It’s Not Just the Tampon Tax: Why Periods Are Political
The New York Times
By Karen Zraick
The average woman has her period for 2,535 days of her life. That’s nearly seven years’ time of making sure you have a pad or tampon, finding a makeshift solution if you don’t, and managing pain and discomfort.
And lately, women — and transgender and nonbinary people who menstruate — are talking about it in public more than ever before.
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In the House, Representative Grace Meng, Democrat of New York, has introduced two related bills. One aims to make periods more affordable, in part by allowing employees to use flexible spending accounts to buy pads and tampons, and requiring companies with more than 100 employees to provide them. The other would require manufacturers to disclose ingredients in such products.
“Interest in this issue grows every single day,” Ms. Meng said. “It’s really about accessibility and equity.”
