Women are faced with the difficult task of shopping. Now, I don't mean shopping by "I found so many different tops but they are all black," but the kind that commonly goes "Damn it, didn't I just have my period? Out of tampons again and I just bought some!"
Women purchasing products for their menstrual cycle quickly figured out how expensive products were. You would have to buy a box of tampons or pads every month not to mention the panty liners, overnight pads and also shampoos for their you-know-where. This all takes a toll on your wallet and the tough part is we didn't ask to be blessed with this but somehow the taxes (in most states) on these products are dubbed a "non-necessity", which means that we are being taxed simply because Mother Nature gives us a special gift each month.
Now this isn't true for all the states. Only a few do not tax tampons, like Maryland and New Jersey. However, a large majority of the country does. It's a tough break for us ladies and we are dealt the weak hand in this situation. We need these products and we see it as a necessity but when they are making millions of money from these taxes then I don't see why they would stop.
That is not the only thing that is costing women. The image and expectation that we need to look presentable and clean is another thing that we find ourselves dealing with. Which then goes towards the other product categories such as makeup, hair products, nail products, undergarments and the vast amount of stores that are only geared towards women.
Next time you go to the mall, count the stores that ONLY carry women's clothes or products and you will notice there are differences between the amount of stores and also the prices. Women's clothes and also undergarments are expensive and can be found at discount at places such as Forever 21 but it is a hard find. As women we are conditioned that we need to always dress properly and to be presentable. We learn that we need to have more than enough clothes and that shopping is simply something we do all the time. We also are lured to go to stores such as Victorias Secret and to "invest" in bras and panties that will attract attention. Yes, some of us feel comfortable and find more confidence in these garments but most of it is marketed towards the attraction and to have us be seen in a sexual light.
Products such as curlers, straighteners, box dyes, nail polish, razors and make-up (regardless if it is drug store or specialty) are in vast amount and come in different varieties all with the intent to make you look and feel what society deems as "beautiful". We learn at a young age that we should use these products daily and to be a woman, we have to be presented as one that uses these products.
The feeling of being ostracized for not wearing makeup or having natural hair that may not be perfect is evident in society and other women will put you down for it. It is upsetting that if we do not want to use these products and be natural for a day that we will be called lazy or not feminine enough. "You will never find a boyfriend" or "you are not pretty enough to go without make-up" are said about women all the time and it comes from women as well as men.
If someone doesn't feel the need to wear makeup or burn their hair to style it, then don't belittle them for it because you do. Just a tip to being a more decent human.
Razors are a big deal. If you don't want women to look like a wookie then why make it more expensive to for us to shave it all off. They offer a variety of razors each one more expensive than the next and they come with things such as little soaps so we don't need to use shaving cream or even products such as Nair or wax. If you go to the aisle containing these products you will find much more stuff thats pink and purple (for women) than blue or grey (for men) which is intentional. These products that women use are more expensive then their gender counterparts take this picture for example that shows the difference by using products both genders will purchase.
I did not give it much thought on what I give up to present myself properly as a woman until recently when I noticed how much I spend on products like these. It is unbelievable that these things women use daily are more than a man spends in a whole year on products for themselves. To keep myself from looking like a cross between a sea hag and a wookie, I use and spend a large chunk of my money on some of these products. Hopefully, one day my tampons won't be taxed.