Illustration by Shannon Wright
Menstruating is literally hell. For 5-7 days out of the week, women go through excruciating pain as a reward for not being pregnant. We have to constantly make sure we aren’t leaking and sometimes forgo our favorite activities due to mother nature’s generosity.
Recently, I came across this tweet.
tampons should be available to ALL people who menstruate !! pic.twitter.com/CRHFLqmnhI
— Fem For All ?️? (@projectFem4All) February 16, 2017
I found it very interesting due to its truth. Having sex, is a voluntary action. Your body doesn’t just spontaneously burst into sex. However, a woman’s body does spontaneously, and involuntarily, bleed every month. Having to pay taxes and pay for pads in places like public restrooms, schools, and office places is just an added headache to our bodies that are already in emotional and physical agony.
Our lawmakers have continually failed its female constituents. Almost every state has a tax on feminine products. Instead of seeing feminine products as a necessity, they are taxed like a “luxury” good. We really should forgo feminine products and bleed wherever we go, and then maybe our mostly male lawmakers will see these products as a necessity.
It’s really interesting that men are given free products they need, while women are not afforded that same courtesy. It’s easier, doesn’t require medicine, and cheaper to not have sex than it is to simply not menstruate. If we can provide people with the means to have safe sex, we should be able to provide women with the means to have dignified periods.
When we need an emergency feminine product, we should not have to go to a machine and pay for it. We give out free condoms in places that have an increased rate of sexual activity, so why don’t we give out feminine products in places that women frequent? Women’s restrooms should be stocked with feminine products in schools, public areas, and places of work.
It’s important that women are equipped to have hassle free periods to give us an added boost of confidence. Menstruating is painful, and regardless of the fact that non-menstruating people love to legislate against people that experience menstruation, we need to take steps towards edifying women during their time of the month.
