It sounds nice but I don't think it would be practically feasible. You'd have to take into consideration flow, as each woman has different flows. For those with heavier flow, they might just need more products and that would be harder to regulate fairly. Some women could lie about their flow in order to get more.
Then you would also have to think of allergic reactions to certain products. Variety would have to be taken into account. Something that is taken into account when companies handle that stuff. They think of the customer with sensitivity to certain fabrics. Which would only lead some women to feel left out ajd not catered to, leaving the market wide open for a company to cater to them and if consumerism has shown anything it's that if someone thinks the cost is worth it, they'll spend the money for better quality.
Another issue, which I'm sure has already been brought up, is cost. The moment something is handled by the government, the quality will go down as it has to then cater to as many as possible and seeing as money doesn't grow on trees - yes, technically it does but not really - and there will be cut backs and it will inevitably lead ti quantity over quality. I would prefer to pay for my expensive pads than to have thin as fuck pads where I might as well not leave the house cuz I'll have to change them every 30 minutes. Also how are the manufacturers paid for that? Where does the money come from?
Hence why I suggested reusable products in an array of different types so the person can find what suits them best
Sure many things should be funded. Generally things like this are government funded so by taxes. Everyone pays their share.
Ah there we go. And this is where it'll fall apart, in my opinion. Can you give me one example of a government project funded by taxes that's executed well? What happens when funding goes dry? That's also happens a lot with government.
Now personally, I can pay my own share by directly paying for my products myself.
Yes, especially if people have access to free contraception. No girl should have to stop going to school because she’s scared of leaking through her underwear.
Well maybe instead of buying all the latest fashions and latest iPhone, she should spend it on tampons and panty liners.
I hope you realize how stupid you actually sound
Really? I see it as truth. You can afford all these extras but not the necessities? If you can't afford them then do like they did in the old days and wear a belt with a rag that you can either rewash or just toss out.
Lol again you sound so dumb please keep talking I need something to laugh at💀💀
It's good to laugh, no? I do every morning when I look in the mirror.
Menstruation products are not necessary. They are useful, but not necessary.
An average woman uses 11,000 sanitary pads during her life, producing a figure of 125 to 150kg of waste. Most of this waste is highly polluting, as it does not decompose within 500-800 years. The plastic of the pads ends up in a landfill or, even worse in the oceans, rivers and beaches. As is the case in Britain where for every km they found on average 23 pads and 9 tampoons on British beaches.
Furthermore, the production processes of pads and absorbents are highly chemical with consequent pollution. From the ethical point of view, therefore, most of the menstrual products should be overtaxed as extremely polluting or even outlawed.
However, the multinationals that produce them would have a lot to say about it, as these products guarantee huge profits. The production costs of such objects are very low, they have practically no development costs, the selling price has a large share of profit.
From my personal point of view, the only thing you could ask for free of charge is a medical silicone menstrual cup, as it does not produce pollution like pads or tampons and typically lasts 10 years. Furthermore, silicone, although it is not biodegradable, is recyclable.
Should probably read the description before commenting.
Yes I do.
my girlfriend is involved with a UK thing related to period poverty.
https://periodpoverty.uk
It is a very real issue, more and more people rely on food banks and are living in fuel poverty.
Yeah fully support it as it really needs to be looked at, not just overall but especially those forced to choose between feeding their family or getting sanitary products.
@Smashingdoozy also Scotland have them as free.
https://www.mygov.scot/free-sanitary-products
In the UK there are a number of schemes, as mentioned these products are all free at point of need in Scotland.
Period products are free to majority of those in education. www.gov.uk/.../period-product-scheme-for-schools-and-colleges-in-england
https://www.heygirls.co.uk/
www.norfolk.gov.uk/.../the-tricky-period
There is also a push at looking towards the use of cups.
patient.info/.../can-menstrual-cups-help-fight-period-poverty
Another issue faced by many over lockdown was down to shortages of products, nurses etc were finishing long shifts and getting to supermarkets to find shelves bare of period products, just what a frontline health worker needs after an 18 hour shift and her period coming on…
The main thing to quote an article
There should be no stigma around accessing these products when needed and those that are unable to afford them should be provided with them. Being unable to obtain period products is damaging to both a woman’s physical and mental health.”
That last bit is key, families struggle to feed themselves, struggle to have a warm house, what comes first, food for the family, paying fuel bills or period products for your teenage daughter… that is reality face by a huge part of society.
Reading down the posts, you can see those born to privilege.
@Smashingdoozy thank you for MHG most appreciated
Opinion
74Opinion
No I don't.
Hair growth is a "natural" assurance to my body - should I get free haircuts? No.
Haircuts aren't a necessity and you don't need one every month.
@Massageman nah but you can get free condoms while sex is a choice and periods aren't 🤙
Washing your hair is actually a luxury but heck let's make all soap free too.
You can cut hair off for free, plus it's your choice to and it's not exactly the same as bleeding uncontrollably out your vagina. I bet most guys who are against it being free are the same who'd shame a girl for leeking
What kind of logic is this. You don't need a haircut nor to wash yourself. Are you women mental and hysteric?
If a person doesn't get a haircut, it means that hair will eventually reach a point where it simply is in the way to even do basic tasks in life.
And not cleaning yourself is a serious health-risk.
So what the heck are you folks on about. Use your brain and not your vagina for once.
Not to mention you can just use some rag for your periods like it was done in the past. And then boil it. It's the cheapest solution. Don't want that, though, right? Well, gotta pay for that extra you want.
@FakeName123 and you can just go unwashed untrimmed as it was done in the past. dumb beta male.
@tilmyheadblows
You can do that if you want to die before reaching the age of 30 due to a bazillion infections based off of bad hygiene. I prefer being clean myself, though. You go ahead not washing yourself, though.
