By Maria de Lourdes Campos |Staff Writer|
Periods have been stigmatized since the turn of the century.
As a result, there are negative ideologies associated with menstruation and womanhood.
With the rise of the “tampon tax,” all these negative connotations have resurfaced and have brought to the forefront issues like taxes, inequality, and sexism.
The tampon tax is a tax that imposes a 5 percent increase on feminine hygienic products like tampons, pads, and douches, according to the E.U. legislator.
“The tampon tax is when tampons and sanitary pads are taxed as luxury items, which often times are higher priced, than non-luxury items like sunscreen or condoms. This new legislation sends the message that menstruation is a burden or an extra, when in fact, it’s something natural that happens to people who menstruate,” said student Chuy Pavana.
When put into perspective, tampons and sanitary pads are already costly, and with this new legislation it is more than ten dollars a month for woman to upkeep their personal toiletries and hygienic products at a low cost.
These funds can be used for transportation, food, books, parking, and anything else that pertains to school.
The tampon tax poses a financial infringement on both students here at CSUSB and 40 other states.
However, Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Philly have yet to implement this “luxury tax.”
“It seems ridiculous to charge taxes on hygienic items it is absurd. It’s akin to taxing soap or detergent, except targeting a specific gender,” stated student Alex Hruska.
“The tampon tax is based on the assumption that a tampon is a luxury item, but tampons are a basic menstrual hygiene need for all woman because without it can cause things like cervical cancer and other bacterial infections,” said Marissa Wollard.
This new legislation classifying tampons as a luxury item can be seen as sexist, because it oppresses woman and celebrates men.
How is it that things like sun screen and condoms are free and sanitary pads and tampons are not?
As of last year, as many as 100,000 woman have signed a petition to abolish the tax.
Women have also gone online to talk about this issue, in order to remove the “luxury tax” and bring awareness to this issue.
If the tampon tax continues, “Woman will just have to go free and bleed out,” said student Rita Champaphanith.
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