In the UK we have the National Health Service which some of our taxes goes towards. Because of this I can get completely free contraception. I choose to be on contraception, I do not choose to have a period every month. It would make more sense for me if I paid for the contraception but got my sanitary products free or at the very least, cheaper than what I have to pay for them.
If women didn’t use sanitary products it would become a health hazard for the individual women and those around her. As @ubersiren says it is hygene NOT vanity. If we can get contraceptives free of charge then I believe that sanitary products should be too.
Now, I don’t feel that we should have the very best free of charge but I do feel that we should have a certain amount of basic but adequate sanitary products free or at least more reasonably priced than they are.
I remember once calling my dad (who, bless him, is not shy about these things) in tears because I had come on unexpectedly. The problem? I couldn’t afford some tampons or sanitary towels at the time. Obviously now, I keep a certain amount of my wages allocated for such things but, like I said, on this single occassion I wasn’t expecting my period. I was so embarrassed and it only happened to me once. I wonder how many women that happens to on a regular basis?