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The End Of California's Tampon Tax Could Be Near

"We are being taxed for being born as women."
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By 

Managing Editor, Breaking News, HuffPost

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The California board that oversees state taxes has endorsed a measure that would bar tampons and menstrual pads from being taxed as luxury items, marking a major step in the campaign to repeal the so-called tampon tax.

The state Board of Equalization on Tuesday unanimously agreed to back a bill recently introduced by two members of the state assembly, Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) and Ling Ling Chang (R-Diamond Bar). The measure would exempt tampons and pads from state sales taxes. 

California is one of 40 states where tampons aren't considered a necessity, and thus are subject to sales tax. (Many other health-related items are classified as necessities under the California tax code and aren't taxed.) The Board of Equalization's members are elected. The board's endorsement is important because its administration of state taxes gives it an authoritative view of items that should be taxable and exempt from sales tax. 

 

“Effectively we are being taxed for being born as women,” Garcia said in a statement. The bill "is about social justice, gender equity in our tax code, it's an opportunity to end an outdated tax that uniquely targets women for a function of their body, a function we don't control and can't ignore every month of our adult life."

Garcia's office estimates the bill would save California women $20 million annually. The bill's sponsors argue that the tax puts an undue burden on the approximately 2 million California women living in poverty.

"By putting that money back in the hands of women, we are creating greater access to a very important health product -- especially in low-income and homeless populations," said Chang.

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Of the 45 states that have sales taxes, 40 of them tax tampons and sanitary napkins as luxury items.
Bloomberg via Getty Images

Backlash against the tampon tax has picked up steam in recent months. A Change.org petition started by Cosmopolitan magazine gathered more than 43,000 signatures, while a similar effort aimed at the European Union drew over 300,000 supporters. Last year, the Canadian government was pressured into dropping its tampon tax. French lawmakers followed suit in December.

President Barack Obama commented on the issue during an interview this month with YouTube personality Ingrid Nilsen, who told the president she doesn't "know anyone who has a period who think it's a luxury."

"I think that's fair to say," said Obama, who said he was unaware of the tax until Nilsen brought it up. "I suspect it's because men were making the laws when those taxes were passed, and I think it's pretty sensible for women in those states ... to get those taxes removed." 

So far, just five states have specifically exempted pads and tampons from sales taxes: Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Everywhere else, women pay as much as 10 percent in taxes on the already high cost of getting a monthly period. 

"When we look at other items that are tax exempt, I think it is only fair that these essential female products be included,” Garcia said in a statement this month. "In fact, it is my hope that one day these necessary items will be free to all women."

Bills similar to California's are under consideration in New York and Ohio.

