Yo, sisterhood…your attention, please.

From a uterus perspective, let’s take a realistic look at America.

If I were 40 or younger and unless I was empowered through wealth as well as a great  working situation that offered stability, equal pay and advancement, I might seriously consider living in a country more pro-women.

The reversal of Roe v Wade has changed the game for many women, especially those who do not have financial freedom in the U.S.

Zero in on Scotland. This week Scotland became the first country in the world to make menstrual products free to anyone who needs them through the Period Products Act.

Frankly, I firmly believe that these items should always be free…if men menstruated these period necessities would be free or inexpensive and no extraneous “Blue Tax.”

Globally, approximately 500 million women who menstruate live in period poverty.

In many poor countries, it’s estimated that half of all females are sometimes forced to use items like rags, grass and paper instead of menstrual pads and tampons.

Last I checked it is the 21st century.

The issue is not just confined to poor countries.

Again, America has let the stronger gender down.

25 million women in this country reportedly live in poverty and struggle to afford period products. Homeless, incarcerated women, students and LGBTQ+ individuals have the most challenging time.

On top of that, the cost of tampons and pads have increased in the last year. Unbelievably, many states still impose the Pink Tax.

The Pink Tax refers to products marketed specifically toward women which are more expensive than those marketed for men. This phenomenon is often attributed to gender-based price discrimination, with the name stemming from the observation that many of the affected products are pink.

Annually, on average women pay $1300 more then men for similar items such as razors, deodorant, even dry cleaning and clothing alterations.

The Pink Tax Repeal Act was reintroduced by Democrat Congresswoman, Jackie Speier, in June, the fourth attempt at passing the bill on a federal level.

Any guesses as to who stymied the bill?!

To go with the sexist flow, a “tampon tax,” exists which is sales tax added on menstrual products, while condoms for men are tax-free along with Viagra.

We have to endure monthly pain, expense, health issues, responsibility for birth control and on top of all that we are made to pay heavily for menstrual products and then to add insult to injury the government piles on a menstrual tax.

Sexism personified amplified by middle-aged conservative white guys…I’m seeing Red!

Image:Adobe Stock