Many individuals go through life without thinking where their next necessary health and hygiene products will come from—or how they will support themselves or their family enough to be able to afford said products. This applies to menstrual hygiene products, which are currently considered luxury products.

Luxury products are defined to be unnecessary or non-essential items. These products are taxed to increase government revenue and include items that are quite literally, luxuries. However, in modern times, this term applies to products that can be considered unreasonable like tobacco, alcohol, high-end cars, or menstrual products. 

Menstrual products are taxed as a luxury in all but eight states in the US. These hygiene products are, in fact, a necessity for much of the population. Even still, many people cannot afford to purchase these products, further made expensive by unethical taxes. This is impacting education of girls and women across the globe.

“There’s nothing luxurious about having your period. There’s a massive financial burden—the world is screwing women over when it comes to something they cannot control,” said Izzy Hinshaw, an Integrated Sciences Major at the University of Denver.