In yet another display of the decline and fall of higher education in America, UCLA special little snowflake Zoey Freedman has written a whine fest entitled: “Free tampons would slow flow of gender inequality.”
Her article has gone viral, not just because of the idiocy of the writer, but for the hyper-PC insanity that apologizes for making the assumption that biological reality is really real:
“Editor’s note: This blog post refers to individuals who menstruate as women because the author wanted to highlight gender inequality in health care. We acknowledge that not all individuals who menstruate identify as women and that not all individuals who identify as women menstruate, but feel this generalization is appropriate considering the gendered nature of most health care policies. “
From Daily Bruin, the Disclaimer of the Week: pic.twitter.com/nG5Lu1nbqJ
— Mickey Kaus (@kausmickey) July 22, 2015
The article proper is so FacePalm inducing that it deserves a fisking.
“To most government officials, feminine hygiene products are a luxury item. But, every day, women are being poisoned by their own bodies because they lack access to even the most essential health products.”
Yet women since time immemorial have been able to avoid self-poisoning despite not getting subsidized hygiene products…
“Meanwhile, most men have no problem getting covered for pills that will help them get a boner.”
Aside from the veracity of that statement, the parallel is a silly one: Menses is normal, while impotence is a medical disorder.
“Although still greatly outnumbered and underpaid compared to their male counterparts, women have made so much progress. Yet inequality still lies in the most basic areas of human well-being. Women are still facing unequal treatment when it comes to health care and are paying out of pocket for necessary female health products, particularly tampons and pads.”
Certainly not outnumbered on college campuses! The wage gap is practically non-existent overall, with younger generations actually have women earning more.
The reason for the different treatment here is due to the fact that men are biologically different from women. Women normally go through menses between puberty and menopause. Men never will.
“It’s about time that the federal government recognizes that even the most basic health care needs to start subsidizing the cost of tampons and pads for women, or covering the cost completely. This is only fair, since health insurance is supposed to cover the major aspects of a person’s health. But more importantly, cutting the cost of these products is a crucial step in normalizing menstruation within society, and it provides women who may not have access to these resources the opportunity to feel clean and comfortable during their period.”
Insurance is meant to cover unexpected medical emergencies and conditions. A woman going through menses is expected. If the author doesn’t know this by the time she gets to college, Oy!
Menses is normal for women. It is through new forms of birth control pills that practically shut down periods that menses is becoming denormalized.
“Access to tampons would not only allow for healthy living during that time of the month, but also every day of the year. The provision of tampons, or at least a subsidy, would give many women, especially those living on the streets or living paycheck to paycheck, access to these necessary items and the ability to change them often without the fear of running out. Not changing a tampon frequently enough can lead to complications like toxic shock syndrome or blood poisoning, among other things, which can lead to permanent damage in women’s lives.”
Why is a tampon needed every single day of the year? The author clearly is ignorant of basic biology, and even of her own body, is would seem.
“Aside from some forms of birth control or medical complications, nothing will stop a woman’s period. It’s a natural part of having a uterus that just can’t be helped.”
Yet what has been true since before time immemorial is somehow only a problem in this day and age?
“Health care currently covers services such as sexually transmitted infection testing, birth control, abortion and even access to erectile dysfunction treatments such as penile implants.”
In other words, health care currently covers fighting disease and correcting medical illnesses (as well procuring fetal body parts for sale)? Tell me again how a normal bodily function is an illness that needs to not only be treated, but fully subsidized in treatment?
“Although erectile dysfunction is a problem, it is not one that all men are inherently born with. Menstruation, on the other hand, is something almost every woman deals with at some point in her life. It’s a bit ridiculous that surgeries for sexual needs are covered before everyday feminine hygiene products.”
Because one is a medical problem, the other is something that all women save for the author have been able to deal with since before time immemorial?
“Once necessary items needed to maintain feminine wellness are made attainable, public amenities outside of health centers and doctors’ offices should join in normalizing access to feminine products. Public facilities such as restrooms, schools and theaters should provide tampons and pads to women who need them, when they need them.”
After all, why should Melissa Harris-Perry have to pay for her own earrings?
“Having these products in public facilities would also provide an easy way for women living on the streets to access these products. Homeless women and women with extremely low income are disproportionately affected by the lack of access to feminine products. Tampons are pricey for any woman, but women who can hardly afford to buy food can’t afford to buy a $10 box of tampons, leaving them to choose between food or feeling comfortable when on their period.”
Nothing is stopping the author from going down to homeless shelters, religious missions, or government services offices and donating a tampons. They are less than 12¢ or so each… less if you buy bulk. Why should we subsidize what the vast majority of women can easily pay for by themselves?
“Free or subsidized tampons through health care services can ensure that women at least have the right to a happy and healthy lifestyle, especially when that time of the month rolls around.”
Your “lifestyle”; your responsibility.
