4 ms·

It’s Not Just the Tampon Tax: Why Periods Are Political

21 points by 0xbxd 8y ago

cimmanom 8y ago
Startups struggling to hire and retain women: stocking feminine hygiene supplies in your bathrooms is one small inexpensive change you can make that will make a meaningful difference in quality of life for the women in your office. It’s a great way to show that you care and are thinking about their needs. And when women visit to interview and make a stop at the restroom, they WILL notice. If your space has its own bathrooms and you’re already providing free snacks and sodas, there’s no good excuse not to do this.
- jbob2000 8y ago
  Counter argument: the generic hygiene products that most companies would stock would get rarely used because they aren’t the preferred size/brand or don’t have needed features. And software shops are often in cities where a local drugstore is right around the corner, where people can get their preferred products. Spend the money on cleaning the washroom 3x a day instead. That will make people happy at all times of the month. And provide employees with lockers or a large drawer to store whatever personal products they may need.
  - cimmanom 8y ago
    They may not be the preferred products, and they may not get used often - but by god, when you need them you need them. When your period starts a day earlier than expected and you have to be in a meeting in two minutes, you’ll take what you can get, and go around the corner to the pharmacy later. The rest of that (cleaning the bathrooms frequently and giving employees private storage space) should be a given anyway and isn’t mutually exclusive with providing hygiene products in the restroom. And the tiny amount of money you’d save by not providing those products isn’t going to go very far towards accomplishing those other goals.
    - jbob2000 8y ago
      Fair points. It doesn’t cost much, so why not!
devnonymous 8y ago
Coincidentally India just abolished the GST (goods and services tax, similar to VAT in EU) for sanitary napkins (which from a male Indian un-clued viewpoint, appear to be more preferred than tampons in India). It was a very humbling experience when I first learned about and subsequently saw the effect of periods with women that I knew. It's absolutely amazing that women go through this every month and society doesn't treat this as an achievement! If men had to go through something similar, I'd bet there be a day for commemorating the sacrifices all men around the world make!
- cup-of-tea 8y ago
  I can't think of much more condescending than applauding women for dealing with a completely normal fact of life. Women could applaud themselves for it, but they don't because they just get on with it. Should we also applaud men for dealing with problems unique to men? Or maybe applaud all of us for dealing with colds and flus every year? If you're a man, focus on problems unique to men or common to all of us. 50% of the population are women and they can focus on the problems unique to women.
  - devnonymous 8y ago
    Why is applauding something I honestly find applause worthy condescending? I said what I said because I can honestly say if everything about me were to remain the same except for going through monthly periods, I wouldn't just be able to 'get on with it'. Periods, pregnancy, child birth all are a part of life and yes women get on with these but that doesn't make it less amazing and saying so isn't condescension, it's admiration. As for colds and flus, yay! for all those champs who weather them like heros! I have the good fortune to not have them with the yearly (or more) frequency that some people have.... But its not the same thing as periods.
    - cup-of-tea 8y ago
      > I said what I said because I can honestly say if everything about me were to remain the same except for going through monthly periods, I wouldn't just be able to 'get on with it'. You have absolutely no reason to believe that. In fact I am certain that if you developed some regular discomfort you would definitely "get on with it". Do you really think you are less capable than half of the population?
Shivetya 8y ago
Removing taxation of them as medical devices makes sense, additional tax credits towards the purchase seems a reach as does requiring employers beyond a certain size to provide them. that should last entry should be covered by the medical plan. that does not mean they should not stock them in employee rest rooms for making work life stresses easier to cope with because there are just "those" days. What needs legislation is guaranteeing women access to facilities to take care of menstrual needs should that arise during work hours. the fact that we need intervention to get jails to treat prisoners of any sex humanely is ridiculous and those bills focusing on that element need to fast track separately and quickly. state and county run facilities are some of the worst because they hide behind sovereign immunity and their officials use qualified immunity to skirt helping inmates.
tobyhinloopen 8y ago
My glasses are necessary too but I still pay (sales) taxes on them. And food. And water. Where is the line drawn?
- cimmanom 8y ago
  Many places do not collect sales tax on food. In NYC, for instance, prepared foods are taxed but general groceries are not. And you’re free to lobby for lifting taxes on glasses. I’d support that. The argument against sales tax on feminine hygiene products is that its punitive towards and entire class of people. It’s especially difficult for women in or on the edge of poverty. People who are already struggling to choose between food and rent or food and utilities can’t easily afford and extra $25/mo to keep from bleeding all over their clothes. Adding $2 in tax on top of that can mean forgoing another two meals. I’ve spoken to women who would just stuff their underwear with toilet paper from their workplace bathrooms and pray they didn’t leak through, because they couldn’t afford anything more reliable. This is something men don’t have to worry about, and unfortunately it’s still almost entirely men writing the laws about what gets taxed.
- omilu 8y ago
  two wrongs don't make a right
franga2000 8y ago
Is it impossible to do anything these days without stupid buzzwords and catchphrases? "menstrual equity", "tampon tax", "period poverty"... I agree with the points of the people behind this, but this just makes me take them less seriously. Say it like it is: "We want menstrual hygiene products to be exempted from sales tax and mandatory in all public restrooms". No sane person is going to argue against that.
eevilspock 8y ago
Here are the highlights from the Twitter discussion linked in the article: My office bought tampons for female visitors and our staff. Then we got an email from @HouseAdmnGOP telling us we couldn’t use funds to purchase a necessary hygiene product. That’s ridiculous. Would @HouseAdmn also say you shouldn’t buy facial tissue for those in the office who sneeze or have runny nose? Who pays for toilet paper on Capitol Hill? Thank you, @RepSeanMaloney, for yr efforts towards gender equity in workplace + elimination of #periodstigma cc @jweisswolf In more than 22 states, feminine hygiene products like tampons are taxed, while rogaine and Viagra are not. Please help shine the spotlight and THANK YOU on behalf of women. BUT YOU CAN USE FUNDS TO PAY THE LEGAL FEES FOR THEM FOR THEIR SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASES????? WHITE MALE PRIVILEGE????

