Tampon Tax: Petition Calls For George Osborne To End Tax On Sanitary Products Ahead Of March Budget
Dear George Osborne, Please Stop Taxing Us For Having Periods
Rachel Moss— The Huffington Post UK
|
The Government currently taxes tampons, but not crocodile steaks.
That's right folks, those things you need on a monthly basis are currently classed as "non-essential products" by HM Revenue and are taxed at 5%.
Believing we do have every right to sanitary care as other essentials such as exotic meat, Laura Coryton started an online petition in 2014 to end the tax on tampons. Over 80,000 people have signed it, yet the Treasury has not responded to the campaign.
George Osborne is due to make his next budget statement in March, where he will announce the Government’s planned changes to tax.
So Coryton is urging women (and men) to up the pressure on the politicians to take the issue of tampon tax seriously.
"If you value the functioning of those who menstruate at least as much as you enjoy your crocodile Friday then sign our petition and join our campaign," her change.org page reads.
Open Image Modal
"Help to put an end to the marginilisation of issues that have been traditionally associated with women."
Sanitary products allow women to control and manage menstruation. Without them, we'd be at risk of jeopardising our health. Plus who would really want their colleague bleeding all over the place at work?
Suggesting sanitary products are "non-essential" or luxury items just doesn't make sense.
But last week the Prime Minister, David Cameron, was asked whether he would take the tax off sanitary products. He said that he will "take a look at the issue".
A politician's answer if ever we've heard one...
It seems the most powerful men in the country skipped a biology lesson or two at school and are under the impression that womenchoose to menstruate.
Pointing out the ridiculousness of the tax, Coryton says: "George Osborne, sanitary products should join your list of essential, tax exempt products, which include “edible sugar flowers”, “alcoholic jellies” and “exotic meats including crocodile and kangaroo.
"At the very least we consider sanitary health to be just as important as our thirst for Sam the crocodile and hope that you do too.
"While we can live without consuming the flesh of unusual animals, we cannot live without the public participation of those who menstruate, which is dependent upon the accessibility of sanitary products."
Speaking to HuffPost UK Lifestyle, Brenna Aston who works on the No More Page 3 campaign said: "I am confident that anyone who experiences blood coming out their vagina would agree that it isn’t luxury to have something there to catch it, its necessity.
"Quite simply this is discrimination against women, especially women of little or no income, that is legitimised by law- this needs to change.”
HuffPost UK executive editor and global lifestyle head Poorna Bell agrees that the tampon tax is seriously flawed: "Tampons are an essential product - and a government that believes it is optional shows how out of touch and male-centric they truly are," she said.
"What do they think happens when someone is on their period? That we go 'Hmm, perhaps I'll go fancy and use a tampon today'?
"For me, this smacks of the backwards times when women were herded off to caves to wait out 'the curse' for five days."
But not everyone agrees with the petition.
Television presenter and HuffPost UK blogger Carrie Armstrong told us "women aren't victims of menstruation."
"If we want to be treated as equals then why can't we just pay our few pennies-worth of tax?" she added.
"This petition makes us just look ridiculous & petty. Character traits misogynists welcomely tarnish us with anyway."
Sanitary products aren't the only items we use every day that are deemed "non-essential" by HM Revenue. Toilet paper and toothpaste and currently taxed at 20% whereas magazines and pistachios are tax-free.
It doesn't take a mathematician to work out that tax lessons a product's affordability and accessibility. Estimates say tampon tax could cost women an additional £114 per year - an amount that could make a big difference for some.
Let's hope George Osborne re-evaluates tampon tax this year (and looks at the rules regarding loo roll while he's at it).
Top 10 Stupid Period Myths
MYTH: Don't exercise when you are on your period (01 of24)
Open Image Modal
TRUTH: Run, bike, dance — do whatever you want. These are just some of the so-called "strenuous" activities you can still do while you're on your period. Unless you're in a lot of pain, feel free to exercise or partake in any other type of activity. In fact, some studies even suggest exercising can help with painful periods.
MYTH: Don't go swimming (02 of24)
Open Image Modal
TRUTH: There was a time when young girls were told strange things like if they went swimming in the ocean, their period scents would attract sharks, or their tampon would swell with water, causing them to drown. These are pure myths. Tampons, for example, make it easier for women to enjoy swimming or beach days during periods.
MYTH: People can tell when you're on your period (03 of24)
Open Image Modal
TRUTH: Unless you're carrying a big red sign that says "it's my time of the month," nobody will know you're on your period. If you're embarrassed about pad lines (even though you can hardly tell), try wearing a tampon. Sometimes, you may also have a period odour. Again, nobody else can smell it. If you are worried, change your tampon or pad more often.
