How The ‘Tampon Tax’ Violates Human Rights

By Dani Barrington & Maggie Hardy

According to lifestyle gurus (e.g. Buzzfeed, Cosmopolitan, Hello Giggles, and Feministing), 2015 was the “Year of the Period,” when people around the world worked together to “normalize” what is, in fact, a completely normal bodily function.

But despite the buzz suggesting otherwise, it’s clear we still have a long way to go in treating menstruation like it should be treated.

The packaging and commercials are, of course, bad enough: To name but a couple examples, U.S. TV networks banned companies from mentioning what body part tampons are for a few years ago, and THINX subway adverts making the most vague of connections between women and menstruation were deemed “inappropriate” just last year.

But equally egregious is the way our legal systems treat menstruation: Consumers in many places — including Australia, the UK, and many U.S. states — must pay a “luxury tax” on menstrual hygiene products, as they are not considered “essential” items, unlike other goods such as condoms, dental dams and female condoms, lubricants, folic acid, sunscreen, and nicotine withdrawal aids. Unsurprisingly, many people find this tax ridiculous and discriminatory. And many of us — particularly in Australia and the United Kingdom — have been protesting about the injustice for years.