So, if you were on the internet about a month and a half ago, you remember the buzz about Ryan Williams and his “it’s all about self-control” statement about periods and the tampon tax.
He said with confidence, “People are saying tampons shouldn’t be taxed because they are a necessity but why can’t those women just learn to control their bladders?”
Did he just say we bleed out of our bladders?
Believe me—if we could control the bleeding, we would. We don't enjoy cramps, bloating, headaches, mood swings, and feeling all around crappy for a week, but we get through it because it's natural and that's what females do. The one exciting thing about getting them is the confirmation that we're not pregnant (if we weren’t trying to be). Without menstruation, without all the disgusting uncontrollable monthly bleeding, fools like this wouldn't be born. Yet they have the audacity to say such crude (and anatomically incorrect) statements.
Males, what if I told you to control your ever-growing facial hair in which your products for maintaining that are not taxed, or let's see... your erections? Don't even act like you don't get UNEXPECTED erections. It's only nature. So leave us alone. Or should we have your "essential" Viagra, razors and condoms taxed too? Men-geared products are already 7% cheaper than women-geared products even if they perform the same task, essential or not.
Condoms are given away for free at health facilities and schools. I have never seen a place that gave away free tampons and pads other than the school nurse’s office where you’ll have to withstand a lecture about not bringing your own products with you. I hate when I end up leaking blood on my underwear, and sometimes all the way through my pants and I get called-out because I wasn't prepared and that I "should know when my period is coming".
It’s not like “Oh no, I forgot my condoms, good thing there’s a whole bowl of free ones here.”
This availability should be open to feminine hygiene products because, yes, we do get our periods every month if we aren't on birth control and we have regulated flows. Not all of us have steady periods. Sometimes factors interfere, such as stress, sicknesses, excessive weight gain/loss, exercise, diet, and medications. We may be able to estimate, but we will never know exactly what day or what time it will start. So, we do have emergencies. We are not always prepared and we're not apologizing for it. We would be lucky to find a friend that has some to spare.
They cost at least 25 or 50 cents in public restrooms and the quality is so bad that I’d rather use folded paper towels than sit on a poor-absorbent hot dog bun until I can get access to better products.
New Jersey is one of the five states that do not tax tampons so truthfully, I didn't realize the extra percentage I had to pay until I stumbled upon a receipt I found in my bag after a trip to New York. Then I thought how this affects people in most of the states that do have a tax on feminine hygiene products because they are considered non-essential. It’s not fair at all. Canada removed their tax this past summer, so it's definitely possible.
Is it considered a luxury item because we, in the U.S. don't have to use wool or papyrus anymore? Would you like us to sit on a bucket all day perhaps? Tampons allow us to perform our work more effectively, to go about our days with more freedom to move comfortably. But apparently there's a tax on that freedom that basically says we have to pay more money just for having a uterus.
A California assemblywoman, Cristina Garcia said this:
I remember having to sit through my sixth grade history class because my FEMALE teacher wouldn't let me go to the bathroom, even after I begged. So no, I'm not targeting just males with this one. In my head I was like, "she probably hasn't had her period in 10 years, but as a lady, shouldn't she catch a hint?" I was 11 years old with cramps and a shedding uterine wall. At this time, I was only using pads and those things do not hold for long. I didn't start using tampons until I was 17, I admit. I had to wait until class ended and everyone left the room before I stood up. The seat was stained so I'm sure there is no need to explain how my jeans turned out. It may have been embarrassing but I had no control. My uterus wasn’t going to stop because it thought it was being rude for interrupting my class time.
We are neglected because it seems unimportant and easy for people who don't experience it. We are trained to hide our pads and tampons—even from family members. We are made to be ashamed of our own nature because it's "gross". Much like how women are shamed for the nature of breastfeeding, our periods are deemed just as embarrassing and repulsive as well. We pay more for the things we NEED and that must change.
Lord Almighty, forbid if women ask for justice and equality for one more damn thing.
