Would you believe me if I told you that more than a third of the states in the USA have a luxury sales tax on menstrual products? Well…it’s true! As of October 31, 2023, 21 states tax period products. I know, I know — I was shocked too when I first heard it. This piece is intended to give you a brief run-down of what the tampon tax is so you can be more aware and maybe even contribute to ending this inequality.
First things first, what is it? The tampon tax refers to sales tax (often considered a luxury) on menstrual hygiene products. These products are considered a luxury; however, menstrual products are so important for so many reasons and are, in my opinion, a necessity. I could not imagine getting my period at 11 and not having access to pads because they were too expensive.
So how much are these taxes? According to Statista as of October 31, 2023, the highest tax was 7% in 3 of the 21 states: Tennessee, Indiana, and Mississippi. This is a lot. Let me help put it into perspective. Sugar-soda drinks are not federally taxed, but locally taxed meaning cities can decide whether or not to tax the product. Only 4 cities in California tax sodas, and it is thought that oftentimes, when soda is taxed it is to discourage people from buying it. If soda is not a state debate, then neither should a necessary health product.
Additionally, there are so many costs that go into menstruation. Many of us use menstrual products such as pads or tampons, maybe some of us use the cup, but I would also go as far to say a lot of us spend money on pain medication as well as laundry for the excess amount of clothes we wear during our cycle. Moral of the story, having a period can be super expensive – especially without the tampon tax.
Now that we have established on the base level how pressing of an issue this is, let me direct you to ways of helping others (if it is within your means). The first way is donating! Feeling like you have some extra and you don’t mind giving them away? Or maybe you are going out to buy tampons and can buy a second box to donate? If you are, look for local donation drives in your area. Maybe this is through a club at your school or maybe it’s through a local menstrual equity non-profit near you. Another way is through volunteering! Maybe your school’s club or a nearby Non-profit is asking for some volunteers to help bag some products to distribute, or maybe they need you to host a drop off location. On the off chance you don’t have a club that advocates for menstrual equity, or maybe the non-profits near you don’t align with your goals, but if you really want to get involved, then you should totally consider hosting your own drive! The more the merrier! This list can go on and on, but the last one I’ll list for today is voting! If you live in a state that has a tax on menstrual products and you agree with me that that is wrong, vote it out! These things are rapidly changing – petitions are being made, people are protesting, your voice matters, so make your voice heard.
I hope this piece gives you a better understanding of the issues of menstrual equity, and ways to get involved to end this injustice. Like I said, these things are changing every day, so hopefully, by working together we can soon even things out a little more and create a more equal society.