The Tampon Tax: Why Women Pay More for the Things They Can’t Control

Pic: https://metro.co.uk/2015/11/05/this-ad-campaign-perfectly-takes-the-piss-out-of-the-tampon-tax-5483092/#&gid=1&pid=1

Fun fact: In 40 of the 50 states, tampons and other menstrual products are considered “luxuries” and are therefore eligible to state sales taxes. You know what’s not taxed in most states? Chapstick. Vending machine food. Sunscreen. And Motherfucking Viagra.

Feminine hygiene products are not exempt from most state sales taxes, and are not considered medical necessities like prescription medications are. The “tampon tax” refers to the sales tax placed on feminine hygiene products because they’re categorized as “luxuries” instead of “necessities”.

To put it simply, women are unfairly taxed for something that they have no control over. And as liberating as “free-bleeding” is, tampons and pads are a necessity when it comes to simply going about our daily lives when we have our periods.

This tax can be seen as discriminatory because it really only affects those who experience periods, and have no choice but to spend money on products specifically designed for that time of the month.

It’s a frustrating concept, having to pay additional costs to an already costly recurrence. Personally, I despise my time of the month, because I usually have to shell out $10-$15 every couple of weeks for something that I really don’t want to be experiencing. This monthly expense is already a burden on our wallets, but it can be even more harmful to those who may not be able to afford these necessities on a monthly basis, especially in low-income situations when every dollar counts.

According to a 2015 experiment, women spend an average of $18,000 on everything period-related -- from tampons to new underwear -- in their lifetime. Imagine the things that can be done with that money if one wasn’t subjected to a couple day’s worth of bleeding every month for 30+ years. Honestly, I could put a downpayment on a nice apartment with that kind of money.

The good news: more and more states are passing legislation to make menstrual products tax-exempt. Florida excluded these products from sales taxes in January 2018, and is one of ten states to have done so.

So there’s progress. But for some, this might not be enough savings to really combat the expenses that having a period entails.

Thankfully, the University of Florida understands this monthly struggle, and under the initiative of Gators Matter, Period, more campus locations will be providing free menstrual products for students to use when “Aunt Flo” pays an unexpected visit. The UF Reitz information desk, the UF Infirmary, and various bathrooms in Library West and Marston Science Library will now be providing free menstrual products.