8 Period Facts Every Woman Should Know
1. There Is Such A Thing As Too Much Flow.(01 of08)
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"A lot of adolescents get these 'blow out' periods, and they have no idea that they're too heavy -- or that there are things they can do to help control them," said McGuire. "They just assume that everyone's [period] is this way." While having a heavy flow is relatively common (and most women tend to bleed more in the first few days), if you find yourself needing to change your pad or tampon more than every two to three hours, or if your period lasts longer than seven days, it's likely time to talk to a health care provider about your options. Hormonal birth control can help decrease the amount of flow a woman experiences, as can certain pain relievers. There's also a small chance that heavy flow is a sign of menorrhagia, a term used to define periods that are so intense, they keep a woman from doing her usual activities. The bottom line -- if you think your flow is abnormally heavy, ask! (credit:Getty)
2. Pain Relief Requires Foresight ...(02 of08)
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For women who have painful periods (and evidence suggests there's a lot of us out there), getting relief from cramping and other common physical symptoms often requires taking over-the-counter pain relievers before any bleeding even starts. "If you take [medication] when the symptoms are already bad, you're behind the ball," said McGuire. "If your periods are pretty regular, and if you know you start on a Wednesday or Thursday, for example, I might start dosing on a Tuesday." Research also suggests that certain lifestyle changes -- like getting plenty of exercise and sleep, eating healthy foods and finding ways to relax -- can help provide some women with some relief. (credit:Getty)
3. ... And Your Period Shouldn't Mess Up Your Life.(03 of08)
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"In most instances, your period should not keep you from your normal activities," said Dr. Mary Rosser, an assistant professor and attending physician in obstetrics and gynecology at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. "Studies have shown that 90 percent of women will experience some symptoms, [but] mostly mild. And 10 to 20 percent will have symptoms that interfere with normal activities." Those symptoms can crop up when you're actively bleeding, or as a part of PMS, which occurs because of hormonal changes in the week or two prior to your period. See your doctor if you have you have cramps that keep you from doing your normal, daily activities, or PMS symptoms that interfere with your day-to-day. (credit:Getty)
4. You Can Get Pregnant During Your Period.(04 of08)
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It's highly unlikely, but it is possible for you to become pregnant during your period. As Health.com explains, some women have long periods that overlap with the beginning of ovulation -- even though they're still menstruating. Or, as Dr. Michele Hakakha, an OBGYN and author of Expecting 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Pregnancy, told Parents.com: "A woman with a shorter menstrual cycle (24 days, for example), could have seven days of bleeding, have intercourse on her final day of bleeding and ovulate three days later. Since sperm live for three to five days, she could definitely get pregnant." (credit:Getty)
5. You Have Your Own Discharge Pattern -- And It's More Complex Than You Think.(05 of08)
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When it comes to the complete menstrual cycle, every woman has a slightly different pattern. However, most women bleed, then are dry for a few days, then experience a light, mucus-like discharge (pre-ovulation) that becomes increasingly cloudy and thick (a sign that ovulation has likely ended). "What's different from one woman to another is the quantity of discharge," McGuire said. "It's just like how some people have oily skin, and others have dry skin." Clueing into your own pattern is just good practice, namely so you have a sense of what is happening in your body and can watch out for any changes. (credit:Getty)
6. Even If You're Regular, You Might Not Be Totally Regular.(06 of08)
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First thing's first: there is no one typical cycle -- cycles can range from 21 to 35 days, said Rosser. Teen girls' cycles can last anywhere from 21 to 45 days. And "most women do not get their period on the exact same day of the month," Rosser added. "That is normal!" Think about it -- most months have 30 or 31 days in them, so even if your cycle is 100-percent precise, your period won't start on exactly the same day or date every month.
In addition, it is not necessarily uncommon to have one or two abnormal periods per year, Rosser said, adding that irregular or missed periods can come from a variety of causes, including illness, stress, significant weight loss or gain, or pregnancy. If you're feeling totally fine otherwise, but your period is irregular, it's typically OK to just wait until your next period, she said. But if that irregularity becomes persistent, or if you have any concerns, you should see your health care provider. (credit:Getty)
7. How You Deal With Hygiene Is Important.(07 of08)
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Sure, movies and TV shows tend to portray women's periods as somehow "gross," but menstruation is a perfectly normal biological process and women shouldn't go overboard in the hygiene department, McGuire says. "Most patients are too aggressive with cleaning," she said. "It's good to use a soap that has a pH that's similar to your own body's ... no douches, no powders, no talcs, no perfume sprays, none of the wipes that are so popular now, because they can cause irritation." In fact, McGuire said she frequently encounters women who think they're having problems with vaginitis or other bacterial infections, but really, they're just being overzealous in cleaning themselves with harsh soaps. (credit:Shutterstock)
8. When Your Mom Stopped Getting Her Period Matters For You.(08 of08)
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"In many cases, our moms never talked to us about when they went through menopause," said Dr. Shannon Laughlin-Tommaso, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology with the Mayo Clinic -- but it has implications for when you might stop getting your period. In fact, the age at which your mother went through menopause is one of the biggest predictors for when you will, Laughlin-Tommaso said. And that's extremely useful information to have, because there's significant range -- the average age at which a woman has her last period is 51, but anything between age 40 and 56 is within the normal range, she said. (credit:Getty)
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