I am a woman, a U.S. citizen, and a human who believes every woman should have access to sanitary products at the lowest possible cost. The sales tax on these products in our state of Arkansas only makes it harder for us to achieve this basic necessity.

Sanitary products are not luxury items; they are essential goods that half of the population needs monthly for several decades of their lives. Yet, unlike other necessities such as groceries and prescription drugs which are exempted from sales tax in Arkansas, sanitary products continue to be taxed.

Reuse of pads and tampons can cause a fatal disease called TSS (toxic shock syndrome). Therefore accessibility to clean products is a necessity. 

According to a study by the State Policy Reports, women in the United States spend an average of $150 million per year on tampons alone (source: State Policy Reports). This does not even account for other sanitary items like pads or menstrual cups. The additional sales tax places an undue financial burden on women and girls who already face economic disparities due to gender wage gaps.

In arkansas, 2 in 9 women and girls between the age of 12 and 44 live below the Federal poverty line. 1 in 4 teens in the US has missed class due to lack of access of period supplies.

It is time we recognize that menstrual hygiene is not optional but necessary for health and dignity. By removing the sales tax on these items, we can make them more accessible to all women regardless of their income level.

Join me in urging our state legislators to exempt women's sanitary products from sales tax in Arkansas. Sign this petition today!