21 points by 0xbxd 8y ago

Startups struggling to hire and retain women: stocking feminine hygiene supplies in your bathrooms is one small inexpensive change you can make that will make a meaningful difference in quality of life for the women in your office. It’s a great way to show that you care and are thinking about their needs. And when women visit to interview and make a stop at the restroom, they WILL notice. If your space has its own bathrooms and you’re already providing free snacks and sodas, there’s no good excuse not to do this.

jbob2000 8y ago
Counter argument: the generic hygiene products that most companies would stock would get rarely used because they aren’t the preferred size/brand or don’t have needed features. And software shops are often in cities where a local drugstore is right around the corner, where people can get their preferred products. Spend the money on cleaning the washroom 3x a day instead. That will make people happy at all times of the month. And provide employees with lockers or a large drawer to store whatever personal products they may need.
- cimmanom 8y ago
  They may not be the preferred products, and they may not get used often - but by god, when you need them you need them. When your period starts a day earlier than expected and you have to be in a meeting in two minutes, you’ll take what you can get, and go around the corner to the pharmacy later. The rest of that (cleaning the bathrooms frequently and giving employees private storage space) should be a given anyway and isn’t mutually exclusive with providing hygiene products in the restroom. And the tiny amount of money you’d save by not providing those products isn’t going to go very far towards accomplishing those other goals.
  - jbob2000 8y ago
    Fair points. It doesn’t cost much, so why not!

devnonymous 8y ago

Coincidentally India just abolished the GST (goods and services tax, similar to VAT in EU) for sanitary napkins (which from a male Indian un-clued viewpoint, appear to be more preferred than tampons in India). It was a very humbling experience when I first learned about and subsequently saw the effect of periods with women that I knew. It's absolutely amazing that women go through this every month and society doesn't treat this as an achievement! If men had to go through something similar, I'd bet there be a day for commemorating the sacrifices all men around the world make!

