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Scotland Is About To Make History As The First Country To Make Feminine Hygiene Products Free
A study performed by Plan International UK has shown that 15% of girls have struggled to afford feminine hygiene products in the UK. Furthermore, the study has revealed that nearly half of girls aged 14-21 in the UK are embarrassed by their periods. This research has demonstrated that period poverty and stigma are real problems that need to be addressed. That’s exactly what Scotland is making history by introducing a bill to make sanitary napkins and other items free country-wide.
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Scotland has just approved the first stage of the bill that would make period products completely free
Image credits: MonicaLennon7
The Period Products (Free Provision) Scotland Bill, which was introduced by Monica Lennon, has already passed its first vote. If the bill becomes law, the government will be responsible for ensuring that free feminine products are available to those in need. The groundbreaking bill is set to make Scotland the first country in the world to make menstrual hygiene products free.
Image credits: Wolfmann
On average, period products cost around £8 ($10) each month, making them unaffordable for those living on a very low income.
Image credits: youngwomenscot
“These are not luxury items. They are indeed essential and no one in Scotland should have to go without period products,” the Scottish lawmaker Monica Lennon said.
Image credits: cwu_scotland
Two years ago, Scotland became the first country in the world to make period products available for free in schools, colleges, and universities. The government provided £5.2 million in funding to support this.
Image credits: GirlguidingScot
Some local businesses have also joined the cause, with many pubs and restaurant owners providing sanitary products free of charge.
Image credits: Vvfabs
Several countries around the world are fighting period poverty by making sanitary items tax-free. This includes a dozen states in the US and countries such as Columbia, Kenya, Malaysia, Canada, Australia, India, Uganda, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Nigeria, Lebanon, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Image credits: theresa21
The UK has not been able to remove a 5% tax due to European Union rules. Nonetheless, the government has been donating the “tampon tax” to support women’s organizations and charities.
Here’s how people reacted
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kathryn stretton 5 years ago
Well done Scotland. Also read on Bored Panda today about the free baby boxes in Finland. Amazing. Also read about the parents in US who had their house liened by the hospital after their baby spent 27 hours there and the bill wa $175,000. What are you doing, America???
Beamer Alert 5 years ago
Just a friendly reminder that NATURE DOESN'T CARE whether our fellow human beings can afford their periods or not. But we should. Someone compared this to razors for men, but I don't see it as apples-to-apples. If you can't afford a razor, the worst case scenario is.. you'd have a beard. Not quite the same level as walking around looking like a murder scene for a quarter of every month. Furthermore, you can use the same darn electric razor for 5-10 years, and I wouldn't advise doing that with sanitary products. And of course you can decide at any time to not shave, but people can't just f***ing unsubscribe from their periods.
MagicalUnicorn 5 years ago
having uterus announce that you are not pregnant is already not fun, so not have to spend small car worth amount of money during one's lifetime is a big bonus and step towards right direction !
Lola DM 5 years ago
I'm soooo glad I have light periods but I'm fine with my tax money paying off for heavier flows.
Load More Replies...
NeverGoWoke 5 years ago
I'm assuming this will only be for the pads and tampons; which would be amazing; especially for teenagers and girls that do not have easy access to such products. This should be the same all over the world, especially with countries with poor sanitation and limited water supply.
LittleMissLotus 5 years ago
Way to go, Scotland! The rest of the world should follow in their footsteps, period products are a necessity but despite that they cost a small fortune
Danielle Renee 5 years ago
Scotland is giving them away and some jackass here in the US is afraid us ladies will ‘hoard’ them if they’re added to no tax day…wtf USA? https://www.vox.com/2020/2/13/21136212/tampon-tax-tennessee-period-menstrual-equity-menstruation
Peter Kelly 5 years ago
I confess to have never really thought about such issues until recently, being an unaffected man, but was horrified to hear that there is tax on these items! And when you stop to consider it for more than a millisecond it is astonishing that it is not standard worldwide practice to have them provided at the taxpayer's expense, thereby sharing the cost fairly.
