Access to menstrual products is a matter of social, economic and political equity. ⠀ ⠀ Local, state, and federal government policies cause or exacerbate inequitable access by imposing sales taxes on menstrual products, refusing to provide products in prisons and jails, exempting menstrual products from public health benefits programs, and not making products uniformly available in public schools and homeless shelters.⠀ ⠀ To date, 31 states still have a #tampontax and consider menstrual products a “luxury."⠀ ⠀ @periodmovement, a global youth-led non-profits pushing you end period poverty and stigma through service, education and advocacy. Head over to their page to learn more about their work and to get involved! https://medium.com/periodmovement
Do you know what the #tampontax is?⠀ ⠀ “Tampon tax" is a popular term used to call attention to tampons, and other feminine hygiene products, being subject to value-added tax or sales tax, unlike the tax exemption status granted to other products considered basic necessities.⠀ ⠀ Why is this a big deal? ⠀ ⠀ The tampon tax is an obvious example of unfair gender discrimination. A 2015 study by the New York Department of Consumer Affairs compared nearly 800 retail items from over 90 brands ranging from children's toys to deodorant, specifically in search of potential gendered pricing.⠀ ⠀ For any given product, the "women's" version costs an average of 7 percent more than similar products for men, the study found. Of the 35 product categories tested, only five did not price higher for the women's version. ⠀ ⠀ It is important that we work to end this #pinktax because it limits women’s access and affordability to vital self care products. ⠀ ⠀ SPEAK UP to your local representatives and tell them that we need to end the pink tax, and that every woman has the right to affordable period products! ⠀ ⠀ Image via @periodmovement
