Understand pink luxuries

May 12, 2020

Amy Stephenson, head of local Michigan-based organization, Helping Living Period, said she was astonished by the unreasonable prices of essential women’s products and the effect that it has on the female population.

“My friend and I founded (Helping Living Period) three and a half years ago after we read an article in the Huffington Post how homeless women don’t have access to pads and tampons,” Stephenson said. “They resort to using socks and newspaper and unimaginable unhygienic things.”

According to Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), the pink tax is a legitimate tax implemented by the government as well as the term used to describe disproportionate pricing of products marketed toward different genders.

Stephenson said most states apply the pink tax to necessary feminine products.

“(Menstrual products) are still taxed in the majority of states in our country, and it’s not covered under federal programs either, so it’s just expensive,” Stephenson said.

According to MPR, nine states, including Minnesota, have repealed the pink tax from products. The program director of Period, Eira Nylander, said she believes many other states’ and countries’ tax menstrual products because of misogynistic viewpoints.

“Other medications and products such as Viagra, hair loss medication, even chapstick are not (priced fairly). That affects the way people look at menstruation,” Nylander said.

According to Birdfeeder adviser Sophia Ross, the price differences between sexes even apply to children’s toys.

“I’ve seen where there’s a boy’s scooter and a girl’s scooter, exactly the same thing and it says that the girl’s scooter was like $49.99 and the boy’s scooter was $29.99,” Ross said.

According to Nylander, her career has made her realize the lack of knowledge revolving around luxury priced items.

“A lot of people don’t even know that there is a tax of menstrual products. I put so much emphasis on changing cultural norms and social media is a very strong weapon for that,” Nylander said.

Lower income families are affected the most because they are already struggling to pay for other necessities, according to Stephenson. She said they do not have the extra income to pay the tax on pads and tampons.

“When you have a fixed income, this is just one more thing that you have to pay for, that you don’t have the money for,” Stephenson said. “Families have to choose (between) buying products or getting food.”

Stephenson said she believes that despite the causes of the price disparity, feminine hygiene products must be affordable for all women.

“The equity issue covers a lot of different things, but from a pure cost standpoint we don’t have a choice. Like toilet paper, you have to have (menstrual products),” Stephenson said.

Nylander said Period primarily serves homeless menstruators because of the lack of resources available even within shelters.

“(Providing products) is something that a lot of organizations do not bear in mind. Shelters have food, they have clothes, they have different types of services available but they do not have menstrual products,” Nylander said.

Stephenson said there are many financial assistance programs in the United States that do not provide items under the pink tax to those who qualify for the programs.

“Its not covered under WIC, which is Women, Infant and Children. That’s where you can get groceries and things and financial assistance,” Stephenson said. “Even if you qualify (for WIC), you still can’t get free pads and tampons through there, which is kind of ludicrous.”

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