Think of the things you use on a regular basis. Food, water, deodorant and other essentials probably came to mind. California designates groceries, including candy , and prescription drugs as essential, meaning they are sales-tax exempt, but just recently exempted period products temporarily. Texas exempts newspapers and antiperspirants but also still enforces the tampon tax. Even prescription Viagra, a drug that treats erectile dysfunction, is an essential, non-taxable item in all states but Illinois.
But period products are a necessity too, and should be treated as such. Not only is it hypocritical and senseless to impose a tax on crucial feminine hygiene products while exempting items like candy and Viagra, it also places an unnecessary financial burden on women who already find it difficult to afford these products. A study of low-income women in the St. Louis, Missouri area reported that 67 percent had to go without feminine hygiene products at least once that year because they were too expensive.
When women are forced to choose between the two, they often must choose food over sanitation. This creates safety issues, as many have to create unsanitary homemade alternatives to feminine hygiene products or wear tampons for extended periods of time. Both of these factors contribute to an increased risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome, a dangerous bodily response to toxins released into the blood that may lead to death. This is not right. Women should not have to endanger themselves if they cannot afford safe period products.
They should not have to choose between food and their safety. The government should be doing everything in its power to prevent that from happening. Although more states are creating legislation to address this issueβfor example, California created a bill that exempts period products starting in and ending βthere needs to be federal, permanent change.
We need everyone who gets periods to have equal access to the period products they need. While still giving women the option to choose a more customized tax-free period product, there should be a baseline option for pads and tampons that is accessible to all who need it. Simple, no-strings-attached pads and tampons preferably with literal strings attached for those should be in every public restroom, including school restrooms.
