The Tampon Tax

Natasha Preskey, writer for the Independent has raised an important point, that a woman "earning minimum wage must work approximately 38 full working days to pay for her lifetime’s supply" of tampons. The fact that tampons are taxed as though they were a luxury product implies that they aren't essential. The very idea of being on your period and functioning without female sanitary products takes us back to the Dark Ages. 

If we look at places like Durban where women living below the poverty line cannot afford sanitary pads or similar products, the implications are huge. Girls are often left with no other choice than to miss school for the duration of their menstruation and many must "use pieces of cloth (isidwedwe), toilet paper or newspaper due to poverty [Women24.com]" which can cause rashes.

The very fact that women are debilitated every month through lack of access to these products shows they are essential, rendering the concept of tampons luxury items ridiculous. 
This highlights the underlying inequality between men and women. The fact that this issue only affects women demonstrates that this subtle discrimination passes unnoticed in our current society.

Ellen & Lili

Here is the original article for you to read:
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/theres-nothing-luxurious-about-my-periods-so-why-is-the-government-taxing-tampons-as-if-there-is-10045629.html

Women24.com reference: http://www.women24.com/Wellness/WomensHealth/Periods-and-poverty-20090623

Image Credit: Ellen