{"id":17416,"date":"2025-08-28T14:29:22","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T13:29:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416"},"modified":"2025-08-28T15:07:54","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T14:07:54","slug":"period-poverty-becomes-the-frontline-of-chinas-feminist-struggle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/period-poverty-becomes-the-frontline-of-chinas-feminist-struggle\/","title":{"rendered":"Period poverty becomes the frontline of China\u2019s feminist struggle"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">As grassroots groups deliver pads to rural schools, China\u2019s young feminists are confronting taboo, poverty, and politics. Can their acts of solidarity reshape the country\u2019s future for women?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4197.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17423\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4197.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4197-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4197-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4197-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4197.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17423\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4197.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4197-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4197-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4197-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>On a chilly morning in early spring, four undergraduate students arrived at a rural middle school in Sichuan Province carrying suitcases filled not with books or food but sanitary pads. Inside the classrooms, dozens of girls waited shyly as the students handed out small pouches containing pads and a booklet on adolescent health. For many of the girls, it was the first time anyone had openly discussed menstruation in their school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What began as a simple donation drive has now become part of a nationwide movement. Across China, grassroots initiatives are trying to close the gap for what has been called \u201cperiod poverty,\u201d a situation where women and girls struggle to afford or access sanitary products. A year ago, few people spoke publicly about it. Today, it is at the center of debates about women\u2019s health, consumer rights, and the meaning of feminism in China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the heart of this shift is a 23-year-old graduate student who founded the group Me and Her. \u201cThis activity wasn&#8217;t started because I became aware of menstrual poverty. It began because, in the last two or three years, feminism has gained some traction in our country,\u201d Run Han says. Growing up in a remote area, she had seen firsthand what period poverty looked like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her story began almost by accident. After posting a casual note on Rednotes, the most popular social media now in China, asking if anyone could donate clothes to children in poor areas, another user asked whether there were other needs. She remembered that a school she knew had once distributed pads, so she suggested donating sanitary products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI thought of distributing pads to the children there, and after sending some to the school, we had extras, so I decided to distribute them to nearby towns. Eventually, I connected with other schools across the country, which led to the current scale of this activity,\u201d says Han.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From that moment, Me and Her took shape. Within a year, the group had delivered more than 342,000 pads to 4,900 girls. By July 2025, the figure had nearly doubled, reaching 600,000 pads and almost 10,000 beneficiaries. Each child typically receives about 60 pads at a time, along with a pouch and a health manual. Teachers are encouraged to give lessons during distribution, ensuring that the campaign is about more than just material aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4198-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4198-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4198-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4198-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4198.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4198-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4198-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4198-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4198-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4198-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4198.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4198-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The primary way we collect pads is through donations from charity groups and individuals. They also conduct health classes for girls in rural areas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The silence runs deep. In her own childhood, Han recalls how teachers in her village gave vague lectures about self-respect rather than practical health education. Pads were rarely mentioned, and girls quietly taught each other how to use them in restrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She remembers saving her pocket money to buy her first pack because her mother never provided them. \u201cThe way teachers conveyed their messages was more about what girls shouldn\u2019t do rather than guiding them positively,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The consequences of this silence are serious. A 2021 report by Southern Weekly found that in some rural areas, one in ten girls resorted to using tissue paper, cloth, or even newspapers during menstruation. Meanwhile, the cost of pads remains high. China still imposes a 13 percent value-added tax on sanitary products, the same rate applied to luxury goods like jewelry, prompting activists to label it a \u201ctampon tax.\u201d For a girl from a low-income household, this expense can be a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even when money is available, quality is not guaranteed. The founder recalls seeing listings on Pinduoduo, a budget e-commerce platform, offering 100 pads for less than 10 yuan (about \u00a31). Teachers reported that many children bought these products, which were not from reputable brands and often appeared dirty. \u201cChildren there might not even recognize certain brands,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The risks are real. Gynecologists warn that low-quality pads can cause irritation, infections, and even long-term reproductive health problems. The recent sanitary pad scandal, in which a nationwide investigation found nearly 90 percent of products were shorter than advertised, only added to fears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBefore better products emerge, children have no choice but to use existing pads,\u201d the founder says. \u201cAlthough alternatives like tampons and menstrual cups exist, if they are not taught to use them properly, it could lead to problems. Currently, the mainstream brands are the only options available.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite these obstacles, Me and Her has found innovative ways to operate. The group does not raise funds directly to avoid legal risks but instead connects donors with schools. Volunteers collect data on student numbers, match them with kind-hearted individuals willing to buy pads, and arrange deliveries. Teachers send back photos and videos to confirm receipt. \u201cThis way, we ensure all pads reach the children, with teachers being local and very responsible,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4200.