Pink at Park
May 12, 2020
Lynch said the extra tax on women’s products is not only unfair, but it creates an endless cycle that is detrimental to women.
“I think it is pretty messed up that companies are targeting gender and who they’re marketing and selling products to,” Lynch said. “Not only do women make less money per dollar than men do, but by making women’s products more expensive, they’re then having to spend more and it is just a continuous cycle that is kind of screwing over women.”
Ross, who is also a business marketing teacher at Park, said the extra cost for women’s products may be because of tariffs on imports.
“Things that we get from other countries are taxed differently and so that’s not anything that we could control. It’s the government’s control on negotiating our tariffs and sometimes certain products for females are taxed more when they come into this country,” Ross said.
Junior Yoni Potter said he believes the pink tax is an unnecessary and unjust payment inflicted deliberately by the government.
“I think it’s really unfair that in our society, where women get paid less, they’re expected to pay more for products that they need. The government considers them to be a luxury but they’re really necessities,” Potter said.
Nylander said her organization targets primarily local homeless youth and young adults, yet often finds challenges with viewing the end result.
“It is hard to get our numbers and statistics because the only thing we can do really is get those products to shelters. We look at how education and cultural notions of what periods are and it effects the way people look at it,” Nylander said.
Ross said there are different places around the school where students can get hygiene products if they need them, including the Birdfeeder.
“I do know if you go to the nurse’s office, you can always get a free tampon or pad if you need it,” Ross said. “Here at the Birdfeeder, we would be more than happy to help supply those things for students that we’re already serving food with if they need it.”