Tampon Tax
Tampons and pads are considered a “luxury” item and because of this they are subject to a sales tax. Men, on the other hand, are able to acquire Viagra through their health insurance and obtain free contraception at many health clinics. There is a obvious lack of equality in the taxing of essential menstrual products. Currently, there are 30 states that benefit from the this tax, but many of these states are opposed to its repeal because it would cause a loss in revenue. Fortunately, some legislators acknowledge the disparity and argue that the tax is gender biased and even discriminatory.
Click below to read this article from the New York times to see what your state has done lately.
The Impact of the Tampon Tax
The discriminatory tampon tax adds an unnecessary cost to essential menstrual products. Women in the U.S. pay upwards of $150 million annually on such necessities. This added expenditure causes further financial strain to those already struggling to meet life’s everyday demands. In a study of 183 low-income residents of St. Louis, Sebert Kuhlmann and her colleagues found that nearly half of the women could not afford menstrual hygiene products. It was also found that nearly half the women said that within the past year they could not afford to buy both food and period products. A different survey dating from 2017 - 2018, revealed that 64% of women had been unable to afford period products during the previous year and that 21% of these women experience this issue on a monthly basis.
Due to these circumstances, many women are forced to find an alternative solution. Women are using socks, rags, toilet paper, paper towels, and even diapers. Unfortunately, these strategies contribute to poor menstrual hygiene. According to UNICEF, poor menstrual hygiene can pose physical health risks and has been linked to reproductive and urinary tract infections. In addition, a lack of affordable and safe menstrual materials place women at risk of isolation. Reports show that women are missing work and that young girls are missing school.