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17467\" style=\"width:770px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4200.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4200-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4200-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4200.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17467\" style=\"width:770px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4200.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4200-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4200-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In developing countries, about 10% of female students miss school due to menstruation, accumulating up to 60 days of absence each year, exacerbating educational inequality.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Operating outside official structures is not easy. China\u2019s government strictly regulates NGOs and fundraising platforms. In 2024, new restrictions forced the group to pause operations temporarily. \u201cOur organization is a grassroots initiative, not government-registered, which carries some legal risks,\u201d Han says. \u201cAnother issue is the quality of the pads. If we mention needing to buy medications for menstrual discomfort, we need to be cautious.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Financial sustainability is another challenge. The group has about 15 core members, most of them students or young professionals. \u201cOur activities often lack efficiency because they are organized during our free time, which can be tiring. We also need more promotional staff, such as content creators and editors,\u201d she says. Still, some small businesses and companies provide regular donations, and detailed expense reports are published to maintain transparency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond logistics, the project is reshaping how young Chinese women think about themselves. Social media has been a powerful tool. The group runs accounts on Tiktol, Kuaishou, Weibo, and Rednotes, where girls often leave thank you comments. Some write about how they no longer feel embarrassed asking for pads at school. Others post photos of the pouches, decorated with messages of encouragement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Han sees this attention as a sign of progress. \u201cIf people are using women\u2019s rights or menstrual poverty for clicks, it shows these issues are gaining attention, which is better than before. At least we\u2019re discussing them openly now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her optimism is echoed by scholars who study Chinese feminism. While state authorities have clamped down on feminist NGOs in recent years, young women continue to mobilize around concrete issues like period poverty, workplace discrimination, and domestic violence. According to sociologist Leta Hong Fincher, the movement is leaderless but resilient, fueled by online communities and grassroots initiatives rather than formal organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" width=\"660\" height=\"380\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Zu0KusfuXVo?si=-UOdLXhS99qtGdkc\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><noscript><iframe width=\"660\" height=\"380\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Zu0KusfuXVo?si=-UOdLXhS99qtGdkc\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, identifying as a feminist in China often carries political and social risks. Online spaces for discussion have narrowed, with major online forums shut down in 2021 for allegedly promoting radical views. Public figures such as comedian Yang Li, who has quipped man in a talk show, have faced harassment and official scrutiny, while feminist voices are frequently mocked with the derogatory slang \u201c\u5973\u62f3,\u201d likening them to \u201cfeminazis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet this stigma contrasts sharply with China\u2019s past. Feminism was once tied closely to modernization and reform. In the late Qing dynasty, reformers campaigned against foot-binding and promoted women\u2019s education. Groups like the Chinese Women\u2019s Society founded the country\u2019s first girls\u2019 school and Women\u2019s Journal, a newspaper advocating gender equality and freedom in marriage. Women also played active roles in the 1911 Revolution, with leaders like Tang Qunying forming a female army and demanding political rights that were excluded from the new republic\u2019s constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But in recent years under Xi Jinping, the space for feminist activism has steadily narrowed. Keywords such as \u201cfeminism\u201d and \u201cMeToo\u201d are treated as politically sensitive online, and in early 2025 dozens of feminist accounts on platforms like Weibo and Douban were abruptly shut down. Among those targeted was a 32-year-old activist from Beijing and one of the best-known figures in China\u2019s women\u2019s movement. In April, her Weibo account was deleted for allegedly posting \u201cillegal and harmful information,\u201d a charge she firmly denies. Authorities and platforms often justify such crackdowns by claiming that feminists disturb social order, but activists see them as an attempt to erase their voices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other countries are already moving in directions Chinese activists hope to see. In 2020, Scotland became the first country in the world to provide free sanitary products to all who need them, after campaigners argued that period poverty was a barrier to education and dignity. In New Zealand, schools have been required since 2021 to offer free pads and tampons to students. India has also introduced low-cost sanitary pad schemes in rural areas, though challenges of stigma and quality remain. These policies have inspired Chinese feminists, who often cite them online when calling for reform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"383\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/me-too-china-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17474\" style=\"width:770px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/me-too-china-edited.jpg 680w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/me-too-china-edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/me-too-china-edited-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"383\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/me-too-china-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17474\" style=\"width:770px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/me-too-china-edited.jpg 680w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/me-too-china-edited-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/me-too-china-edited-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In the Chinese Me-Too movement, more than 300 overseas scholars and students signed a petition to urge the Ministry of Education to take responsibility for instituting anti-sexual harassment measures.