It has long been known that North Korea, formally known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is a reclusive nation that poses serious questions in terms of human rights from both its government and public. North Korea’s abhorrent actions towards its citizens are well documented, but perhaps one of its more controversial policies is surrounding its ban of sanitary pads and tampons for women.
Women of North Korea are at a considerable disadvantage in many respects compared to neighboring nations, particularly those located in close proximity such as South Korea and China. There have been various studies conducted by international organizations such as the United Nations that have uncovered the many deprivations that women of the secretive nation suffer due to exclusive access to essential products, of which sanitary pads are a top priority.
In order to understand the rationale behind North Korea’s ban on sanitary pads, it is vital to gain insight into the country’s economy. Thanks to its government’s insistence on an autarkic (self-sufficient) economic policy, North Korea’s economy is heavily dependent on markets within the country. Markets that are regulated by the government limits access to feminized hygiene products like sanitary pads, however, due to their historical price gouging.
Activists and experts in the field of women’s health have often condemned the lack of access to necessary services and products for women, including the prohibition of sanitary pads within North Korean borders. Women in the hermit kingdom are usually unaware of the physiological cycle and menstrual process, as information on this subject is not allowed to be taught as part of the curriculum within its government-controlled educational system.
Dr. Shannon Lee, a professor with expertise in the field of international affairs and political science, claims that North Korea’s lack of access to sanitary products is a symptom of greater gender based social inequalities. Lee states that the lack of access to such products represents a power structure that puts women beneath men, depriving them of basic healthcare resources and services. Therefore, the ban on sanitary pads can be seen as a clear form of discrimination against North Korean women.
The current regime in North Korea adheres to a capitalist economy, where the government controls access to essential goods and services. Perfectly poised to capitalize on the situation, government-regulated vendors have sky-high prices for sanitary products, with some sources citing up to 40% more expensive than neighboring countries. It goes without saying that these prices are out of reach of many North Korean women, leading to an alarming rise of preventable health issues that would have been avoided with proper access to feminized healthcare products.
Health Risks
Unsurprisingly, the lack of access to sanitary pads has led to a myriad of associated health risks that affect the North Korean female population. Without the necessary resources to attend to their menstruation in a safe and hygienic way, a lot of North Korean women resort to using makeshift materials such as newspapers and rags when on their periods. Consequently, this exposes them to potential life-threatening infections or toxic shock syndrome, a serious bacterial infection caused by tampons being left in for too long.
In addition to these physical health risks, the stigma associated with not being able to afford the prices for sanitary pads compounds their oppressive situation. South Korean activists highlight that many North Korean women feel ashamed or embarrassed about their monthly periods due to the lack of access and social constraints.
This commitment to silence is only perpetuated and heightened by the state-sponsored Christian organization, ‘The Association of Women In Need’, who often distribute sanitary pads in discreet brown packages in attempts to sustain a level of secrecy with regards to menstruation.
International Support
Various international organizations have come forward in speaking out against the ban on sanitary pads, citing the inherent injustices of such a policy. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is one such body that has actively offered support to North Korean women. Established in 1969, the UNFPA works in close collaboration with other Humanitarian Agencies in providing North Korean women with ‘menstrual hygiene kits’ that contain sanitary pads, as well as other critical products including hot water bottles, soap and information booklets. These products come free of charge due to an agreement between the United Nations and the North Korean government.
Civil Society
North Korean society is one of the most controlled environments imaginable, with the government keeping a tight leash on the population in order to prevent acts of dissent towards the communist regime. Nevertheless, there are a small minority of North Korean women fighting back against the ban on sanitary products, taking it upon themselves to raise awareness about the health risks that the policy poses.
One such organization is the ‘Every Woman Foundation for Health in North Korea’, a civil society created by a few South Korean activists and analysts in 2010. For over a decade, it has campaigned tirelessly for fairer access to basic feminine products to women in North Korea, donating much needed funds and health packages to North Korean women in need.
Through the development of health centers, the Every Woman Foundation has helped many North Korean women in leading healthier lives through the training of medical professionals, as well as providing access to healthcare and sanitary products free of charge. Activists are hoping that their continued efforts and presence on the ground will result in a more inclusive society, where women are allowed to make their own choices freely and equally to that of their male counterparts.
Women’s Rights
The right to access essential sanitary products should be an inalienable right for all women, and the ban on sanitary pads in North Korea is an affront to this principle. For the women of the hermit kingdom, the lack of access to these products has long-term physical, psychological and economic repercussions that permeate the lives of the nation’s female population.
North Korean women are put in an untenable position- unable to access the necessary products and services, but instead use dangerous items such as rags or newspapers as alternatives that often leads to life-threatening infections or illnesses. Without some form of intervention or assistance, this oppressive cycle is set to continue.
Nevertheless, the sheer resilience of the North Korean people has seen various civil organizations emerge to become a beacon of hope in this dark situation. Organizations like the Every Woman Foundation stand testament to the fortitude of the human spirit and the need to cultivate an inclusive society where all its citizens are given their basic rights.
Accessibility Gap
In terms of having access to basic sanitation resources such as sanitary pads, there is a visible gap between North Korean women and other countries within the region such as China and South Korea. Not only do these countries have affordable prices for such products, but they have also have outlets where women are able to purchase sanitary pads and other essential products freely.
In comparison, North Korean women are stuck between a rock and a hard place in terms of having any sort of access to sanitary pads. The government-regulated vendors within the country bring with it sky-high prices that put the necessary products out of reach of many North Korean women. This ‘accessibility gap’ exacerbates the effects of the current ban on sanitary products, trapping women in a never-ending cycle of poverty and ill-health.
A Clearer Picture
The ban on sanitary products in North Korea provides an eye-opening window into the oppressive culture which North Korean women are living in. Inability to access proper healthcare resources, lack of support for non-government organisations and a severe stigma towards topics such as menstruation, all contribute to a society where North Korean women exist in a perpetual state of disadvantage and discrimination.
Organisations such as the United Nations and the Every Woman Foundation are hoping to bridge this gap, providing essential sanitary products to women as well as health education initiatives. The progress these organisations have made in achieving their goals is encouraging, however there is still much more to be done in providing the women of North Korea with the same right to access hygienic products and services as those of their neighboring nations.
