WHAT IF TAMPONS WERE FREE?

​

 

SIGN ME UP! 

 

New York City recently announced a bill calling for free tampons in public schools, restrooms, shelters and jails. Free tampons!! Whhhhat? For women, that’s like hearing it’s going to rain chocolate later today.

 

According to Monday's NYTimes, the state of New York does not tax groceries, prescription drugs or condoms, but guess what it still taxes tampons and sanitary pads. Whhhhat?

 

Groceries – necessary to live.

Drugs – necessary to relieve pain.

Condoms – necessary to decrease the chance of pregnancy and the spread of STI’s.

Tampons/pads – necessary to avoid bleeding publicly ... oh wait ... No, you’re on your own ladies, these aren’t necessary according to the law.

 

As women, we hide tampons up our sleeves when we walk down the hall to take care of business.  Why?  Do we feel ashamed, or is it just a sense of politeness cause we don’t want to offend anyone?  And... why should periods offend anyone when they've been happening since the dawn of time?

 

There’s a fear that providing free tampons in public restrooms will offer women the opportunity for rampant tampon hoarding. Why is there such a lack of faith in our sisters? When you read this bill, your first may be “Nooo! They’re going to steal them all!!”  Probably not.  Cause if we’re going to follow the logic of charging for emergency lady gauze then we might as well charge for each pull on the toilet paper at those blessed interstate rest stops. 

 

According to Free the Tampons, a non-profit founded to do exactly what their name implies, 86% of women report they’ve started their period unexpectedly in public without the supplies they need. It’s in these moments of necessity, like at a concert in the park, or a road trip to granny’s, that free tampons in public restrooms could be a lifesaver.  At some point we’ve all been there. Either we’ve forgetten the tampon or we don’t have a quarter. And isn't collectively supporting an advancement in women’s rights, no matter how far removed it may be from our own necessity, the way we affect change. 

 

But how is it that this discussion is just now coming to light? And why is the care of our female organs whose sole purpose is to bring new life, still taboo and up for debate? 

 

Today's discussion of free tampons harkens back to a long history of silence and shame for women's rights. Consider The Red Tent, a novel by Anita Diamant, which brings to light the profound suffering of women. The female characters in this story were shuttered away from the men each month in a tent, to transition collectively.  Yet what became of that short time together was more powerful and healing than the stigma they felt when they emerged. While the accounts aren't based in fact, they remind us that we bear a great legacy, that of our children. Despite the fact it's 2016, we still hear arguments over the rights of our bodies. We need to ask ourselves if this is what we want for our daughters.   And if not, we need to speak up.

 

How does one affect change on this topic? Do we boycott feminine products? The thought of that is icky, it would really get the point across. What about lobbying for a week off work and school every month? Maybe we should go back to those red tent days? Pitch our red tents in Central Park. I can picture it now, hoards of women in their tents, running rom-coms in the background, an endless spigot of wine, and a chocolate fountain.  Holy jeez, that sounds like a magical place. 

 

But in all seriousness, the more women talk about topics, like feminine napkins, menstruation, hair down there, birth control, and yes, even abortions, the more empowered and less shame we'll feel.

 

We're not saying woman we must live or die by the sisterhood, but aren’t we more apt to affect change by joining together. So, here’s a petition. Let's take time to read it... consider signing it.. join the effort to free tampons... and let go of the bloody shame! 

 

We #freethetampons

the guilty girls