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet obstacles remain. \u201cThe most important thing is that the leaders haven\u2019t considered this problem,\u201d the founder says, referring to government policy. Activists have long called for lower taxes on pads and more comprehensive sex education, but progress has been slow. In July 2025, authorities announced stricter product standards for pads, including bans on recycled materials and fluorescent chemicals. But there has been no discussion of affordability or accessibility for rural girls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For now, the burden falls on small groups like Me and Her. Its members are young and often juggling studies or jobs, but they are driven by a sense of solidarity. \u201cI believe it\u2019s not just me; it\u2019s about everyone involved. Our name reflects that: I and Millions of Her,\u201d Han says. \u201cIf not for our volunteers and teachers, this wouldn\u2019t be possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her work shows a paradox at the heart of China\u2019s feminist development. On the one hand, open activism is constrained by law. On the other, the lived realities of women: period poverty, harassment, inequality are increasingly hard to ignore. By focusing on tangible needs like pads, groups like Me and Her are finding a way to act without directly confronting the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether this quiet activism will lead to broader change remains uncertain. But for girls in rural Sichuan, receiving a pouch of pads means immediate relief. For young women in cities, it signals that their struggles are being recognized. And for the founder, it is proof that even in difficult conditions, solidarity can grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As she reflects on her journey, she recalls why she chose her graduate program in environmental science. \u201cWhen I studied it, I wanted to clean up the polluted river near my home. I thought I could make a difference, and now I feel similarly about this activity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Small gestures of sending pads to a village school, sharing a story online, leaving a thank-you comment are building a new language of feminism in China. It is a language rooted not in slogans but in shared experiences, in the belief that dignity in something as ordinary as menstruation should not be a privilege.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As grassroots groups deliver pads to rural schools, China\u2019s young feminists are confronting taboo, poverty, and politics. Can their acts of solidarity reshape the country\u2019s future for women?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1238,"featured_media":17424,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Period poverty becomes the frontline of China\u2019s feminist struggle - Life360<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Period poverty becomes the frontline of China\u2019s feminist struggle - Life360\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As grassroots groups deliver pads to rural schools, China\u2019s young feminists are confronting taboo, poverty, and politics. Can their acts of solidarity reshape the country\u2019s future for women?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Life360\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/1DsfZL7y2H\/?mibextid=wwXIfr\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-08-28T13:29:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-08-28T14:07:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4197-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"450\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Xinyu Zhao\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Xinyu Zhao\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416\",\"name\":\"Period poverty becomes the frontline of China\u2019s feminist struggle - Life360\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4197-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-08-28T13:29:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-08-28T14:07:54+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#\/schema\/person\/ef4a856c6d32ea8af5a08b1bd95fdfea\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4197-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4197-1.jpg\",\"width\":800,\"height\":450},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Period poverty becomes the frontline of China\u2019s feminist struggle\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/\",\"name\":\"Life360\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#\/schema\/person\/ef4a856c6d32ea8af5a08b1bd95fdfea\",\"name\":\"Xinyu Zhao\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/6B7750D0EE796D8AAFF9B4D39340B384-96x96.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/6B7750D0EE796D8AAFF9B4D39340B384-96x96.jpeg\",\"caption\":\"Xinyu Zhao\"},\"description\":\"An international student from China, is ready to be a rookie journalist.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/1DsfZL7y2H\/?mibextid=wwXIfr\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/author\/zhaox73\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Period poverty becomes the frontline of China\u2019s feminist struggle - Life360","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Period poverty becomes the frontline of China\u2019s feminist struggle - Life360","og_description":"As grassroots groups deliver pads to rural schools, China\u2019s young feminists are confronting taboo, poverty, and politics. Can their acts of solidarity reshape the country\u2019s future for women?","og_url":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416","og_site_name":"Life360","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/1DsfZL7y2H\/?mibextid=wwXIfr","article_published_time":"2025-08-28T13:29:22+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-08-28T14:07:54+00:00","og_image":[{"width":800,"height":450,"url":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4197-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Xinyu Zhao","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Xinyu Zhao","Estimated reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416","url":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416","name":"Period poverty becomes the frontline of China\u2019s feminist struggle - Life360","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4197-1.jpg","datePublished":"2025-08-28T13:29:22+00:00","dateModified":"2025-08-28T14:07:54+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#\/schema\/person\/ef4a856c6d32ea8af5a08b1bd95fdfea"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4197-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/img-4197-1.jpg","width":800,"height":450},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=17416#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Period poverty becomes the frontline of China\u2019s feminist struggle"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#website","url":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/","name":"Life360","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#\/schema\/person\/ef4a856c6d32ea8af5a08b1bd95fdfea","name":"Xinyu Zhao","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/6B7750D0EE796D8AAFF9B4D39340B384-96x96.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/6B7750D0EE796D8AAFF9B4D39340B384-96x96.jpeg","caption":"Xinyu Zhao"},"description":"An international student from China, is ready to be a rookie journalist.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/1DsfZL7y2H\/?mibextid=wwXIfr"],"url":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/author\/zhaox73\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1238"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17416"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17416\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17480,"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17416\/revisions\/17480"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17424"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}