Period.
There, I've said it. It is something that affects all women at some point in their lives. As a shared experience, periods are a shared monthly suffering when lovely Mother Nature visits. How do you deal with your period? You use a tampon or pad, or even the newer menstrual cups, maybe an Advil or two, and continue on with your life. Does it suck? Sometimes. Is it avoidable? No.
If getting your period is unavoidable, then taking care of feminine hygiene during this time is unavoidable too. The sales tax on these items that are considered a luxury is a blatant "gender injustice" in the words of California Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia. Men do not have a masculine counterpart to a woman's period that imposes a similar economic strain on them. These laws solely target women.
As an uncontrollable biological function that gives women the power to create life, menstruation and feminine hygiene are not a choice. In the truthful words of California Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang, the tampon tax is "regulatory discrimination." Why tax women for something that is unavoidable and out of their control?
With the existing wage gap (come on people, it is the 21st century!) for many women, their period is not just a bodily discomfort, but an economic strain. For women on a tight budget, monthly payments for pads and tampons can be a hardship. Pads and tampons are not covered by food stamps, and many times the necessity of hygiene is sacrificed for other necessities like feeding their children. Getting your period is not an option, so why are feminine products considered a luxury? A woman's health is not a luxury.
Even President Obama said that he does not understand why so many states tax a product that is essential to a female's health. In his interview with Ingrid Nilson, he recognizes the sad-but-true reason that a tampon tax was ever created, and is still so prominent in the U.S.: because males created and passed the law. Obama also recognized that it is up to women to work towards removing these taxes from their state.
As unavoidable as your period is, I believe that it is inevitable for these laws to soon be removed. However, these laws aren't going to remove themselves, and won't be removed unless you speak up, and have a voice. Be heard, and make a change.
