Menstrual Poverty

In 2021, China ranked 48th out of 191 countries on the United Nations Development Programme'sGender Inequality Index(GII). In education 58.7 percent of women age 25 and older had completed secondary education, while the counterpart statistic for men was 71.9 percent. Women's labour power participation rate was 63.9 percent (compared to 78.3 percent for men), and women held 23.6 percent of seats in the National People's Congress.

Learning from false ideals of gender inequality starting from a young age, girls are raised with fewer opportunities and resources than boys are - leading to slower growth academically, economically, and a restricted selection of personal choices for women in the future.

From patriarchal ideals such as forced motherhood, a lack of representation in STEM, less job opportunities, and also the shame that comes from having a menstrual cycle, women often face discouraging life events and comments which makes them give up on their hopes and desires.

Without the right access to menstrual care products, girls even miss out on a large portion of school, and are exposed to infections and disease risks, which further widens the gender gap.

By incorporating themes of gender equality into our english lessons, we train students from a young age to have the right mentality towards the equal capabilities of different genders in life - aiming to remove the harmful standards children learn starting from a young age, and supporting girls towards the same educational and future opportunities as boys

By funding menstrual care resources and also leading menstrual talks in school, Cultivating classrooms also aims to remove the stigma around talking about periods, and publicizing the sexual health knowledge and resources students should have access to for their bodily health.