Last week the University of Nottingham Women’s Network received some fabulous news – after negotiating with the SU shop on University Park Campus, they have agreed to sell tampons at cost without tax. Hurrah! Soon, the SU Shop in Portland Building will sell sanitary products tax free, removing the current rate of 5%, the VAT applied to items deemed ‘non-essential’ and a ‘luxury’ by the government. UoN is not the only university to have had a victory in the battle against Tampon Tax, as last November the University of East Anglia made the decision to sell tampons non-profit, significantly reducing the buying cost for tampons, sanitary towels and mooncups.
The removal of tampon tax will have an undeniably positive effect, not only by reducing the price for female staff and students, but as a symbolic action in the continuing fight against gender inequality in society. Sadly, the issue remains unresolved on a national level. Recently the matter has gained prevalence in the media, as protestors filed into Downing Street earlier this month, armed with a petition signed by over 200, 000 supporters in an attempt to persuade George Osborne to get rid of the tax. However, there has been no indication as to whether their requests have any chance of being implemented.
It’s not as if 50% of the world’s population has asked for the biological gift of bleeding out of their uterus once a month, and looking at the list of items classed as ‘essential’ compared with those that are ‘non-essential’, the case for removing the tax becomes even more credible. It would be ludicrous for David Cameron and George Osborne to continue to allow, wait for it, tax-free aircraft repair and maintenance, because you know, it sucks when your helicopter breaks down and you can’t fly into work. Or tax-free crocodile meat, that classic British staple, when some cotton wool on a string, fundamental to the health and well being of women everywhere, is seen as an indulgent purchase.
In light of this, it’s still important to remember that for some women, in countries such as Zimbabwe, the reality of not being able to afford sanitary products means that they really are considered a luxury. Action For South Africa, a charity that works to eradicate poverty and support justice (to name just a few of their aims) have championed an initiative entitled, ‘Dignity! Period’ that distributes free sanitary protection to women in Zimbabwe. Since 2005 they have distributed over seven million sanitary products in order to help women and girls deal with the day-to-day struggle menstruation poses, an event far more problematic for those living in lesser-developed countries.
This is one of many reasons why it is vital that sanitary products, from tampons, to towels, mooncups and maternity pads actually start to be seen as essentials. The longer these products are categorized under the ‘luxury’ label, society will continue see them, not as the necessity they are, but as an extra that we buy along with a bottle of wine and box of chocolates when we’ve had a bit of crap day (my sincerest apologies for the sexist stereotype). Women and girls worldwide will benefit from the removal of the Tampon Tax, a step that will take us closer to gender equality, and change attitudes about a completely natural occurrence that women have no choice but to experience on a monthly basis. George Osborne: it’s time to act.
Edited by Nicole Jones
Sources
http://www.actsa.org/page-1022-Dignity!%20Period..html