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In a progressive move inspired by Scotland’s declaration that access to menstrual products is a fundamental human right, California is on track to potentially require free menstrual products in public schools. Assemblywoman Maya Johnson was motivated by Scotland’s initiative to provide free period products to anyone in need. Following the unanimous approval of the Period Products Bill by Scotland’s Parliament, which mandates that schools, universities, and publicly funded facilities offer free menstrual products in all bathrooms, Johnson decided to enhance her 2017 legislation that had already mandated low-income schools to provide free menstrual supplies for students. Now, California might extend this accessibility to all public schools.
Although California will remain free of the so-called “tampon tax” until 2023, starting from the 2022-2023 academic year, all schools for grades 6-12, as well as the California State University and University of California systems, and community colleges, will be required to provide free menstrual products to students. Currently, there are no known opponents to this law. Five other states—Virginia, New Hampshire, Illinois, New York, and Oregon—have already enacted similar legislation to ensure students have access to free menstrual products. This should be a standard practice across the nation, as menstruation can be costly, unpredictable, and life-altering.
According to Period Equity, there are still 27 states that impose taxes on menstrual products, categorizing them as “luxury” items. However, the notion that not being able to manage menstruation is a luxury is absurd. If we consider products that allow individuals to attend work and school as luxuries, then healthcare items like erectile dysfunction medications should also be taxed. Johnson pointed out that (cisgender) women spend approximately $20 million annually on menstrual products.
A menstruator can expect to spend around 2,535 days of their life dealing with menstruation, and financial circumstances significantly influence how they manage this natural process. For those already experiencing financial hardship, the cost of menstrual supplies can be prohibitive, compounded by the stigma surrounding periods—commonly referred to as period poverty, which affects 500 million individuals globally. This problem isn’t confined to developing nations; a 2019 study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology revealed that two-thirds of low-income women assigned female at birth in St. Louis faced difficulties affording menstrual products at least once in the past year, with 20% experiencing this issue monthly. Additionally, research from Thinx, a company specializing in period underwear, found that one in five teens has struggled to afford menstrual products.
The website Free The Tampon provides alarming statistics regarding the anxiety and emotional distress caused by the lack of access to menstrual products in public settings. A staggering 86% of respondents reported that they began their period unexpectedly without supplies, prompting 79% to resort to makeshift solutions using toilet paper. Many have experienced the frustration and embarrassment of being unprepared, a sentiment echoed by countless individuals who have found themselves in similar situations.
Furthermore, 53% of those surveyed sought supplies from another menstruator, while 32% chose to return home to retrieve necessary products. If toilet paper and soap are provided for free in restrooms, then menstrual products should be equally accessible. The distress of being caught without the means to manage menstruation can be overwhelming and distracting, making it hard to focus on work or studies.
It’s essential to clarify that this issue transcends gender—it affects anyone who menstruates. Ensuring menstrual products are available to all genders in restrooms helps to eliminate the stigma and recognize that non-binary individuals and transgender men also experience menstruation.
Kudos to California and the advocates like Johnson for their dedication to making menstrual products accessible to all, thereby eliminating the perception of these necessary items as luxuries. It’s time for the rest of the United States to follow suit.
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