Haircuts, shoelaces, tampons, meatballs, whatEVer- you're missing the point that many people have explained to you very well. THERE IS NO FREE RIDE! Somewhere, somehow, someone will be paying for this AND paying for the governmental BS-agency that has to administer the "tampon police"!
@FakeName123 imagine missing the point this hard and focusing on the words at face value. and you have the balls to call others dumb with a one dimensional iq.
@tilmyheadblows There's no point in arguing with him. I wonder how he'll like it if he sees a woman bleeding and having blood on her pants
hair doesn't seep into your underwear and leave a big red stain. not a good comparison dear
@tilmyheadblows They are in a way as you can always get a hysterectomy to stop them.
Sure when you're 30 and have your partners permission even then it's "what if you change your mind" blah blah blah.
@tilmyheadblows what do you mean by "free"?
@Daniela1982 not true, most male doctors won't let you have that done unless you've had 2-3 kids are around 30+ and have your current husband's consent. Some of them still won't let you because "what if you want more kids later."
Not to mention the surgery costs money as well. So its irrelevant as an argument, but thanks for trying.
@RichSD can't belive I have to spell this out for a dude in his 50's. By 1850, average life expectancy for a woman was 46. Coincidentally, the sanitary pad was in use by the 1860's. Guess what was happening by then... life expectancies went up slowly. So women could finally, on average, finally live in to menopause. I really hope you don't have daughters
Sweetie pads still cost money...
oh my god would you all shut up? the argument never should have been "i have to pay for x so you should have to pay for y" it should have been "no one should have to pay for any if these things if they need them because they're basic things that are expected of us"
@tilmyheadblows There is no such thing as "no one should have to pay" because SOMEONE has to pay for things, if it's not the individual, it's the taxpayer. In a perfect world, maybe money just grows on trees since nobody should have to pay for anything, but that's far, far from the world that actually exists. There is no such thing as free if someone has to be paid to work in the factories that make those things, and materials needed to make them isn't free. Should those thousands of people (if not more) working in those jobs just have to work for free and go home after a long day at work with no money for their own dinner? You don't have a very clear grasp of how the world works.
Jesus stfu you're annoying af
@RichSD tl;dr past the first comma cus im not fond of conversing with someone that hasn't hit grade 2 lvl reading comp yet. as I have discussed, in my country sex based health products are given out for free in certain establishments
( I. e. condoms, pregnancy tests etc) therefore it can be done clearly? lol. go shoe shine my heels with your tongue or something.
No, because it is not necessary to have a period unlessss you are actively breeding.
Didn't realize I could just tell my body to stop bleeding. Fuck why don't they teach this stuff in school.
@FakeName123 Yea sure shampoo and haircuts can be free but us women need these items more than anything else even shampoo because if we cannot soak up all the blood from our vagina have fun having a nice smelling girlfriend and giving you diseases such as herpes and what not because I don't think its hygenic to bleed all over the place or even be happy ruining every piece of clothing you own do to periods I don't see any women dating you by the fact if your going to be an ass about this... menstrual items should be free not condoms you have the free will to have a choice to have sex with a girl with a condom... girls do not have the choice to have periods even if we were to elimate periods using birth control many will lose the ability to even have children so have fun having a population with boys or any other human if no women can make children... this is what the world is coming to... with fertility rates dropping and you can say goodbye to men having the use of having sexual intercourse
You misunderstood. I want nothing free. I want products to have a fair price for fair quality. If people work to produce something, they should be rewarded for it.
What I want is less government and thus less taxes. That would naturally make products cheaper as a result, if governments were such greedy pieces of crap. Demanding things to be handed out for free by government means a raise in taxes to pay for it. The complete antithesis of what I want.
In addition I can't stand people who just want free stuff without any regard of what it means to produce and create products. It shows a respect for other peoples labour.
It shows a LACK of respect for other peoples labour *
They should be free if said person gives up their vote and ability to run for office say for a period of one year from last time they accepted such handouts. If you accept government handouts you have selfish political motivations and should not be involved in the political process.
I'm really against anything "free" however this is a practical consideration here.
Reason im against free is because its really bad for poor people. I own a business that provides necessity services to many poor people. My friend owns a small chain of low income catered local grocery stores. Both of us are quite well off and often the target of taxes. If our taxes go up to pay for say menstrual products we have to increase what we charge to our customers. I dont personally pay any tax because its entirely passed on to my customers. If it goes up my prices go up. So if you're so poor you need free menstrual products does it really help when gas groceries rent etc all increases to pay for such a "free" thing? Plus you know its going to be the shittiest one available so now you probably dont even want to use that one anyways. Lol.
i rather think, that if you accept gov handouts, you NEED gov handouts and do not have an ulterior motive like corruption in politics
@oowoowoowoo nobody needs government handouts though. 🙄 what did people do before governments or such things were even invented? How did cavewomen live on and reproduce if they were dying from not having menstrual products given to them free?
... So you're good with women free bleeding? Because that's what cave women would have done
Sure. I just personally am not going to have one to my house or anywhere near me but thats fine. They can ruin their own furniture if they want.
Women have jobs, women take public transport, women go into restaurants, cafes, bars. Every single seat will end up being blood stained
Id assume a specific job might require women to not do such a thing. Just as many jobs have dress codes.
Seems like you'd rather be paying for blood clean up than for preventing it.
How would i pay for blood clean up?
✨Taxes✨
I have mixed views on this as I'm from the UK we no longer have it taxed as we left the EU but it's still expensive and in the UK medical care is free so... It's a gray area. I mean I can't help getting my period it's natural and honestly not everyone has the privilege to afford or to feel comfortable getting tampons. Some girls grow up in families were periods are not spoken about and are made to feel dirty and ashamed of something that's natural, also a lot of mentally ill and homeless women don't have access to these products either. If there was a place were women could feel comfortable getting help with this stuff for free I'm totally in favour of it.
