The Period Poverty Perspective

WOMEN’S PACKAGE the Period pOVERTY Perspective

Story by Samantha Cabeza | Photos by Angela Kyle | Design by Grace Winter Period poverty is a global issue that many women, people who are nonbinary, people who are transgender, low-income and homeless individuals struggle with. Menstrual products are taxed because they are considered nonessential, according to the American Medical Women’s Association. This is an issue many women experience in 35 states across the country.

Women in college and low-income individuals who get their period are the first to suffer from this taxation. High prices on menstrual products mean women have to decide between going to class or dropping out of school due to their period.

Being a woman is expensive. From clothes to toiletries, everything is overpriced and taxed. But you may not know that as of July 1, 2020, the Tampon Tax was eradicated in Washington state, meaning that your period doesn’t have to consistently break the bank. Or does it?

According to the American Medical Women’s Association, Many individuals in the U.S. face period poverty, the inability to afford menstrual products, necessary to anyone who has a period. Even though the removal of the tax cuts down the costs of tampons and pads, this doesn’t mean that everyone can afford these products.

Tampon Tax Because of the Senate Bill 5147, The Tampon Tax is exempt in Washington State which provides tax relief to females by exempting feminine hygiene products from retail and use tax, according to the Washington State Legislature.

Ella Daish, an environmental activist and founder of the #EndPeriodPlastic campaign says the hard work of campaigners and activists across the globe is starting to pay off.

“It is fantastic seeing states like Washington and countries like the UK taking action and addressing the issue by axing the tax,” Daish says.

States like Washington and New York are some of the first to get rid of the tax altogether, but there are still many states that still consider menstrual products to be a luxury. According to NPR and Viagra, dandruff shampoo and chapstick are not taxed because they are considered essential products. But why aren’t medical necessities viewed as the same?

Elle Altman, co-social media coordinator and executive board member at Bleed the North, a nonprofit based in Canada, says, that because menstrual products are still taxed and not covered under insurance, we as people are still a long way from equality.

Many websites and services offer discounts on period products, tax-free or even free products for individuals to obtain. #ReThinkPink is a website that sells period products, taxfree. It is one of many period campaigns that are aiming to support those in need. According to their website, they have helped save individuals 1.7 million dollars by removing the tax.

Periods During a Pandemic Activists like Daish offer resources for individuals who get their period and suffer from period poverty. She says she provides the “Eco Period Box” for people to purchase when they are struggling with affording menstrual products.

She explains she set this up as an initiative to encourage people to support those affected by period poverty by donating eco-friendly products which may be better for the people using them, but they could also have a minimal environmental impact, according to Daish.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, menstrual hygiene products aren’t covered by food stamp programs. This means that at the peak of the pandemic, many were struggling to afford menstrual products.

“Period products are incredibly expensive and inaccessible to many. In some places in Canada, menstruators have to pay $15-18 for a box of pads or tampons; that same amount of money could buy you an entire meal at your favorite. No individual should ever have to choose between having a comfortable period and having food on the table,” says Altman.

Jasmin Washington, former ASCWU President and Public Health master’s student at Tulane University, explains how she understands the pain other students go through when purchasing products that weren’t affordable. She also says she suffers from endometriosis, which means that Washington has to purchase many products that could last her through her cycle.

Like Washington, many women have to go through uncomfortable situations to get the essential products for themselves. However, due to high prices, many women have to say no to buying these products.

Period Poverty at Central As a freshman, Washington says she worked at the Wellness Center when menstrual

products were not offered for free to students. According to Washington, employees of the Wellness Center had to offer products they had purchased themselves to students who were in need of them.

Generation Action, a club on campus, and the Wellness Center conducted a survey in 2018 to gauge how many students needed free access to menstrual products. When the results were in, Washington says she eventually decided to run for ASCWU President and made it a priority to end period poverty among students.

“I started to research stories about period poverty, and they were all very similar to my own and other students who were struggling,” Washington says.’

According to Katie Zeppieri, author of GIRL TALK: Words Every World-Changing Girl Needs to Hear and host of ‘Power Chats” on Instagram Live, menstruation causes many women to miss school during their cycle and many drop out of college altogether. This is a decision some individuals have to decide on a month to month basis.

“Students should not have to worry about bleeding in class, they should be worried about producing schoolwork and being successful,” Washington explains. She adds she knew when she was elected as president, that she wanted to put an end to people having to choose between schooling and staying home.

During her presidency Washington explains she worked to have The Wellness Center store free menstrual products and now other locations such as the Rec Center and DEC. Projects such as these can be influential in the lives of students facing period poverty.

“Period poverty should not be happening anywhere on Earth in 2020. No one should miss out on their education, opportunities or be discriminated against because of their natural cycle,” Daish says.

Being able to afford menstrual products is necessary for many individuals, especially college students. Campaigns such as #EndPeriodPlastic or #ReThinkPink are changing the way people view and converse about period poverty.