Charlotte 5 years ago
Why the downvote for my medically correct post? Look it up, the studies are easy to find. Wearing tampons for too long, or wearing the wrong absorbency can cause Toxic Shock Syndrome. Using rags, sand, plant matter and other DIY sanitary wear (as many women in poverty all over the world are forced to do) can cause infections in the reproductive tract, which in turn can lead to cervical cancer. Facts don't stop being true because you don't like them.
Kaisu 5 years ago
I think people are downvoting you because it's not exactly relevant. Is all that true? Yes. Will homeless women still use a tampons rather than bleed all over the place? Yes. Tampons aren't ideal by any means, but sometimes they're the lesser of two evils
Load More Replies...
Lana Jig-maker 5 years ago
Scotland for the win. It's almost the world doesn't care about what we women go through, sometimes. Like feminine issues are not to be taken seriously, but the money for such things really adds up. And imagine what it may be like for a homeless woman. Smh. I hope that this decision turns out well for Scotland, so that maybe other regions will follow.
kathryn stretton 5 years ago
Well done Scotland. Also read on Bored Panda today about the free baby boxes in Finland. Amazing. Also read about the parents in US who had their house liened by the hospital after their baby spent 27 hours there and the bill wa $175,000. What are you doing, America???
Beamer Alert 5 years ago
Just a friendly reminder that NATURE DOESN'T CARE whether our fellow human beings can afford their periods or not. But we should. Someone compared this to razors for men, but I don't see it as apples-to-apples. If you can't afford a razor, the worst case scenario is.. you'd have a beard. Not quite the same level as walking around looking like a murder scene for a quarter of every month. Furthermore, you can use the same darn electric razor for 5-10 years, and I wouldn't advise doing that with sanitary products. And of course you can decide at any time to not shave, but people can't just f***ing unsubscribe from their periods.
MagicalUnicorn 5 years ago
having uterus announce that you are not pregnant is already not fun, so not have to spend small car worth amount of money during one's lifetime is a big bonus and step towards right direction !
Lola DM 5 years ago
I'm soooo glad I have light periods but I'm fine with my tax money paying off for heavier flows.
Load More Replies... NeverGoWoke 5 years ago
I'm assuming this will only be for the pads and tampons; which would be amazing; especially for teenagers and girls that do not have easy access to such products. This should be the same all over the world, especially with countries with poor sanitation and limited water supply.
LittleMissLotus 5 years ago
Way to go, Scotland! The rest of the world should follow in their footsteps, period products are a necessity but despite that they cost a small fortune
Danielle Renee 5 years ago
Scotland is giving them away and some jackass here in the US is afraid us ladies will ‘hoard’ them if they’re added to no tax day…wtf USA? https://www.vox.com/2020/2/13/21136212/tampon-tax-tennessee-period-menstrual-equity-menstruation
Peter Kelly 5 years ago
I confess to have never really thought about such issues until recently, being an unaffected man, but was horrified to hear that there is tax on these items! And when you stop to consider it for more than a millisecond it is astonishing that it is not standard worldwide practice to have them provided at the taxpayer's expense, thereby sharing the cost fairly.
Charlotte 5 years ago
Why the downvote for my medically correct post? Look it up, the studies are easy to find. Wearing tampons for too long, or wearing the wrong absorbency can cause Toxic Shock Syndrome. Using rags, sand, plant matter and other DIY sanitary wear (as many women in poverty all over the world are forced to do) can cause infections in the reproductive tract, which in turn can lead to cervical cancer. Facts don't stop being true because you don't like them.
Kaisu 5 years ago
I think people are downvoting you because it's not exactly relevant. Is all that true? Yes. Will homeless women still use a tampons rather than bleed all over the place? Yes. Tampons aren't ideal by any means, but sometimes they're the lesser of two evils
Load More Replies... Lana Jig-maker 5 years ago
Scotland for the win. It's almost the world doesn't care about what we women go through, sometimes. Like feminine issues are not to be taken seriously, but the money for such things really adds up. And imagine what it may be like for a homeless woman. Smh. I hope that this decision turns out well for Scotland, so that maybe other regions will follow.
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