My grandma kicked my auntie out of the house when she got her period and made her feel ashamed of herself because of it. When she found her tampons she said your women now so you no longer need to live in my house. Then she wonders why I have nothing to do with her
As a start I think it's ridiculous that many countries still tax them as a luxury item. It should be like an essential food product - no sales taxes.
In terms of free do I think every woman should get packs of the stuff free every month? No.. but I do think it should be made available for free to those who need it like what we already do in many places with birth control, condoms, soap, shaving cream, razors, clothes etc. For example, shelters, care packs for the poor, health awareness campaigns, schools etc should all be able to provide these items for free to those who need them for free.
This issue is not about changing how we think about period stuff, it's about including period stuff in the list of essentials we already make available and accessible.
Where were you the last time this question was asked? I think they said no for the most part. Of course they are a needed item, but so are eyeglasses, medicine, and laundry/dish soap. I don't even know if you could write it off on your income tax which would be nice. Now ask your health insurer if they will cover your menstrual products and they will laugh you in the face. Not fair, but life isn't fair either.
Yes, the should be. Here is why. I come from a country that has many impoverished people. The real issue, when you think about it, is cost.
Not cost of the products that should be free, but the cost of not giving them. Without proper sanitary products, hygiene takes a hit. That can lead to more serious medical problems. Even ones that aren't so serious, still often require medical care.
Now, think about what costs more. Some menstrual products or unpaid medical bills? I think we all know how out of whack medical costs are, no matter the country you reside in.
It is no different here. Those people, even going to a "free" clinic, still cost far more than feminine care products. Like anything in life "free" isn't free. Those clinics are supported by the government. What does it cost to staff doctors, nurses, etc? Compared to tampons?
Yeah, so I agree with those that say it should be provided for free.
I should have added in my rant that India is moving towards this. They have made some steps in recent past to have a program. So, right direction.
I think that teachers and school staff should raise donations for making these available to girls. Some questionable parents out there are willing to take care of these needs for their daughters. There is a lot of greed in this industry, over 20 billion dollars was generated by the sales of feminine hygiene alone in 2021. I think the problem with free is government would try and cut corners sacrificing quality for quantity and going too cheap may cause the majority of products to contain chemicals and byproducts that are not good for the body or the environment.
The disposable products already contain chemicals that are bad fro the body hence I recommended reusables which on average would last 1 girl 5 years for a total cost of maybe $200 retail value
$200 Is actually cheaper in the long run for most people. Its just a matter if people always have it with them when they need it. I wonder what percentage of people would lose it and need replacements. The other option would be interest free financing for everyone and donors could donate to the fund to bring down costs. The product would also need to not be revealing enough to create an embarrassment for those who use the product.
I did a double take when I read your question because "menstrual products" could mean blood and cells from the uterus lining! I'm sure those could be free but who would want them?
But seriously, if the things you're talking about were free, who would you expect to pay for them? Companies that make these things don't work for free. They have employees who expect to be paid. All women menstruate until menopause? Everybody needs to use the bathroom from time to time also. Should toilet paper be free? Should soap and disinfectant be free?
Things are just going from bad to worse when it comes to millennial and Gen Z entitlement. But of course promising “free” stuff is how democrats when elections. Smdh.
You know men have 4 times the suicide rates (even worse rates for middle aged white men). I don’t think “free counseling” will magically bring that number down to parity with women either. Rather we deal with and have to tolerate all sorts of hostilities and struggles that most women have zero clue about. But you don’t see us marching and demanding “free” shit. It would be the end of functioning society if we did.
You got a lot of growing up to do. The sad part is I’ve met women in their 30s and even older who are just as stupid if not worse. This is scary.
You are a special kind of dumb, huh?
You couldn't just say, "hey, yeah I can see why that might be a problem. I don't think it should be free though." No, your special ass said "No tampons for you because guys kill themselves at higher rates than women! Also gen z and millenials are entitled!"
Sorry, sorry. Let me help you in a way you might understand.
Suicide is a horrible thing, but we shouldn't give them free counseling to deal with depression issues because, according to studies, kids who play video games for at least 5 hours a week have better eye hand coordination than those who don't. Guys with depression can just play video games to become happier and we can get rid of therapy altogether.
Yeah, that's how crazy you sounded there.
@Ez-Bri-Z alright I could of been a bit nicer with my response above.
Im a self made man. I put myself through college by working year around (2 jobs during the summer), taking out some schools loans, getting some scholarship money (I was on the deans list) and i started my own company at 26. It didn’t work out but I never gave up. I continued to work and I got side ventures going on.
When I was 29 I had over $30k in debt. Credit cards and student loans. I listened to Dave Ramsey and got “gazelle intense”. I didn’t own a car and rode a bicycle to work every day. I worked side jobs. I still went out with friends but i kept it cheap. I never asked my parents to bail me out or worse expect tax payers to bail me out. I am a MAN and society expects me to be independent and self sufficient. Women expect this of men too whether they day it out loud or not.
I saved up money and bought my first house a year ago. It was a huge fixer upper and I spent hundreds of hours working on it (and lots of extra money too). It looks great now but most people don’t know just how much sweat equity i put into it. I also am under contract to buy a investment property.
Point being is I don’t look for hand outs. I wasn’t born in a rich family. I didn’t win the lotto. I had to work and I notice when I work hard I get luckier.
Now I know some things are more complicated nowadays (thanks to mass inflation). But this entitlement attitude of “give me free stuff!” is something that will never get you ahead in life.
