The Dons Solidaires association fights against waste by collecting unsold goods from companies. These new products are then distributed to partner associations working to combat precariousness and social exclusion. Hygiene products are the number one demand of associations, yet the subject of precarious hygiene has long been an unaddressed issue in public policy. In order to lift the veil on this subject, Dons Solidaires wanted to carry out a major study in 2019 designed to objectify this phenomenon. The Hygiene and Precariousness survey has then been renewed every year since 2021. The barometer provides an objective assessment of the situation and tracks changes in renunciation behavior in the French population. Here are the main findings of this new wave.
Things to remember …
1. For the second year running, indicators of economic fragility are down, but remain at high levels, illustrating that the feeling of “economic urgency” (felt between late 2022 and early 2024) has been overcome.
2. Despite this relative improvement, financial worries continue to have a major impact on psychological well-being, sleep and social relations, particularly among the most fragile households (low-income households, single-parent households).
3. The working poor stand out for their high levels of economic anxiety, confirming that employment is no longer a systematic protection against precariousness.
4. While the number of people in France giving up hygiene products is declining, the social consequences persist. For the working poor in particular, the lack of hygiene products has a significant impact on social integration and employability.
5.In this context, certain targeted forms of precariousness also remain at high levels. Menstrual precariousness and the difficulties encountered by parents of young children concern a non-negligible proportion of the French population, leading to avoidance strategies, feelings of shame and a heightened fear of social judgment.
