My period is not political

We live in a society that is scared of periods. Every human being exists today because of a woman experiencing her period, but this crucial part of human existence remains such a taboo topic. Women on their period are seen as gross and uncleanly, though they are experiencing one of the most natural parts of life. 

Many countries across the world celebrate girls’ first periods, but in America, it is shamed. 42 percent of women report feeling shamed for their period, with most comments being made by men. I recall the embarrassment I felt when I got my period in 7th grade, though nearly every other girl in the school was experiencing the exact same thing. 

The average woman has about 450 periods in her lifetime, adding up to over $9,000 just spent on menstrual products that should be free. Women have no choice but to menstruate and averaging $20 per cycle is money that some women do not have. 

Aside from hygiene products, women also need pain relievers, privacy and a place to clean themselves up during their monthly cycle. Over 210,000 homeless women in America lack access to products for their periods, and over 22 million experience what is known as period poverty, which is the struggle many low-income families and women face when trying to afford period products. While some homeless shelters provide feminine products, they are still one of the most needed and least donated products. Women without these products end up improvising with toilet paper or by going without anything. Using public restroom toilet paper can lead to yeast infections or urinary tract infections due to the bacteria in the air. 

When women have no other choice but to menstruate, why aren’t there federal funded programs designed for those who can’t afford to buy products? Over 42 million United States citizens currently receive benefits from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a government funded program that provides low-income families with money and benefits for food across many grocery stores in the country. While there are a few nonprofit organizations for helping low income women receive free hygiene products, there is nothing government funded to support women in that way. 

This past year, Scotland became the first country to make all period products free. Other countries like New Zealand and Kenya provide free products in schools for young girls, but in America, women are paying anywhere from $7-10 for a single box of pads or tampons. Scotland also provides most any form of healthcare for free to its citizens. 

Homeless women who have less access to menstrual products also tend to leave them in use for longer durations. This unfortunate choice is dangerous as it can lead to Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS),  a life-threatening buildup of bacteria that makes its way into the bloodstream. Homeless people are already seen by society as lazy and unclean, but how are women supposed to take care of themselves when we don’t give them the products to do so? 

Not only are feminine products costly, but often, many products marketed towards women cost more due to the pink tax. 

The pink tax is the phenomenon that products marketed towards women are typically more expensive than those marketed towards men. The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs conducted a study in 2015 that discovered that women’s products cost an average of 7 percent more than men’s products. The pink tax applies to toys, clothes, hygiene and health products, this causes women to pay more for similar and often identical items. According to investment bank JPMorgan Chase, by many estimates, the pink tax costs women an average of $1,300 per year.

The pink tax got its name because often the only difference between “women’s” and “men’s” products are that those marketed towards women are pink or have more feminine or colorful packaging. Even though the only difference is the color, the product costs significantly more. So why do companies do this? Why is it legal to make products more expensive just because they are for women? 

Products may be marked up in price through tariffs, product discrimination, and product differentiation: marketing a product to a particular audience. Another theory is that companies know that women are willing to pay more to improve their appearances. The average woman will spend a quarter of a million dollars on her appearance in her lifetime. With this information, marketers can get away with charging more for “women’s” products because women may be willing to pay the price. Another idea is that because these products are marketed towards women, it influences women to only purchase those products. They feel that those products are what they are supposed to be using, even when there is no distinct difference. 

The pink tax is legal in all states, except New York, where it was banned in 2020. The pink tax is not a literal tax, it is a byproduct of sexism in today’s society. Businesses, usually run by men,  feel that they can charge women more for products they desire. Though the pink tax is still legal in most states, The Pink Tax Repeal Act was created as an attempt to ban the overpricing of products with no probable cause across the country. Introduced in 2021, the repeal act would make it illegal for companies to charge more for similar products that are marketed towards women. Though it has faced many courts, most ending with the argument that if women don’t want to pay higher prices, they should purchase mens products. 

The pink tax is different from the tampon tax, in which many states place a tax on feminine-hygiene products. The tampon tax refers to the taxes that states receive from women purchasing menstrual products. It costs women about $20 million a year, and brings states more than $150 million a year in profit. These products, which are necessities for any woman with a period, are taxed at the same rate as electronics, toys, and makeup. 33 states exempt food from their state taxes, however, only 23 exempt period products. Sadly, Georgia,imposes the tampon tax. 

Menstrual products should be free for every woman. These products are a necessity, though we live in a country where purchasing them is a luxury.