And I know this is sexist but women generally act much more entitled for “free stuff”. How much do tampons cost you anyway? Maybe $100-$150 a year? Alright you are a woman and that’s an added expense because of biology (but some woke liberals say men can have periods too). But why the hell should I have to pay more taxes so you can get free tampons?
I mean free therapy programs probably would help with that issue. Along with dismantling toxic masculinity and taking away that stigma that you're not a "real man" if you have mental health issues. Suicide is a shitty thing, women have high attempted suicide rates, we also are more likely to seek help. If seeking help wasn't so difficult or stigmatized i think mens suicide rates would drop.
Also tampons are about $10 a box, that will last you a month if lucky, most people use pads at night so that's another $10. Then ontop of that you have cost of pain relief, cleaning supplies or new underwear/sheets and some people have to take time off work to cope with it.
“ Along with dismantling toxic masculinity and taking away that stigma that you're not a "real man" ”
Okay about “dismantling toxic masculinity”. The real reason men act this way is all comes down to Freudian psychology. Men who show their feelings are NOT attractive to the vast majority women no matter what women say.
Talk is cheap. All men need to do is look around to see who is successful and it’s rarely guys who wear their emotions on their sleeves (rare exceptions if the guy is a famous celebrity).
No men want respect. I truly believe that women subconsciously have less respect for men who show their emotions then even other men do. I say all of this being a born sensitive guy. Without fail when I show some of my vulnerabilities to women it’s usually the beginning of the end when it comes to romance. And men don’t seek out nor really need women to be “just friends with”. We might become friends with them out of happenstance but we are independent.
“Toxic” masculinity will never go away until women stop sexually rewarding guys who act this way. We both know that women will never get over their lust for bad boys.
And yes sex, intimacy and more (quiet) respect from women is something that almost all straight men crave. We will behave in a way that improved our chances. Showing our emotions and sensitivity sure as hell isn’t effective.
Thats toxic masculinity. Believe it or not it affects women too. Women being turned off by men showing emotions have toxic masculinity ingrained in them
Women are not being taught to chase assholes and to catch feelings for them. But just take a look around and you see that actions speak louder than words.
There are (problematic) evolutionary influences that make women behave this way.
Anyway the whole nice guy vs asshole debate is so over worn that I don’t want to get into it. But I’ll tell you this: Attraction is NOT a choice. Whether you catch feelings for someone or not is not something you can control. You can control your decisions and respect others (including self respect). But most women make emotional based decisions and they are often not for the better.
I don’t see this changing in the future. While not all women love assholes it’s just a sorry sickening text that too many do. Whats worse is assholes usually pull women when they are in their physical primes (late teens and early 20s). Nice guys don’t get to be Cherry poppers. Instead we get used as “safety nets”.
Anyway I say if you want to spread your legs for that abusive prick go right ahead. But don’t come crying to me and society when the writing is on the wall. Whats worse is what motivation is there for a bad boy to change when he’s getting what he wants? Toxic masculinity does pay dividends.
No toxic masculinity exists because women subconsciously confuse that with real masculinity. If there assholes suddenly got turned down and/or friéndzoned all the time they would quickly change their behavior. Trust me.
Anyway “toxic masculinity” is not something you Can berate men into fixing. That’s not something that feminism can fix. Rather it’s something that women need to recognize they are a huge reason “toxic masculinity” exists. Don’t pet a snake and cry victim when it bites you.
I'm sorry, but any guy who refers to themselves as a "cherry popper" isn't a nice guy. He is a wannabe player with less game. Also, I like how we are purely emotional and can't control our attraction, but somehow able to control our emotions. On the other hand guys are unable to fix their toxic masculinity because women are also at fault for that. So not only do we need to fix our sh*t but we have to fix yours too?
Again, if you are only out to have sex with a woman and not a meaningful relationship, you are no better than those toxic guys and your only quality is being an a**hole who lies to get sex and reduces women down to a hole to get your dick wet.
Your focus is so myopic in finding a woman to be with that you fail to reason that it is much easier to just not be a jerk and find a girlfriend to have sex whenever you and her want vs trying to find a girl each night.
@Ez-Bri-Z it’s much more complicated than that above and you know it.
The “cherry popper” comment was an exaggeration but there is an element of truth in it. When women are going they are more pure and primal about their dating decisions. You usually don’t see them chasing nice guys. They go to the guy who knows how to hit her emotional buttons.
When I was 21 and more of a pure “nice guy”‘ I was living in a form apartment. There was a very cute 19 yr old girl who was just friends with my roommate. She had a huge crush on me. She was a virgin.
Anyway we made out a few times. Then i had an opportunity to do the honors. But I stopped. I told her she deserved better than to lose it in a dingy dorm room. I told her I wanted to make it special.
She seemingly really appreciated that. But then not even a month later she said “I met this guy and seems like a jerk. I got a feeling he will chest on me but I have feelings for him”. Sure enough she gave it up to him and then friéndzoned me.
But that stuck in my mind. I know not all women are like that but you are seeing the young and unfiltered way their minds operate.
@ez-bri-z also getting back to suicide. Whirl therapy does help there is a much bigger issue going on society. Men are being marginalized (and white men are all too often demonized). Don’t give some dismissive bullshit about “oh we just need to get them free therapy and dismantle toxic masculinity”. This is a much deeper issue going on here. Don’t tell a working class middle aged white man that he is “privileged” when he barely makes enough money trying to pay the bills and support his family. He doesn’t want to hear that bullshit. Those guys have it TOUGH and trying to demonize them is making everything infinitely worse.
