City Council considers eliminating 'Tampon Tax'

CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) - Chicago's City Council is considering eliminating a tax that affects women -  the sales tax on feminine products. 

It may be an awkward topic, but people are talking about it.

That awkward thing might be the reason no one has brought it up until now.

Two aldermen believe the tax on feminine products is unfair and they want to get rid of what they call the "Tampon Tax."

In Chicago, feminine hygiene products are taxed at the same rate as other sales, 10.25 percent. Aldermen Ed Burke and Leslie Hairston say that's discrimination and those products should be categorized as medical devices because women don't have a choice about whether to use them.

In addition to women needing to use those products, they are quite expensive. The average woman spends about $7 a month on her cycle for 40 years. That adds up, especially in Chicago where sales tax is highest in the country. The aldermen involved in this discussion would like to lower the tax to just one or two percent.

Canada became the first country to get rid of the Tampon Tax, and now women in other countries are demanding their governments do the same.