cup-of-tea 8y ago
I can't think of much more condescending than applauding women for dealing with a completely normal fact of life. Women could applaud themselves for it, but they don't because they just get on with it. Should we also applaud men for dealing with problems unique to men? Or maybe applaud all of us for dealing with colds and flus every year? If you're a man, focus on problems unique to men or common to all of us. 50% of the population are women and they can focus on the problems unique to women.
- devnonymous 8y ago
  Why is applauding something I honestly find applause worthy condescending? I said what I said because I can honestly say if everything about me were to remain the same except for going through monthly periods, I wouldn't just be able to 'get on with it'. Periods, pregnancy, child birth all are a part of life and yes women get on with these but that doesn't make it less amazing and saying so isn't condescension, it's admiration. As for colds and flus, yay! for all those champs who weather them like heros! I have the good fortune to not have them with the yearly (or more) frequency that some people have.... But its not the same thing as periods.
  - cup-of-tea 8y ago
    > I said what I said because I can honestly say if everything about me were to remain the same except for going through monthly periods, I wouldn't just be able to 'get on with it'. You have absolutely no reason to believe that. In fact I am certain that if you developed some regular discomfort you would definitely "get on with it". Do you really think you are less capable than half of the population?

Shivetya 8y ago

Removing taxation of them as medical devices makes sense, additional tax credits towards the purchase seems a reach as does requiring employers beyond a certain size to provide them. that should last entry should be covered by the medical plan. that does not mean they should not stock them in employee rest rooms for making work life stresses easier to cope with because there are just "those" days. What needs legislation is guaranteeing women access to facilities to take care of menstrual needs should that arise during work hours. the fact that we need intervention to get jails to treat prisoners of any sex humanely is ridiculous and those bills focusing on that element need to fast track separately and quickly. state and county run facilities are some of the worst because they hide behind sovereign immunity and their officials use qualified immunity to skirt helping inmates.

tobyhinloopen 8y ago

My glasses are necessary too but I still pay (sales) taxes on them. And food. And water. Where is the line drawn?

cimmanom 8y ago
Many places do not collect sales tax on food. In NYC, for instance, prepared foods are taxed but general groceries are not. And you’re free to lobby for lifting taxes on glasses. I’d support that. The argument against sales tax on feminine hygiene products is that its punitive towards and entire class of people. It’s especially difficult for women in or on the edge of poverty. People who are already struggling to choose between food and rent or food and utilities can’t easily afford and extra $25/mo to keep from bleeding all over their clothes. Adding $2 in tax on top of that can mean forgoing another two meals. I’ve spoken to women who would just stuff their underwear with toilet paper from their workplace bathrooms and pray they didn’t leak through, because they couldn’t afford anything more reliable. This is something men don’t have to worry about, and unfortunately it’s still almost entirely men writing the laws about what gets taxed.
omilu 8y ago
two wrongs don't make a right

franga2000 8y ago

Is it impossible to do anything these days without stupid buzzwords and catchphrases? "menstrual equity", "tampon tax", "period poverty"... I agree with the points of the people behind this, but this just makes me take them less seriously. Say it like it is: "We want menstrual hygiene products to be exempted from sales tax and mandatory in all public restrooms". No sane person is going to argue against that.

eevilspock 8y ago

Here are the highlights from the Twitter discussion linked in the article: My office bought tampons for female visitors and our staff. Then we got an email from @HouseAdmnGOP telling us we couldn’t use funds to purchase a necessary hygiene product. That’s ridiculous. Would @HouseAdmn also say you shouldn’t buy facial tissue for those in the office who sneeze or have runny nose? Who pays for toilet paper on Capitol Hill? Thank you, @RepSeanMaloney, for yr efforts towards gender equity in workplace + elimination of #periodstigma cc @jweisswolf In more than 22 states, feminine hygiene products like tampons are taxed, while rogaine and Viagra are not. Please help shine the spotlight and THANK YOU on behalf of women. BUT YOU CAN USE FUNDS TO PAY THE LEGAL FEES FOR THEM FOR THEIR SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASES????? WHITE MALE PRIVILEGE????