Both men and women work hard to supply for their families in the workplace so his burden is not greater than hers, it just happens that in a lot of cases he will happen to make more for it even if it is the same job. Even if you want to delineate for stay at home caretakers vs breadwinners, she still makes a ton of sacrifices taking on that role that cannot be dismissed and in a lot of cases, she gives up more hours of her day doing it.
I disagree however that he isn't privileged. He is more privileged than the man without a job. He isn't rich and he isn't powerful, but he certainly isn't without either.
@Ez-Bri-Z women definitely have an extremely important role in homemaking. That’s a different topic but please explain to me how a working class white man (not a rich white man) working in construction or something is “príveleged”?
All I have noticed in the last few years is when the left says “white males” it’s almost always said disparagingly. It used to be bullshit you would hear on college campuses. Now you hear it in Hollywood, mass media and even in corporations.
Not every white man is born “privileged”’. You take a white guy who was born in poor community in the Appalachia with alcoholic/drug addicted parents and you tell him he’s “privileged” just because he’s a white make than YOU are the sexist and racist. You have no idea what that guy has been through.
You wonder these guys have such high depression and suicide rates. Well society isn’t helping. I thinking liberals are secretly happy that uneducated middle aged men have exponential suicide rates. If those guys vote Republican they are the worst of the worst right?
Does working class guy have a house over his head?
Does the guy who was laid off due to cut backs once the pandemic hit have one?
Ok, well if the first is yes and the second is no, then he is privileged to have a job (working isn't a right) and privileged enough to have a home where the other guy is not. Ezpz
Let me show privilege in another way.
If you and I walk down a dark street at night in a neighborhood we don't know, maybe we both are afraid, maybe you aren't, but what I do know is that I HIGHLY doubt that in your mind you are worried about being raped as well as being mugged/killed. That's privilege.
If you want to bring race into it we can. How often do you hear of white males being pulled over and arrested/assaulted for having the same skin color as a criminal in the area. I invite you to start by looking up Lieutenant Caron Nazario, an army medic pulled over in Virginia and the treatment he received for just how he looked and he was in his uniform at the time. Now look up Dylann Roof who committed a mass shooting in a church, who police bought Burger King for after his arrest.
That's privilege.
You don't have to agree, but until you experience it then you don't know it exists.
@Ez-Bri-Z I am an athletic guy and I’m well trained in martial arts. But I’m not going to walk down a dark alley and pull out my wallet filled with money and wave it around. Men might be able to handle themselves better but we sure as hell aren’t bullet proof. Most homicide victims are men.
As for race that’s a whole another rabbit hole discussion. I don’t want to get into it but I will say that large swathes of people have been brainwashed into believing a myth based on ANECDOTAL vs. real hard statistical evidence. For example do you know how many unarmed black men were shot and killed by police in 2019? A grand total of 19 nationwide. That number also includes were suspects were really grabbing for a officers weapon OR were armed with s different weapon (bat, brick, etc). Also just because someone is unarmed doesn’t mean they harmless. But again that’s whole another rabbit hole debate.
Anyway I’m going to agree to disagree here. But really I ask you to seriously consider the male POV on things. Our viewpoints are often scoffed at and dismissed in society. Our lives are not as easy as you think. If you really considered the man’s POV on things than we would be more open to hearing your side. This is especially true when it comes to dating. Women have a built in advantage when it comes to that and most of them don’t even realize it.
It would be great to receive free period products.
There are just some problems with it.
It's not really a viable option.
We would end up getting bad quality products and probably wouldn't even be able to choose what kind of product we wanted and especially not what brand.
I do think it would be great if there were some options for young students at their school if they didn't have parents that could take care of it.
And something for homeless women or poor women. - but I haven't done research for what they do.
We have them free in Scotland and various schemes making them free to those in education etc
@ChrisMaster69 That's great! - especially with those in education.
I wonder how it's possible to have the for free and also what types it is and whether the quality is proper then.
@Little_Bumblebee basically buy in bulk from either exiting manufacturers, natural ingredient’s non toxic. Over lockdown bulk purchases were made for frontline health workers. it’s not getting cheap for the hell of it.
Girls are around 1 in 10 or more from inner cities whose families cannot afford them.
Also supermarkets are stepping up their input to providing for free.
www.globalcitizen.org/.../
These are standard products.
Yes because it’s natural. Condoms are given out for free at doctors. Why can’t some sanitary products be too? Some can’t afford them but they’ll still bleed! It’s such a tough question to answer as you could go on and on and say nappies should be free?
I support all the Ladies on this question, yes there should be a way that Ladies get free Menstrual Cycle products, there are many Ladies who can't afford these products cause of the price plus some come from a low income, and some have a job that pays nothing I can't believe the punk ass guys on here have no respect for Ladies I grew up with a family we were poor and it was sad cause there was my sister who had menstrual cycles and so did my mom at one time
yes but also all forms of contraceptives. you know how you have those peppermint jars that some places let people grab mints from? Yeah that but with condoms and morning after pills just to be safe lmfao!
How well does that morning after pill work?
Birth control should just be free to get end of. Not in just a grab and go sense though. Maybe for condoms but not for pills.
I was just being a little silly lol. I agree though. For all the back and forth debate on abortion how many could be stopped before they happened? Free IUDs as well. Children should always be planned for so they get the best care and mommy and daddy can still enjoy their best life lol
Technology has allowed us to manufacture things like this for pennies. I feel that good governments should provide free Healthcare and this is just one of the things included in that. Maybe not 50 years ago, but we have more than quadrupled efficiency yet prices for everything have only increased.
Life would be great if it weren't for the corruption and greed of people.
No, I don't.
Should every person who has to shit get toilet paper for free?
Should every person with a runny nose get tissues for free?
Should every hungry person get food for free?
Should everyone who is cold at night get a free house?
