You stroll into the girls bathroom in a mad rush between classes. You notice a wire basket hanging from the 5th stall filled with tampons and pads galore. “Growing up is hard, stressful, painful and expensive… PERIOD,” the sign attached to it reads. Allegan Homeless Solutions has supplied teen girls of PHS with free feminine products– a genius idea. But what if all pads and tampons were free?

“If we can fund $5 billion for a wall, we can fund tampons,” said Delaney Lentz ‘19.

The Huffington post has estimated that a woman will spend approximately $18,171 on menstrual products in her lifetime. Having a period is more expensive than some would think. Although pads and tampons are considered cheap, other products such as heating pads, midol, new underwear, and panty liners only add to the countless dollars spent.

Women don’t choose to have a period, but find themselves paying taxes on products they absolutely need to stay sanitary. “It’s a matter of bathroom equality. We have our periods whether we want to or not” (Free the Tampons).

“They should at least not be taxed. Mens shaving stuff isn’t taxed but women’s tampons are. That’s unacceptable. We need them. You don’t HAVE to shave. We can’t walk around with blood everywhere,” said  Maddie English ‘19.

Making tampons free or at least lifting the tax would do wonders for those women struggling to stay afloat. Low income are families are having to choose between spending their last $10 on menstrual care or for food– both an absolute necessity.

But maybe there is a less costly and more environmentally friendly alternative, period cups.

Period cups are re-usable silicone cups that are used similarly to tampons.

“In my opinion, tampons should not be taxed but they should not be free. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative buy a period cup. It’s less wasteful and more affordable,” said Daisy Bennett ‘19.