Period Plunder
The stigma around a woman’s period, one of the most natural processes our body has to offer, has become apparent in this past century. However, there’s no doubt that in that century, there has been a significant advancement in the creation of safe and usable menstrual hygiene products. There was once a time when women couldn’t venture outside their house after getting their period, let alone go to school, or play sports like so many do today. From Johnson & Johnson’s first sanitary napkin in 1896 to the creation of sustainable reusable period underwear, we sure have come a long way in terms of managing periods.
Before we get into the problem at hand, we must define a period, scientifically, to once again reiterate what this process does for our body. Without getting too graphic, a period, or menstrual cycle occurs monthly, it is in preparation for a possible pregnancy. Each month, the ovaries release an egg to be fertilized, and the hormones prepare the uterus for pregnancy. If a pregnancy doesn’t occur, the blood lining the uterus is released every 21 to 35 days. Additionally, periods don’t just occur in women, they can occur in transgender men as well.
Based on a study by the International Women’s Health Coalition, there are roughly 5,000 slang words in only 10 different languages used to refer to a period. This statistic characterizes how heavily the simple word ‘period’ has been stigmatized around the world. Due to the stigma associated with the process, many women from underprivileged areas lack education and access to proper period products. As a result, many women from these areas are forced to miss school each month. But don’t be fooled, this isn’t just a problem in developing countries. In the US, 42 states have taxes on period products because they are considered ‘non-essential goods’. Additionally, around 25 million people are under the poverty line in the US, but these products aren’t even covered by Food Stamps.
But there is a light at the end of the tunnel, voices speaking out against period poverty are being heard.
Scotland’s Bill for Period Products
In November 2020, Scotland became the first country to make period products free and accessible to all. Local authorities are now placed with a legal, civic duty to ensure that pads and tampons are available to everyone in need of them. Parts of Scotland like North Ayrshire have been following this practice since 2018. This bill was finally passed after a four-year-long campaign led by Monica Lennon, the Scottish Labor Party’s health spokeswoman. According to the Guardian, Lennon said, “This will make a massive difference to the lives of women and girls and everyone who menstruates. There has already been great progress at a community level and through local authorities in giving everyone the chance of period dignity.” Additionally, she was hopeful that open discussion over menstruation processes would be welcome everywhere, another area the bill aims to pinpoint.
The Pandemic’s Role with Period Products
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, period poverty has surged as a result of the inability to pay hefty prices for these products. Lennon cited the bill as practical for current times, “Periods don’t stop for pandemics, and the work to improve access to essential tampons, pads and reusables has never been more important.” This bill was essential for the Scottish people as about one in four of over 2,000 individuals surveyed said they faced struggles in gaining access to period products with about half saying they missed school due to their period. Another study conducted by the group ‘Women for Independence’ uncovered the harsh reality that around one in five women had experienced period poverty. Period poverty clearly affects much more than just the hygiene of a woman, which is why it is vital to call attention to the problem.
During the debate over the bill, Scottish Parliament Member, Alison Johnstone said, “Being financially penalized for a natural bodily function is not equitable or just. Being unable to afford or access period products denies women access to education, work, sport and so much more.” In Scotland, women spend anywhere between £8 and £15 a month on just-period products. This adds up quickly and results in thousands of pounds spent throughout their lifetime. Now that the legislation is in place, the Scottish government plans to spend around £8.7 million a year putting it into place.
Though this is a big leap for Scotland, it isn’t all that new to them. In 2017, first minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that all schools, colleges, and universities would be required to give out free period products to all students. In doing so, they became the world’s first country to put this into place. By making the law universal for all places in Scotland, it cements the earlier bill as well.
To recap, this bill, along with providing free period products to those who need them, Scotland will work to develop an app with the organization Hey Girls in which people can locate and access free period products. They will promote open discussion about periods and campaigns to remove the stigma around periods with the #TalkPeriods campaign.
The Pink Tax
The ‘pink tax’ refers to the higher price placed on feminine products which are more or less the same as those of men with only minor cosmetic differences. Yet another realm of society in which women have treated subordinately to that of men. As a result of women often buying more cosmetic products, companies saw this as a money-making opportunity and began to hike up prices.
The ‘tampon tax’ is essentially an extension of the pink tax itself, it is the sales tax that falls on menstrual hygiene products. This tax is in effect in 36 states today. These states have the option to make tax exemptions, but none of them have taken action thus far. The state of Florida has tax exemptions on marshmallows, if a non-necessity such as this is relieved from taxes, why can’t essential hygiene products be as well?
The tampon tax can add up over a while and severely affect low-income households.
Other Countries Combating Period Poverty
Though Scotland may be the first, it isn’t the only country actively working to end period poverty. New Zealand recently became the second country to require schools and universities to provide free period products to everyone in need of them. Their national initiative will begin in June 2021 at their primary, intermediate, and secondary schools. It will benefit around 20,000 students who suffer from period poverty. Expected costs for this bill will be around $17.96 million, according to the New York Times.
In January 2021, Britain also said they would repeal the tampon tax. This action was also taken by several states in the US- Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and more. Five states- Alaska, Delaware, New Hampshire, Montana, Oregon- don’t even have a sales tax in the first place. California, Illinois, New York, and New Hampshire have even taken it as far as giving public school students access to free menstrual hygiene products.
Where do we go from here?
There are many different organizations working around the world, ‘round the clock’ to make these products accessible to everyone who menstruates. It’s never too late to get involved in fighting this social justice issue around the world. But the first step is to educate yourself on the problem and acknowledge that a period isn’t just the end of a sentence.
Cover image from :https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/24/uk/scotland-period-products-vote-scli-gbr-intl/index.html