MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Video
MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Video
MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

A Man Attempted To Calculate How Many Tampons A Woman Needs Per Year

A Man Attempted To Calculate How Many Tampons A Woman Needs Per Year

Finally! Australia Has Abolished The Tampon Tax

Finally! Australia Has Abolished The Tampon Tax

Aimee Marks Started A Tampon Empire In High School

Aimee Marks Started A Tampon Empire In High School

As January 26th Looms, Here Are The Ways To Show Up And Support Our First Nations People

As January 26th Looms, Here Are The Ways To Show Up And Support Our First Nations People

{headline}

{headline}

Australia Has Been Criticised By More Than 30 Countries At UN Session Over Its Child Incarceration Laws

Australia Has Been Criticised By More Than 30 Countries At UN Session Over Its Child Incarceration Laws

In More Chaotic 2021 News, Joe Exotic Is Peeved He Didn't Get A Presidential Pardon From From Donald Trump

In More Chaotic 2021 News, Joe Exotic Is Peeved He Didn't Get A Presidential Pardon From From Donald Trump

An Australian In America On What It's Been Like To Live Through Trump's 2020

An Australian In America On What It's Been Like To Live Through Trump's 2020

{headline}

{headline}

From Smartphones To Office Air Conditioning, How One Viral Tweet Is Proving The World Wasn't Designed For Women

From Smartphones To Office Air Conditioning, How One Viral Tweet Is Proving The World Wasn't Designed For Women

Scott Morrison Has Doubled Down On His Tone Deaf Comments About The 26th Of January

Scott Morrison Has Doubled Down On His Tone Deaf Comments About The 26th Of January

Nigella Lawson Expertly Trolled Trump By Releasing A Bitter Orange Tart Recipe Today

Nigella Lawson Expertly Trolled Trump By Releasing A Bitter Orange Tart Recipe Today

Need A New SPF? Get In Line

Need A New SPF? Get In Line

Jane Kennedy Announces Resignation From Popular Triple M Radio Show To Focus On Her Children

Jane Kennedy Announces Resignation From Popular Triple M Radio Show To Focus On Her Children

All The Hidden Meanings Behind Every Fashion Moment At The 2021 U.S. Inauguration

All The Hidden Meanings Behind Every Fashion Moment At The 2021 U.S. Inauguration

There Are Finally Going To Be Dogs In The White House Again

There Are Finally Going To Be Dogs In The White House Again

  1. Home
  2. News

Male Politician Claims Female Prisoners Shouldn't Get Tampons Because 'Prison Isn't A Country Club'

A total lack of consideration for basic rights to hygiene - by Grace Back
  • 22 Mar 2019
Male Politician Claims Female Prisoners Shouldn't Get Tampons Because 'Prison Isn't A Country Club'

Half of the world's population is female, meaning half of the world's population menstruates. But, still today, in many places pads and tampons are treated and taxed as "luxury" items. 

Recently, an American politician argued against a bill that would provide female prisoners with easier access to free menstrual products, saying that prison is “not meant to be a country club.”

Fortunately, the bill proposed was denied on March 15, according to tweets from Bangor Daily News reporter Alex Acquisto. "Quite frankly, and I don't mean this in any disrespect, the jail system and the correctional system was never meant to be a country club,” Pickett said, according to a tweets. “They have a right to have these and they have them. If that wasn't the case, then I would be supporting the motion, but they do."

RELATED: A Man Attempted To Calculate How Many Tampons A Woman Needs Per Year

Alex Acquisto on Twitter

In 2016, Women’s Health reported that in the past menstruating female inmates have been forced to fashion everything from notebook paper to dirty shower sheets into makeshift pads and tampons. 

The situation is not dissimilar for Australian women. Last year, Debbie Kilroy, a lawyer and advocate for group Sisters Inside, told the SMH that difficult access to sanitary products for women in jail has been "an ongoing complaint for decades". 

Australia removed its 10% tax on pads and tampons in January of this year.

At the end of the day, tampons and pads shouldn’t be seen as a luxury; they should be seen as a basic right that ensures a basic level of hygiene and sanitation for female inmates. 

Grace Back
Grace Back
Grace is our Digital News and Entertainment Editor. When not stuck in a seemingly endless Instagram scroll, you'll find Grace with her head in a good book.

Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*-*Conditions apply

When you subscribe to marie claire.

Subscribe Now
Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*

Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*-*Conditions apply

When you subscribe to marie claire.

Subscribe Now
Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*

Recommended to you

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

A Man Attempted To Calculate How Many Tampons A Woman Needs Per Year

A Man Attempted To Calculate How Many Tampons A Woman Needs Per Year

Finally! Australia Has Abolished The Tampon Tax

Finally! Australia Has Abolished The Tampon Tax

Aimee Marks Started A Tampon Empire In High School

Aimee Marks Started A Tampon Empire In High School

As January 26th Looms, Here Are The Ways To Show Up And Support Our First Nations People

As January 26th Looms, Here Are The Ways To Show Up And Support Our First Nations People

{headline}

{headline}

Australia Has Been Criticised By More Than 30 Countries At UN Session Over Its Child Incarceration Laws

Australia Has Been Criticised By More Than 30 Countries At UN Session Over Its Child Incarceration Laws

In More Chaotic 2021 News, Joe Exotic Is Peeved He Didn't Get A Presidential Pardon From From Donald Trump

In More Chaotic 2021 News, Joe Exotic Is Peeved He Didn't Get A Presidential Pardon From From Donald Trump

An Australian In America On What It's Been Like To Live Through Trump's 2020

An Australian In America On What It's Been Like To Live Through Trump's 2020

{headline}

{headline}

From Smartphones To Office Air Conditioning, How One Viral Tweet Is Proving The World Wasn't Designed For Women

From Smartphones To Office Air Conditioning, How One Viral Tweet Is Proving The World Wasn't Designed For Women

Scott Morrison Has Doubled Down On His Tone Deaf Comments About The 26th Of January

Scott Morrison Has Doubled Down On His Tone Deaf Comments About The 26th Of January

Nigella Lawson Expertly Trolled Trump By Releasing A Bitter Orange Tart Recipe Today

Nigella Lawson Expertly Trolled Trump By Releasing A Bitter Orange Tart Recipe Today

Need A New SPF? Get In Line

Need A New SPF? Get In Line

Jane Kennedy Announces Resignation From Popular Triple M Radio Show To Focus On Her Children

Jane Kennedy Announces Resignation From Popular Triple M Radio Show To Focus On Her Children

All The Hidden Meanings Behind Every Fashion Moment At The 2021 U.S. Inauguration

All The Hidden Meanings Behind Every Fashion Moment At The 2021 U.S. Inauguration

There Are Finally Going To Be Dogs In The White House Again

There Are Finally Going To Be Dogs In The White House Again

MarieClaire
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • Instyle
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • Practical Parenting
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Marie Claire

Magazine Subscription Offer

Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*-*Conditions apply

Shop This Offer
Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*