tampon</span> Feminine hygiene product to absorb menstrual flow by insertion into the vagina

A tampon is a menstrual product designed to absorb blood and vaginal secretions by insertion into the vagina during menstruation. Unlike a pad, it is placed internally, inside of the vaginal canal. Once inserted correctly, a tampon is held in place by the vagina and expands as it soaks up menstrual blood. However, in addition to menstrual blood, the tampon also absorbs the vagina's natural lubrication and bacteria, which can change the normal pH, increasing the risk of infections from the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which can lead to toxic shock syndrome (TSS). TSS is a rare but life-threatening infection that requires immediate medical attention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menstrual cup</span> Feminine hygiene device worn inside the vagina during menstruation

A menstrual cup is a menstrual hygiene device which is inserted into the vagina during menstruation. Its purpose is to collect menstrual fluid. Menstrual cups are usually made of flexible medical grade silicone, latex, or a thermoplastic isomer. They are shaped like a bell with a stem or a ring. The stem is used for insertion and removal, and the bell-shaped cup seals against the vaginal wall just below the cervix and collects menstrual fluid. This is unlike tampons and menstrual pads, which absorb the fluid instead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menstrual pad</span> Absorbent item worn in the underwear

A menstrual pad, or simply a pad, is an absorbent item worn by women in their underwear when menstruating, bleeding after giving birth, recovering from gynecologic surgery, experiencing a miscarriage or abortion, or in any other situation where it is necessary to absorb a flow of blood from the vagina. A menstrual pad is a type of menstrual hygiene product that is worn externally, unlike tampons and menstrual cups, which are worn inside the vagina. Pads are generally changed by being stripped off the pants and panties, taking out the old pad, sticking the new one on the inside of the panties and pulling them back on. Pads are recommended to be changed every 3–4 hours to avoid certain bacteria that can fester in blood; this time also may differ depending on the kind worn, flow, and the time it is worn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feminine hygiene</span> Personal care products for menstruation, vaginal discharge etc.

Feminine hygiene products are personal care products used during menstruation, vaginal discharge, and other bodily functions related to the vulva and vagina. Products that are used during menstruation may also be called menstrual hygiene products, including menstrual pads, tampons, pantyliners, menstrual cups, menstrual sponges and period panties. Feminine hygiene products also include products meant to cleanse the vulva or vagina, such as douches, feminine wipes, and soap.

Always is an American brand of menstrual hygiene products, including maxi pads, ultra thin pads, pantyliners, disposable underwear for night-time wear, and vaginal wipes. A sister concern of Procter & Gamble, it was first invented and introduced in the United States in 1983 by Tom Osborn, a mid-level employee at Proctor and Gamble, then nationally in May 1984. By the end of 1984, Always had also been introduced internationally in the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Arab world, Pakistan and Africa. Despite the Always' pads runaway international success, Procter & Gamble almost fired Tom Osborn twice in the early 1980s as he was developing this product.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture and menstruation</span>

There are many cultural aspects surrounding how societies view menstruation. Different cultures view menstruation in different ways. The basis of many conduct norms and communication about menstruation in western industrial societies is the belief that menstruation should remain hidden. By contrast, in some hunter-gatherer societies, menstrual observances are viewed in a positive light, without any connotation of uncleanness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arunachalam Muruganantham</span> Indian social entrepreneur

Arunachalam Muruganantham (Padman) is a social entrepreneur from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, India. He is the inventor of a low-cost sanitary pad-making machine and is credited for innovating grassroots mechanisms for generating awareness about traditional unhygienic practices around menstruation in rural India. His mini-machines, which can manufacture sanitary pads for less than a third of the cost of commercial pads, have been installed in 23 of the 29 states of India in rural areas. He is currently planning to expand the production of these machines to 106 nations. The movie Period. End of Sentence. won the Academy Award for Best Documentary for the year 2018. The 2018 Hindi film Pad Man was made on his invention, where he was portrayed by Akshay Kumar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nadya Okamoto</span> American social entrepreneur (born 1998)

Nadya Teresa Okamoto is an American social entrepreneur who is the founder and former executive director of the non-profit organization Period Inc., which distributes menstrual hygiene products and advocates for ending what is known as the tampon tax. In January 2020, Okamoto stepped down from Period Inc. as executive director; later that year, she left Period Inc. entirely after controversy over alleged misconduct.

Laura Coryton is a British campaigner, feminist activist and author. She is the founder of Stop Taxing Periods, a campaign to abolish the Tampon Tax in the United Kingdom and make menstrual products exempt from VAT, and runs the Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) social enterprise Sex Ed Matters. Coryton published her first book 'Speak Up!', a campaign guide for rebel girls, in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tampon tax</span> Value-added tax or sales tax charged on feminine hygiene products

Tampon tax is a popular term used to call attention to tampons, and other feminine hygiene products, being subject to value-added tax (VAT) or sales tax, unlike the tax exemption status granted to other products considered basic necessities. Proponents of tax exemption argue that tampons, sanitary napkins, menstrual cups and comparable products constitute basic, unavoidable necessities for women, and any additional taxes constitute a pink tax.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pink tax</span> Higher pricing of products marketed to women