It's fucking braindead female snowfake argument.
Yes... Yes they should.
And who is going to pay for it?
Other people? Which ones? The ones who actually have a job?
What if everyone was to decide to be a parasitic jobless vermin?
Who would make your pads, your food and your houses then?
That wouldn't happen 🐱 stop being so trivial the question is simple the logistics aren't up to us
Right, in that case, I've just ran out of some very essential coco choco peanut butter and I'm in a dire need of having it subsidized.
I need it for my gains that my mental health depends on.
I feel really bad when I don't see a well defined six pack in the mirror.
Your comparisons are stupid 🐱
They would never actually be "free", because someone, somewhere along the line would end up having to pay for them. After all, the costs associated with producing them in the first place have to be covered somehow, because the companies that make them still need to make a profit.
No, this is a stupid idea, and yet there will always be someone who thinks it's "only fair".
Free at the point of availability.
Already free in Scotland, Free for most of those in education.
For those who have the choice of food or sanitary products, what do they choose?
This has a major impact on the physical and mental health of those living in poverty.
There is a major increase in risk of health issues related to period with DIY period products.
It’s not cheap going in to hospital.
It’s fair I guess for Margret shoving rags down her panties, while Joan with all her privilege gets whatever she needs.
@ChrisMaster69 Well, I don't live in Scotland so I don't really know what they do over there, but my point still stands: "free" stuff just isn't free at all, because, as I said, whatever the product may happen to be, someone ends up covering the cost of production.
What you've presented here is a false dilemma, because in the West at least there isn't anyone who is so poor they can afford only one or the other. Even those who are living in abject poverty, (and I speak from personal first-hand experience here, there having been the six of us in our family trying to get by on just our father's unskilled, factory income), will almost always receive government benefits of some kind (ex. unemployment), and if they manage their financial affairs with a modicum of skill and forethought will cope just fine.
"It's not cheap going in to hospital" - Well, where I live it's "free" (we have Medicare). The person actually requiring treatment may not pay a cent at the time of admission, but the cost will always show up somewhere else, and that cost is often carefully concealed (or at least not obvious).
"It’s fair I guess for Margret shoving rags down her panties, while Joan with all her privilege gets whatever she needs."
Life in general isn't fair. It is what it is, and besides, how does one actually quantify "fairness" in any case? There will always be people who, in relation to others, are comparatively poor. Complete, absolute equality is neither a realistic goal, nor a desirable one, and yes, I'm a libertarian who hates the idea of giving handouts to people.
@rachelspiks we have food banks, people are struggling to actually feed themselves.
The hospital reference was about the actual real cost of the stay, we have NHS so it’s free at point of use, however a person in a bed getting treated for something is a cost, the wage overheads, consultant, Scan, medicine, potentially an operation.
Those costs could be prevented by decent sanitary provision
Anyhow, take some pride in how well provisioned Australia is, read the link.
probonoaustralia.com.au/.../
Quote - More than one in five Australians are using toilet paper, socks or other unsuitable alternatives to manage their periods because they can’t afford pads or tampons,
Unquote
Yeah life’s not fair, however how about people try balancing things up for others, why should someone have to toilet paper or socks in Australia because they cannot afford sanitary products?
If you go to a public toilet the toilet paper is free, as is the soap, hot water and paper hand towels or drier. Most guys wipe their arses on more material than is in a tampon. Free menstrual products in public toilets just seems the right next step.
They're free in the UK, many schools and collages have a free supply and some supermarket chains do as well. I'm not sure what the uptake is but hardly anyone minds the scheme.
The reusable ones are definitely a great alternative. Perhaps make it insanely cheap it would be stupid to do anything else, so its still contributed towards.
I do love the male responses here. Because we so clearly asked to be female and have this happen to us. Should charge them for every wank they have like in legally blonde and claim it as child abandonment XD
Yes, all day every day. At the very least the cheaper stuff should be free, then pay if you like/prefer better stuff.
I have a box at home with some of the stuff my wife doesn't use so whenever our girl friends come over, they're covered if there's an emergency.
Definitely. But like many other free services it will probably be abused.
The NHS already provide free sanctuary products to patients, extending that service would be beneficial. Like having free products in public toilets like pubs and clubs, nothing worse then paying £5 for 1 tampon when your period suddenly starts, this is humiliating regardless of age or bank balance.
Love the idea of free resealable products, a charity could produce this with some funding and donations.
A few already do in the UK, also free in Scotland across the board.
The uk have a few services in place if you need the support, don't they?
Hopefully this will be available worldwide soon 🙏
@harleigh90 yeah a lot of stuff is moving to free at point of use.
Also there were bulk deliveries to hospitals for staff
I get my periods every other week. And I come from a poor family so sometimes it's difficult to be able to afford menstrual products. And it's not like we choose to bleed more than a dead cow every month
If a government is prepared to hand out free condoms and Variants of the pill - only needed for voluntary acts - then they should be paying for menstruation products, since last time I checked women didn't just choose when to have a period.
But sexist policies have prevailed for years.
I’m not sure if it’s going be nationwide across Canada but I know recently Shoppers Drug Marts have partners with schools to offer products for free.
I doubt they’ll ever make them free for everyone simply because money and economics will always win in the end.
Just like bottled water.
what about toilet paper? everyone has an asshole. why shouldn't toilet paper be free?
or hair products, most people have hair, but women's hair causes so many plumbing problems. there should be free combs and brushes but a plumbing surcharge on residences where women live.
c'mon... this victim mentality and " i didn't have a choice to be born xx or xy chromosomes..." is getting really old.
Sure free toilet paper too. Free soap and shampoo.
Though toilet paper is a fraction of the cost of tampons for example. You realize that right?
