Shedding the Light on Period Poverty in Indonesia – Tungga Dewi

According to 2021 Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey, a quarter of adolescent girls had never spoken to anyone about menstruation before experiencing it first-hand, and 17 percent had no idea that menstruation was an indicator of puberty and the start of sexual reproduction.

How period poverty affects girls’ and women’s lives; -what can we do together for it

The start-up business aims to dismantle Indonesian society’s taboo around reproductive and sexual health by normalizing the subject of menstruation and introducing eco-friendly menstrual products. Gender inequality and gender-based violence have been linked to archaic and strict norms governing sexuality, and their business model contributes to efforts to address this issue.

Furthermore, a rise in the number of unintended pregnancies among high school students has been observed in rural areas due to a lack of education about reproductive and sexual health.

Perfect Fit has been operating in East Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi since last year, providing locally made, leak-proof, reusable menstrual pads and underwear – the first of their kind in Indonesia. The company’s products are now available on major e-commerce platforms and marketplaces.

Tungga Dewi, co-founded the Perfect Fit after spending 3 years managing a menstruation project in East Nusa Tenggara Province and realized how period poverty can affect women & girls’ lives in the country. She believes that all women need to have a more dignified life and it should start with menstruation. Previously, she worked on research projects in poverty and development at JPAL, AIPEG, and Kopernik. She has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Universitas Indonesia.

This talk is happening at The Bridge, but we will Livestream it also.

LINK TO THE CALL

Meeting ID: 818 3529 6822