The pink tax refers to the tendency for products marketed specifically toward women to be more expensive than those marketed toward men. This phenomenon is often attributed to gender-based price discrimination, however research shows that the primary cause is women sorting into goods with higher marginal costs. The name stems from the observation that many of the affected products are pink.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menstrual hygiene management</span> Access to menstrual hygiene products and disposal of used products

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) or menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) refers to access to menstrual hygiene products to absorb or collect the flow of blood during menstruation, privacy to change the materials, and access to facilities to dispose of used menstrual management materials. It can also include the "broader systemic factors that link menstruation with health, well-being, gender equality, education, equity, empowerment, and rights". Menstrual hygiene management can be particularly challenging for girls and women in developing countries, where clean water and toilet facilities are often inadequate. Menstrual waste is largely ignored in schools in developing countries, despite it being a significant problem. Menstruation can be a barrier to education for many girls, as a lack of effective sanitary products restricts girls' involvement in educational and social activities.

Scarlett Kate Freud Curtis is an English activist and writer.

Ella Daish is a British environmental activist campaigning to persuade retailers and manufacturers to remove plastic from menstrual products. In February 2018, whilst working as a postal worker, she started the End Period Plastic campaign. She went on to become a full-time activist. The BBC put Daish on its 100 Women of 2019 annual list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021</span> United Kingdom legislation

The Period Products (Scotland) Act 2021 was enacted in November 2020 by the Scottish Government, and received Royal assent on 12 January 2021. It is the world's first legislation to make it mandatory for all public institutions to provide free sanitary products for menstruation including tampons and pads.

Isobel Marshall is a South Australian social entrepreneur and medical student who was named Young Australian of the Year for 2021.

Gloria Orwoba is a Kenyan politician who has served as a nominated Senator representing women in the Senate of Kenya since 2022. In 2023, she received international press attention when an apparent blood stain on her trousers caused by menstruation prompted the Senate President to ask her to leave the chamber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Period poverty</span> Economic justice issue related to female periods

Period poverty is a term used to describe a lack of access to proper menstrual products and the education needed to use them effectively. The American Medical Women's Association defines it as "the inadequate access to menstrual hygiene tools and educations, including but not limited to sanitary products, washing facilities, and waste management".

RutuChakra is a youth-led organisation which has worked in the field of menstrual hygiene, inclusivity and dignity, predominantly in India since 2018. Through its 20+ chapters across India, it has provided over 200,000 menstrual products to underprivileged persons. The organization has been active throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, donating more than 50,000 products as of 2020. The organisation depends on several crowdfunding channels to raise funds for its activities. RutuChakra collaborates with Non-Governmental Organisations such as ThayiMane, Mitra Jyothi and Sandesh to provide sanitary napkins and workshops. For its work, the founder has received several accolades including the Renaissance Award.

Natracare is a British feminine hygiene brand that produces organic and plastic-free menstrual products, including tampons, sanitary pads and panty liners.

References

  1. 1 2 "Queen's Birthday Honours: Period poverty campaigner Amika George receives MBE". BBC News. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Pike, Naomi. "Girl On A Mission: Amika George". British Vogue. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  3. ↑ "Meet the Teen Who is Pushing For an End to 'Period Poverty'". time.com. 9 January 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Meet the Teen Who is Pushing For an End to 'Period Poverty'". Time. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  5. ↑ "Amika George". National Trust. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  6. 1 2 "Meet the 18-year-old fighting period poverty in the UK". Evening Standard. 2 December 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  7. ↑ "We Meet Activist Amika George To Talk #FreePeriods". Pink Parcel. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 Keegan, Hannah (8 April 2019). "Free Periods' Amika George on what's next in the fight against period poverty". Stylist. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  9. ↑ George, Amika. "Amika George On The Power Of Protest". British Vogue. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  10. ↑ George, Amika (8 January 2019). "Girls are still missing school because of period poverty. There is an answer | Amika George". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  11. ↑ George, Amika (9 January 2019). "When will the Government realise how badly period poverty is hurting Britain's schoolgirls?". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  12. ↑ George, Amika. "Why Boys Need To Learn About Periods". BBC. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  13. ↑ "Free sanitary products promised for schools". 13 March 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  14. ↑ "Opinion: Philip Hammond's pledge cannot eradicate period poverty – here's why" . The Independent. 13 March 2019. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  15. ↑ "TIME's 25 Most Influential Teens of 2018". Time. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  16. ↑ "Changemakers: Amika George, founder of #FreePeriods". The Big Issue. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  17. ↑ "21 Under 21: Amika George Is Here to Remind You That Periods Aren't Gross". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  18. ↑ Merelli, Annalisa. "This teen advocate against "period poverty" is the feminist we should all grow up to be". Quartzy. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  19. ↑ "Inspirational teenager receives global award for #FreePeriods campaign". Evening Standard. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  20. ↑ "Inspiring others: Amika George". Murray Edwards College - University of Cambridge. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  21. ↑ "No. 63377". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2021. p. B18.
  22. ↑ "Indian-origin COVID-19 response professionals in Queen's Birthday Honours spotlight". Outlook India. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
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