A 2019 study by Consumer Health Day reports that due to cost, two-thirds of low-income women had to go without feminine hygiene products at least once each year. About 21 percent said this happened on a monthly basis, and nearly half said they often had to make tough choices between buying food or period-related products. In fact, there are even consequences for employment. According to the study, 36 percent of the women said they had missed days of work due to lack of adequate period hygiene.
One primary cause of women’s inability to afford basic menstrual products is the tampon tax. In a majority of US States, menstrual products are taxed as non-essential and luxury items. The sales tax is enacted on these products while items such as groceries and prescription drugs are exempt from this tax. Now, many opponents of the menstrual tax reform movement may argue that this exemption only applies to one specific group of people, and therefore, they are not essential. However, products for men such as Viagra, which are not essential products, are exempt from this tax.
The high prices of menstrual products negatively impact women’s opportunities to comfort and, in some cases, women’s opportunities to live. In 2017, Vice reported that the sales tax on menstrual products has led to many poor and homeless women to resort to harmful alternatives such as bleeding through their clothes, using cardboard, old rags, socks, and other items to combat their monthly burdens, which can lead to infections like Toxic Shock Syndrome, HPV, and other life-threatening infections.
Currently, only 15 out of the 50 states have exempted the tampon tax, which means that 35 states are still taxing menstrual products as non-essential items. But they are anything but non-essential. They shouldn't be deemed as non-essential items when some women have to choose whether to buy food, pay for transportation, or buy period-related products. They shouldn’t be deemed as non-essential items when some women are vulnerable to life-threatening diseases without them.
Now, the federal government must take initiative to end this tax that is enacted on tampons and menstrual products for the sake of millions of women. It is time for Congress to provide for the common defense and the general welfare of the United States of all Americans–both male and female. Having a period is definitely not a luxury, so let’s stop taxing them as if they are one.
Sources:
taxfoundation.org/tampon-taxes-sales-tax/www.nytimes.com/2018/07/22/health/tampon-tax-periods-menstruation-nyt.html
www.huffingtonpost.com/sue-kerr/if-you-cant-afford-tampons-what-do-you-do_b_5352396.html.
consumer.healthday.com/pregnancy-information-29/menstruation-news-473/two-thirds-of-poor-u-s-women-can-t-afford-menstrual-pads-tampons-study-741590.html
impact.vice.com/en_us/article/j5e9qb/tampons-are-a-necessity-not-a-luxury
www.crs.gov
I think this was really interesting because buying period products is always something I unconsciously spend my money on. I know that it is expensive, but there really aren't many other options. For those who have much tighter budgets additional tax may be the tipping point for many who cannot afford it. I think the fact that more and more women are now joining the work force, the need for period products in order to ensure smooth operations is also essential. Do you think there is a possibility that there will be a tax exemption from reusable period products?
ReplyDeleteI think that it important that you addressed the effects some people face due to this tax. Although I knew about these taxes, I never think about it when I buy these products. As you wrote, only 15 out of 50 states have exempted the period tax, which shows the amount of work needed to be done in order to fully get rid of this tax. This topic isn't one of the headline topics that is on the news, but it is important that we think about these taxes and the people involved when buying products.
ReplyDeleteThis topic is very relevant to me (because I'm female). Period products are already expensive, and since we have to buy new products at least a couple times a year, the cost builds up. While the tampon tax may not affect many of us in the Silicon Valley, the effect of the high cost of period products is far more harmful for others. Especially in developing countries, girls who don't have to money or resources to access period products are often forced to stay home from school and miss out on crucial parts of their education.
ReplyDeleteWhen I volunteered for Days for Girls, a non-profit organization that provide cheap, reusable menstrual kits to developing countries, I realized how truly inconvenient and inaccessible tampons are to those who can't afford them and the tax that's added on. I met several young girls who have to sit on towels and cardboard during their menstrual cycle instead of attending school. This makes them fall behind at school and discourages them from getting an education because by making it so difficult for these young girls to get proper care, it leaves a precedent that their future does not matter as much. I value Days for Girls for providing a safer, more environmentally friendly, and cheaper alternative.
ReplyDelete