Apparently, there is a special place in hell for female voters not supporting Hillary Clinton, implied former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright. Both her and feminist luminary, Gloria Steinem, have both compelled women to vote for Hillary in recent weeks, as her numbers trail Bernie’s in recent primaries, disappointing supporters campaigning for the first woman president all over the country.
While the senators debate issues of foreign policy, what I’d like to know is, what does this hell look like? Is it a world run by men, where women struggle to find their voice to then have it ignored? Is it a place in which the rules favor men, and a very small number of certain men, over everyone else? Well, that does sound pretty awful, Madeleine. We can’t have that!
Clearly, the only way to save our souls (and the planet) is to have a female president. So, come on up, Hill; raise that well-manicured hand up in oath and let’s put your John-Hancock to good use. In honor of the upcoming President’s Day and not the soon-enough triumph over the period-shaming Donald, here is a wish list, Madame President, for you to use as guidance as you transform this hell-on-earth.
1. Eliminate the tampon tax!
California assemblywoman Cristina Garcia has been pushing for a bill to end the sales tax on tampons, citing that their classification as a luxury item (a ‘non-necessity’) is adding to the war on women, who already suffer the consequences of the gender-wage gap. In California alone, sales tax on tampons and pads equates to over $20 million annually, a fact made shamefully worse that on average, women spend almost $20,000 on period-related costs.
2. Have dispensaries with free tampons and pads in all public restrooms.
Every woman has gotten a surprise visit from Aunt Flo, but imagine always being unprepared for the crimson wave? Over 40 million women in the United States live under the poverty line making tampons and pads prohibitively expensive, especially for homeless women and young teens, since they cannot be bought with food stamps. Here’s to the New York City Council for their work on increasing access to sanitary products in shelters and prisons and their attempts to scrap the tax.
3. Support companies who have paid-PMS leave for women whose menstruation interferes with their daily life.
Did you know that over 6 million women in the U.S. suffer from endometriosis and the associated mind-numbing pain that is often impervious to medication, but still have to drag themselves to work every month? A subsidy for companies that let qualified women work from home a few days each month or give paid time-off for women whose health renders them temporarily disabled and unable to work. Several East Asian countries including Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, and South Korea already allow it, but some of the rhetoric the permissions are based in are inherently controversial and sometimes sexist. It’s time for America to lead the way in representing women’s rights globally and making PMS-leave about a woman’s choice, not about the lack of her abilities.
4. Have feminine health and hygiene education incorporated into the public school education system.
The benefits of having a health curriculum geared towards young girls’ health and their rights that adeptly deals with issues of menstruation, hygiene, and pregnancy are innumerable; saving the U.S. hundreds of millions of dollars in public expenditure and keeping thousands of teenagers in school are just two of the most obvious benefits. Empowered young women who control their own decisions and bodies is a less visible one. A missing element in many programs is where to get resources like menstrual care products! Creating well-identified and easily accessible resource centers for students to follow up at are a great next step for focusing federal and state funding.
5. Pass a law mandating feminine hygiene companies disclose the health risks of non-organic ingredients inside and outside of box.
Tampon boxes already come with the Toxic Shock Syndrome leaflet, but how many of us can say we’ve tossed it out without looking in our desperate attempts to ebb our flow? Consumer education is often trumped by price discounts, but forcing companies like Kotex or Playtex to advertise the risks of using bleached cotton or unregulated ingredients on packaging like the Surgeon Generals’ warning on cigarette packs may help raise women’s awareness and influence consumer choice.
6. Found a National Period Day.
For women, girls and ladies to come together, celebrate their womanhood, and to find unity among themselves. Festivities can include tales of first periods, cultural celebrations, party-traditions like pinning the pad on the period, and educational games like period-themed trivia contests! This day can also be used for fundraising, education awareness, and campaigns about women in societies where periods are still taboo. Taking this a step forward would be to have a public grant and Demo Day for companies dealing with issues related to menstruation and feminine hygiene globally so that innovative reproductive health solutions get the funding they need to make a difference. Our friends at Wash United have got the right idea with their #MENSTRAVAGANZA initiative, so why not start there?!
7. Finally, a 25% discount on chocolate for any menstruating woman.
Due to its healing properties for PMS, mental health conditions, and other physical ailments of course!