In a women’s reproductive lifetime, women spend about $6,360 on feminine care products. Feminine care products are not just pads and tampons; they also include heating pads, underwear, panty liners, and feminine wipes. Women did not choose to have periods therefore why should we have to pay a price? Here are three reasons why feminine care products should be free in America.
The total sales of feminine care products in America in 2020 reached $6.2 billion and the average women spends between $150 to $300 just on disposable tampons alone. The amount of money spent on feminine care products a year could go to other life expenses like food and rent.
Free feminine care products could be a way to advocate for helping the environment. Unfortunately, plastic disposable tampon applicators can take up to 20 years to decompose. This hurts our environment by animals ingesting the plastic which could lead to health issues and even death. If feminine care products were free, the government could not only just help women, but help protect the Earth as well. Many people aren’t aware of the benefits that organic feminine care products offer to our environment and even women’s bodies. Organic feminine care products are made with 100% cotton which means it is free of fragrances, dyes, and harsh chemicals. Tampons that are not 100% organic are typically bleached and the bleach creates a byproduct called dioxin. Dioxin is capable of causing hormone imbalances and even cancer. Free feminine care products could be a way to save our planet and women’s bodies by the use of organic products.
If women were given free feminine care products, girls will feel comfortable going to school while menstruating. The constant fear of getting your period unexpectedly or not bringing enough products to get through the school day goes through a girls head. Girls would feel less stress going to school menstruating if school restrooms had free tampons and pads available. This would also serve as a benefit to women in college and not just middle school and high school girls. This also would benefit women teachers and other faculty.
Women should not have to pay a price for their biology. Periods are biological and are inevitable for women to experience. Free feminine care products would allow for women to be less stressed and more financially comfortable. If we push for free feminine care products, the use of organic products could be the potential normal as well. Scotland is the first and only country to give our free period products. America and the rest of the world should follow in Scotland’s footsteps.
About the Author
My name is Leah Drysdale. I’m from Long Island, New York. I’m a senior at St. John’s University and I am a journalism major. I’ve always had a passion for writing and journalism gave me the opportunity to write professionally.
