A new bill in New York City is proposing to provide young women with free tampons every month. The objective might seem minor, but thousands of young women could benefit much in the long run.
According to Huffington Post, Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland said that if the bill is passed, all public schools, prisons and homeless shelters in New York City, will offer feminine hygiene products for free. All family, women, youth and domestic violence shelters will hopefully have the products available.
“No student, homeless individual or inmate should have to jump through hoops, face illness or feel humiliated because they cannot access pads or tampons. These items are as essential as toilet paper, helping us prevent health risks and fulfill our daily activities uninterrupted,” Ferreras-Copeland said.
Ferreras-Copeland previously started a program that provided free tampon and pad dispensers to 25 schools in Queens and the Bronx. Now, all elementary, middle and high schools in New York City have dispensers.
The New York Daily News reports that 79 percent of public school students are from low-income families and find it expensive to purchase tampons and other feminine hygiene products every month. Some girls even have to miss or leave class during their menstrual periods.
Huffington Post adds that homeless women and those in jail will also benefit much from the free tampons. The Department of Corrections currently gives 144 sanitary napkins to 50 inmates each week, which is insufficient. Extras will have to be purchased at the commissary, but most inmates find it very expensive.
Nancy Kramer started the “Free the Tampons” campaign. Many expect the bill to be passed easily. New York City will spend $4.5 million in the first year and the amount will decrease afterwards, after the dispensers are purchased. Chicago removed city taxes on sanitary products recently. Canada removed the taxes in 2015 while California is also aiming to remove tampon taxes.
The New York Times reveals that the lawmakers also proposed a resolution to have New York State remove all taxes on feminine hygiene products. The objective is to take out menstrual products from the items that women are embarrassed about. Currently, the state does not impose a tax on prescription drugs, condoms and groceries, but tax sanitary pads and tampons.
"This has been so taboo for so long, that no one even thought about it," said Ferreras-Copeland. “Menstruation should not be a reoccurring social nightmare."
