"Tampon tax? What is that and why is this young lady talking about such vulgar things, such as tampons, on the internet with no euphemism in sight?"
Well the tampon tax is a tax that categorizes feminine hygiene products as luxury items causing these products to cost more than they would if they were taxed in the same category as, let's say, Viagra.
Yes, that's right, folks,
We live in a country where a woman getting her period is a luxury, but a man's need for Viagra is considered a necessity. Now in order to be fair, I think it's important to say that this is not true for all states. Actually, there are a whopping five states that are currently not taxing their tampons as luxury items. These states are Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and New Jersey. Michigan is hopefully on its way as well (way to go, guys, we believe in you!) However, this means that right now in the U.S. there are 45 states that are taxing a women's necessity as a luxury item.
I just want to know who in their right mind took what periods are, considered the purpose that tampons and other feminine hygiene products serve, and then said: "yeah, that's definitely a luxury." I mean the name in and of itself has the word "hygiene" in it! You wouldn't tax toothpaste as a luxury item, but I think that not brushing your teeth would be considered a lot more socially acceptable than choosing to not wear a pad during "that time of the month."
I know free bleeding is a movement that is still alive and well, but I am just not with it, guys. I don't feel like it's particularly sanitary and I KNOW it isn't good for any of my furniture. So I'm wondering if the option of free bleed is out then why are the items I need to remain clean and healthy considered a luxury? Getting my period has never afforded me any luxuries. It never even out me out of gym class. So, when do the perks come in then exactly? Where are the allotted vacation days for me in the workplace every month when I start my period? Of course, those kind of ideas are ridiculous, no one thinks that women should be given special privileges every month for going through something that is completely natural and necessary for the female body. That's because getting your period is not is not a luxury, it is a fact of life for women. Women will spend over a thousand dollars in their lifetime as a result of the additional tax placed on tampons and other feminine hygiene products. It's absurd.
I wrote this article because so many people aren't aware that this unfair tax is going on and it's time to get the conversation started. Why are we taxing women for being women? Let's do better, guys, no more tampon tax. *End Rant*