MYTH: Teens shouldn't use tampons(04 of24)
Open Image Modal
TRUTH: Tampons are perfectly safe for both teens and adults. If you still haven't used a tampon and you're worried about discomfort, make sure you read the instructions carefully. And no, using tampons doesn't mean you lose your virginity.
MYTH: During your period, you lose a lot of blood(05 of24)
Open Image Modal
TRUTH: For the first few hours/days of your period, it may seem like you’re losing a lot blood. On average, women lose about 60 ml (4 tablespoons) of blood, and considering a teen who weighs 110 lbs has about 3,500 ml of blood in her body, you can see the loss isn't that big.
MYTH: A tampon can float away inside your body (06 of24)
Open Image Modal
TRUTH: No. Just no. There is no way a tampon can "float" away inside your body. Once you insert a tampon, it will stay there until you have to take it out.
MYTH: Don't wear tampons overnight (07 of24)
Open Image Modal
TRUTH: You CAN wear a tampon overnight. Most tampons can be worn for eight hours a day or night, keeping in mind you should change your tampon every four to eight hours.
MYTH: During your period, only sleep on your side (08 of24)
Open Image Modal
TRUTH: Again, false. Sleep on your back, front, side, whatever makes you feel comfortable. If you're worried about leaks, try pads and tampons that are meant to be worn overnight.
TRUTH: The key to using tampons is to relax. If you don't get it right the first time, don't worry. Practice makes perfect, even when it comes to tampons.
What it sounds like: A really bad horror film about a group of teens who drive their car out into the woods and get haunted by a ghost. But what you're actually referencing: There are cramps, and yes, blood to deal with, but getting your period isn't a curse of any sort — it's part of being a woman of a certain age. Periods involve our ovaries releasing eggs, while hormonal changes prepare our uteruses for pregnancy. See ... not so scary.
(13 of24)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: A really cool and urban aunt who likes to listen to hip hop and buy vinyl records But what you're actually referencing: Aunt Flo only visits once a month (a 28-day cycle to be exact). She is kind of uncomfortable, annoying and her conversations never stops flowing...
(14 of24)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: Your really really really old aunt who has a kind soul. But what you're actually referencing: Similar to her sister Aunt Flo, Aunt Rose seems to be the nicer of the two: Because we all know things like rose petals and rose bushes resemble menstruation.
(15 of24)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: Like you have a giant wound and you can't stop bleeding. Ever. But what you're actually referencing: You're being pretty literal here, but yes, a period means you're bleeding from your vagina.
(16 of24)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: A really trendy urban cafe. But what you're actually referencing: The dot/dots that appear on your liner, pad and sometimes on your bed sheets and underwear. Also, dot = period.
(17 of24)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: Not just any friend, but a really annoying friend you don't like. But what you're actually referencing: Sometimes we try to make the best of what life throws at us by staying positive and remembering our periods can be our friends.
(18 of24)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: When the plumbing went wrong ... for a week. But what you're actually referencing: Again, the leak refers the constant flow of blood coming out of your body. We also assume people are referring to leaks they get on their pants or bedsheets. The worst.
(19 of24)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: Time of the month sounds like a hush-hush thing that happens to your body that only you and members of a secret club understand. But what you're actually referencing: TOTM refers to time of the month when your period is taking place — just so we're all on the same page.
(20 of24)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: A newsletter or a magazine that comes out once a month But what you're actually referencing: To add emphasis that everything is cool with your flow and your period only happens once a month.
(21 of24)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: Teenage slang But what you're actually referencing: PMS actually stands for premenstrual syndrome, and isn't a synonym for your period at all.
(22 of24)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: A dirty old cloth you use to wash your dishes and floor But what you're actually referencing: The rag is closely related to the pad or tampon we wear during periods... and how uncomfortable it is. It's also an unfortunate visual.
(23 of24)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like:This river in China! But what you're actually referencing: We're not sure with the obsession of words like "river," "water" or "flow" when it comes to describing your period. Our best guess? The assumption that when a woman is on her period, she is forever bleeding.
(24 of24)
Open Image Modal
What it sounds like: It sounds like what it is, the bleeding elevator from the 'The Shining.' But what you're actually referencing: Periods are scary and women bleed and if you see/talk about this blood, something terrible will happen. Get a grip, people — the only thing frightening about periods is using phrases like "the shining" to describe it.