Poverty Awareness and the Hidden Barriers to Equality #1: The Menstruation Tax
Do you ever think about how much a period costs? Women living in poverty have to think about it, and sometimes have to make a choice between going without sanitary products or going without food or electricity. This isn't just a reflection on the price of sanitary towels and tampons (whose manufacturers make around 60% profit on these essential items, even before the retailers add their profit margin ) but also a shocking reflection on the fact that our government adds VAT to this insult to women, judging their monthly needs to be ‘non-essential’ in VAT law.
In Comas’ Womanzone project, we see the harm caused by abuse, violence and addiction, in our work to support women and their children to recover from trauma. What many don’t even think about, is the traumatising effect of poverty on women, and how it can rob them of dignity in a way the national headlines will never shout about. As a social worker with women experiencing domestic abuse I have worked with women who have had to use old clothes or toilet paper for sanitary towels, and were trapped in the house as they were worried about soiling their clothes or smelling when going out. One woman I met didn't take her child to nursery when her period was heavy, further isolating her and her wee boy.
In Comas’ Serenity Café, where Womanzone is based, we keep free sanitary towels for women who need them. Just like we provide the other necessities for all customers: toilet paper, paper towels and soap. Menstruation in just another bodily function that needs to be dealt with – no-one would think of charging customers for toilet paper! We always include sanitary towels in our crisis packs for community members. In our community shop in the 20 More project, we sell the cheapest possible sanitary towels and tampons. But our small gesture in addressing poverty by being ‘menstruation aware’ does not go far enough.
Taxing us for being women
We believe the government should stop adding VAT to sanitary items and recognise them as ‘essential items’ in the same way as food. That would save most women around £1 per period – you might not think that is a lot, but if so, it’s because you aren’t in these women’s shoes. VAT is added to luxury items, but sanitary products are a necessity! Why are women and girls being taxed unfairly? To put it into perspective, you don't pay VAT on going to the bingo, on crocodile & ostrich meat, on a wee Tunnock's teacake, on a box of herbal teabags, or on edible cake decorations! Which do you think is more essential than sanitary products?
I liked what Bee Bishop said, when the University of East Anglia student union passed a motion to sell sanitary products at cost with no profit margin. “Just like we get contraception for free we should be able to get basic health products at an affordable cost, though free would be preferable. Women having to pay for having a vagina has gone on too long.”
It's a global issue
Periods and poverty are keeping women and girls away from education and economic independence around the world. Many girls are missing from school during their periods because their family cannot afford sanitary towels. For example, in Kenya a packet of 20 sanitary pads costs $0.75 cents but an average wage for many Kenyans is only $1.50. As a result, girls will resort to using rags, leaves, newspaper, bits of mattress stuffing and even mud. As you can imagine, these methods can lead to very serious health concerns. They definitely don't help girls feel clean or confident. Girls often walk long distances to school and they worry about soiling their clothes. One project in Uganda showed that when girls were given 12 sanitary pads and a bar of soap a month, school attendance for girls of menstruating age increased from 82% to 91% . Girls in Kenya and Uganda will miss an average of five days of school each month due to periods.
There will be girls in Scotland not attending school because their parents haven't been able to afford sanitary towels for them. This will be kept a secret and won't be showing up on any statistical explanations for school absences. Sanitary products are not provided in girls’ toilets at school alongside free soap, paper, towels and toilet paper, instead they face the humiliating task of asking at the school office for help.
It's an equality issue
Periods are a natural part of girls and women's lives, and should never be seen as a source of embarrassment. It certainly should not isolate, oppress or shame girls and women. Sanitary products need to be affordable and the VAT needs to be removed. Please remember if you ever give donations to foodbanks, chopped tomatoes and bags of pasta are good but a packet of sanitary towels would be really useful to so many girls and women in desperate need, it could make a real difference to families.
Womanzone calls for:
· Zero VAT on sanitary products
· Affordable sanitary products – cut the profits!
· Free sanitary products for those in need locally and globally
Some useful articles and links:
Sign the CHANGE petition to stop VAT
Things you don't have to pay VAT on
Meet the man who made sanitary pads affordable in India
Chinese businesswoman profiting from periods
A Ugandan social enterprise producing affordable sanitary pads
Catriona Grant, Womanzone Manager