Tampon Tax?

By Shaylise Sylvester

An important equity issue was addressed visually in MFA student Xochiyolloh Harbison's thesis exhibition Hysterical.

Xochiyolloh Harbison, Tax, 2022.

Overview of Hysterical by Xochiyolloh Harbison.

Xochiyolloh Harbison defended her MFA thesis exhibition Hysterical on November 10, 2022. An area of focus in her show was inspired by the problem of equity issues involving women's hygiene products. Xochiyolloh's Luxury and Tax brings a visual representation of tampons as luxury items. Luxury is a handbuilt ceramic tampon box that is bedazzled with red gemstones and topped with a red ribbon. Tax is a collection of handbuilt ceramic tampons with tassels. "Women's periods are a fact of human existence, and women's hygiene products are being taxed as luxury items in the United States," Xochiyolloh said in her thesis defense.

Xochiyolloh Harbison, Tax and Luxury, 2022.

Xochiyolloh mentions that the problem extends beyond taxes. Not only are women's hygiene products taxed as luxury items, but a large population of women in the US cannot afford these essential products even without tax. There is a gap in public support resources, too, like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), as these programs do not include menstrual hygiene products in the assistance programs.

Xochiyolloh's work, Luxury and Tax, brings light to the question: Why are women's menstrual hygiene products taxed as a luxury?

Xochiyolloh Harbison plans to continue working as a ceramic artist to bring awareness to important social issues.