“Period Tax” is the taxation of menstrual and feminine hygiene products that deem them as “non-essential goods.” Menstruation is a biological process that women endure, the societal control over these biological necessities for the purpose of profit and control is one that must be addressed. While some public spaces have begun supplying free hygiene products, this should be expanded to include all public spaces and have a variety of options to make it accessible to all.
Menstrual products are already costly, and the additional tax that is placed on them makes it difficult for low-income and communities of color to access them. As a result, a period poverty exists, especially for vulnerable communities and youth. This poverty exists as “government funded programs do not account for menstrual products nor include it as a benefit to be spent on”(Cooper, 2021). This is a gender-based discrimination, that allows state governments to profit off the health needs of women. Non-essential goods such as dandruff shampoo and erectile dysfunction pills, however, are exempt from this sales tax, implying that menstrual products are not necessities. Further, governmental assisted programs do not account for feminine hygiene products, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, individuas who obtain tampons resulting from trading of food stamps can be prosecuted. A change in legislation is needed to achieve an equity that addresses protection on menstrual products.
The tax on period products deems them as luxury items, in other words, non-essential goods. All women are affected by this, but most especially low-income and communities of color. No women should have to worry about the cost of biological necessities and having access to hygiene products. This discrimination is based off the laws created by men to profit off of women. Menstrual products should be exempt by state sales tax while also being accesible to all.
source: Cooper, E.B. (2021). WHAT’S LAW GOT TO DO WITH IT? DIGNITY AND MENSTRUATION. Columbia Journal of Gender and Law, suppl. Thirtieth Anniversary Symposium, 41, 39-52.