By package isn't relevant. 4-8 on average tampons a day so 20-40 a month for an average 5 day cycle 9.27 a box at about 18¢ each so 74¢ to $1.44 a day on something that gets thrown out compared to: let's say you use 1 roll of tp a week pack of regular 1000 sheet 12 tp rolls is $9.92, so 82¢ a roll... Over the same 5 day period 74¢ to $1.44 vs 16¢.
Well, free may not happen. But they should be covered in medical insurance, at least half off, if not completely covered. I sympathize with women with matters like this, having 3 sisters and many nieces. I just hope the blow heart politicians understand this, for your sake, to approve of this.
Nothing is free. Someone always pays. If sanitary products are given away, women as well as men will be among those who pay. I think it is a good idea to make sure people who are too poor to pay for basic necessities can receive them. I think it would be immoral to subsidize basic necessities for those who can already afford them.
It's not exactly a question of should, if there was a machine creating unlimited pads and the creator allowed it, sure. But given it's seemingly not the case, who is paying for it? Should food be free? (what're you going to give in return to that farmer, there's no such thing as free money)
I don't think so. So by that logic shouldn't I as a guy get free razors, shaving cream or other items too? Why does everyone think they are entitled to free stuff lately, if you need something buy it your self. Besides nothing is free, this would be paid for by tax payers and the gov't is wasting enough of our money as it is.
you can choose to shave. you can prolong shaving. not shaving doesn't have an effect on your life. periods stain underwear. you can't hold in the blood like some people say. the blood is not in your bladder, its not like going to the bathroom. periods leave big red stains unless you have sufficient products to soak it up. menstrual products should be free
@oowoowoowoo So why should taxpayers foot the bill for it, someone has to pay and shouldn't it be the people that use the product. Nothing is free. It's a personal hygiene product just like shaving, and in the military you don't have choice with shaving, no beards allowed.
You have a choice to be in the military. If you hate shaving that much don't join 😂 every single man has that choice, not every single women has that choice to just not have a period.
I think you are all missing the point, that it's not free so how is it fair that taxpayers should foot the bill for your personal hygiene items. It's simple, they shouldn't.
That's what tax is for. You're acting like it would make a dramatic increase to tax which it wouldn't.
Ya, and it's that mentality that has put this country so far in debt, it all adds up. Sorry, but nope, buy your own personal hygiene shit.
Yes I think they should. They are important to the health and well-being of every woman (and anybody who has a vagina/menstrual cycle in general).
The government already subsidies corn, oil and other stuff why can't it stop subsidisinf that crap and subsidise products that help people.
what about medications that people require to live then. something basic like synthroid. a very very high part of the population takes it and it is a vital hormone for your body. shouldn't those types of medications then also be free?
Yes... That's called universal healthcare 🙂 what a lot of people have been fighting for for years in the US.
hahaha. you don't get free medicine as well
No we don't because we're ✨America ✨ land of the not so free because if you don't pay thousands in insurance you're fucked.
I live in Canada where I have UHC. doctor and hospital time is covered... thats it
we don't get free prescriptions, bandaids and tampons
You do from the hospital though and you have publicly funded drug programs. I'd kill for hospital coverage. My medical bills wouldn't be so damn high.
when you get admitted to hospital because your there for surgery is covered. there's no free lunch for prescribed needs. and any public drug programs are for the homeless
Your prescriptions are still on average 50-80% cheaper than USA.
ya right. because the drug companies like Canadians more.
In my country prescription drugs are also covered under our healthcare system. So no charge.
I think they should be, or at least subsidized. It could be complicated as stores may not want to distribute them if they weren't making money on them. It may work better if they were tax deductible or vouchers for free products were issued. A system so homeless women could get them hassle-free without vouchers would be beneficial.
Menstrual products are "strategic resources" - something that people (in this case - women) would buy, no matter how expensive they would be, because they're necessary,. The same is with water, medicines, or basic food like meat or potatos - people would still buy them, even if they couldn't afford them.
Where do we draw the line at “free” stuff that isn’t really free? And who pays for it? Should we make clothing free? Disposable diapers? Almost all food? Transportation and fuel costs?
Basic clothing yes, reusable diapers yes, staple foods yes, public transport yes.
no, its part of life. i use reusable ones, have no issues, they aren't that expensive, its really no big deal.
Cheaper not free, contraception is free because it some people can't afford it and you can't bring a baby up if you can't even afford condoms. I think you should be able to claim a free one time one but toilet paper isn't free and that's needed to clean your ass. They should be cheaper but I think comparing them to condoms is a bit far.
sex is a choice (consensual of course). you can't just choose to not menstruate. i'm all for free contraception, but free menstrual products should have come first because they cannot be avoided
Yes. Anything that a person can’t live without: food, shelter, water, etc should not be commodified.
Subsidised products would be good.
Possibly depends on the country you live in for how much off the shelf products cost.
Should be offered at schools for free, the same as condoms should be. Not all parents are supportive, or can afford these items for their kids.
Making them free for 20yrs and under would surely have a positive impact.
And clearly more education for boys around the menstrual cycle 😄
No, unless they are receiving other support eg. Food stamps due to poverty or being homeless. Sure you can’t control your period for the most part but you can say the same for a toothbrush and shampoo being a necessity
I think they should be less experience, but free? Probably not. I shouldn’t have to pay close to $10 for pads/tampons , but companies need to make their money. I go to Dollar tree for my stuff $1 for some tampons 😊
Yes. Im also of the opinion that all essential toiletries should just be free so menstral products, id also put forward toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap too. Make it all free!
I don't see the controversy here @downvoters
Yes it should be at least cheap. Like why does a layer of cotton costs so much. It comes under luxury items which is very weird. It shouldn't be so costly.
I think since they already have online stores where you can order prescribed drugs and have them delivered each month regularly that they could also do something similar with the products you talk about but like every other month or so. You just have to signup once to verify that you are female and need them so they are not sending them out to people who don't need them.
Just get them for free at any boy's restroom at any middle school in Oregon and there will be a tampon machine with free tampons for boys that have periods.
Okay? Do you have a problem?
I think it would be heavily abused during the beginning of their pilot projects so I would say no, they should not be free. The government can give a fertility income bonus to low income families to help them pay for menstrual products.
Not really.
Then you'd have to ask if all hygiene products should be free. If drinkable water should be free.
Its nice when you go to a bathroom and they have tampons, but I dont think it should be enforced, lol.
In a perfect society yes. But the problem is this just isn't likely and easy to do. It's not something that can happen and of we do that then other things would by the same logic need to be free
I wouldn’t mind paying an extra buck or two in taxes to give girls everywhere free menstrual products…
For the needy who cannot access it, yes.
For the rest of us, no. Just because of sanitary pads being an environmental hazard if they are taken for granted being free.
If you read the description I said reusable products 🐱
Oh yes definitely. These things are necessities, not luxury products
I always feel really bad for women who are homeless because I know it must be really hard for them to get any menstrual supplies. Those products are very expensive also.
No. There is no good reason for them to be treated differently from any other toiletry product. Sure, the government can tax them less, but that's about it.
More than half the worlds population needs sanitary product every single month. Very good reason to. Or maybe we will just free bleed and watch them have to pay to clean blood off public spaces. ☺️
You're confused. You think women have only just started bleeding these past few decades or something? You seriously think women didn't bleed before then, or during the Roman era, or when our ancestors were hunting from caves? and they were moping blood off places? You're more naïve than I thought you were, kiddo.
They used literal belts with rags back then. Which were incredibly unsanitary and would have stunk. I know you hate women but you'll really hate us if we smell like that.
It would be nice but that means the people who work in those factories wouldn't get paid much. I wonder if homeless women have access to menstrual products
No, because tax payers would have to pay for it.
We are already over taxed already. You can't do or buy nothing without a tax being added.
there's a new one coming Carbon Tax. Forget about having freedom or any money
I believe that basic feminine hygiene products should be freely available. However, "premium" menstrual products are a choice and should be purchased... perhaps not taxed... but you should have to pay for that BMW luxury type item.
Reusables are cheaper to purchase, better for the person and less cost on the environment.
Hey, I'm a dude, ok... Until you told me about having a reusable product (that thought doesn't sit well with me... I mean like... Really?) I don't see how that would be available at a moments notice in a public restroom or work... Where I have noticed that women quickly become in need of that product.
What's wrong with reusable products?
The idea would be that people would be able to get these for free when they need them. Bathrooms can have disposable products in them and it's not like products will only be available at places you can get them for free you'd still be able to purchase in case of emergency.
I use reusable products but still keep a few disposable tampons and liners in my bag just in case.
Why in the world would you think that I could possibly have any kind of valid opinion on your use of a reusable feminine hygiene product? This is so far off my scope of things that I will ever use or care to know about. Actually, I think that you should be concerned if I was actually well versed in this subject and was able to give you a valid opinion on the use of feminine products.
All I really know is that this is something that you have no choice but to deal with and if I was in that position, yes, I would like to have my basic needs taken care of. Now, as far as what kind of product you wish to use, renewable or wuteva... That goes far beyond what I can use as a valid scope or even want to imagine.
Seriously, when my wife wants me to get her those, I'm taking the box top with the enact name of the product she wants. I mean damn it is like walking up to this wall of different products and since I really have no clue what does what... I grab one of the store personnel, hand them the box top and have them retrieve it for me. That way I come home with exactly what she wanted and is happy.
You know what I actually just did some research on reusables, screw this subject... after my failed attempt to even be empathic about this. You see, one of the really cool things about being a male... is not having to deal with things that I don't even have the physical structure to even be able to relate to you with.
Here is what I propose when it comes to female related issues, that do not affect me or I even could possibly understand. This something that you women need to deal with and most certainly without a mans input, on those things that only truly relate to women.
On these matters just you all get a consensus among each other and us guys will defer to what you all decided. Never ask me what my opinion on something I have no clue what it would be like to have to deal with it. If you all agree that needs to be done... I'm good with trusting that you know what is best for yourselves. Please, never ask guys about things we have no way to relate with.
I mean you kinda just encapsulated the entire issue with womens health. We have no choice but to ask men, men are the ones making the laws about our bodies with 0 input from women.
That is why I'm suggesting that we men will defer to your better judgment among yourselves. In other words, we will support you in whatever you women decide is relatable only to yourselves, specific women's issues that do not concern men at all. I promise tp stay in my own lane, will you?
Please, don't be one pf those people who will continue to try and prove a moot point, just for the hell of it.
I think we should strive to get free menstrual products for everyone, but i think we should try to get the programs sponsored by corporations. So the companies get bragging rights that they can use for advertising, and we dont accrue more national debt. Lets see these companies support women by actually supporting women in a noticeable way, theyre already using women to make themselves look better, we should get them to do better.
Condoms are free. So yeah, menstral products should be free! If guys bled out their pee hole I’m sure they would have a different opinion
Condoms aren’t free
Yes they are at any sexual health clinic
No, we don't live in a world of free stuff. We don't get any neccesities for free, why start at something only 50% of people need? Food, warmth, water, electricity, internet, all of these have priority in my opinion.
They should all be free.
Why should they be free?
It would be great but I don’t see that happening I mean it cost money to make menstrual products and who’s going to spend their money to make them and lose their investment and go broke
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