What makes you #GirlStrong?
A high school senior uses her AP Government class as a forum for feminine heath
Briana introduced a bill during a simulation assignment for AP Government class that examined legislation known as the “tampon tax” that places a luxury good tax on feminine hygiene products in many states. What ensued was an extensive conversation about the rights of women and girls in the United States, as it pertains to the legislative system.
We interviewed Briana about the importance of the class, what she learned and how she’ll approach the very real-world implications.
How did you learn about WaterAid?
My sister, Alanna Imbach, works there.
Out of WaterAid’s different impact areas (poverty alleviation, gender equality, societal inclusion, education, health), which resonates the most with you/which area interests you the most?
Education has always been an integral part of my life, and while I have criticism of the school system, I truly believe in its ultimate goal and the value of a holistic education. I think with the right knowledge, people can achieve anything and that everyone should have the opportunity to learn all that they can.
Tell us about the bill you wrote for your AP Government class?
We were running a simulation in which we each created bills and attempted to get them passed by our own classes and others which represented the different houses of Congress. As part of the Committee of Health, Education, and Labor Pensions I created “A Bill to Improve Female Health” which would effectively ban states from placing a luxury good tax on all feminine hygiene products and categorize them as necessities instead. The bill also mandated menstrual hygiene education be a part of every health curriculum for students in fifth through ninth grades to ensure that individuals are educated on what is happening to their bodies and how to care for themselves and their health.
While many health classes at least offer a minimal explanation of menstruation at some point in student’s educational careers, few go into the level of detail necessary or offer in depth education on tracking menstruation, hygiene product options and the risks and advantages associated with each. Not every student has someone they trust and are comfortable with to provide them with all the information and guidance necessary for them to make the best and most informed decisions about their health. In the simulation, my bill was eventually passed by both the House and the Sfenate and signed into law by our elected “Golden Eagle of Liberty” or President.
What was the most interesting fact you learned from your research?
What I found most surprising was the discovery that some states have special “tax holidays” where most regularly taxed items are duty free and yet feminine hygiene products often remain taxed even during such holidays.
What was the most surprising response/reaction from your classmates and/or teachers?
The two responses that stuck with me the most were my teacher’s and that of a student in another class. After my bill passed the floor and I fielded questions, my teacher pulled me aside utterly shocked such a tax existed and said “But we don’t have that tax in Washington, right?” While Washington is widely recognized and stereotyped as being one of the more liberal and pro-women states since it was one of the first to offer women the right to vote, it like the vast majority of states, still employs the so called “tampon tax,” though a bill is currently being championed to change that.
The other response that stuck with me was that of a male peer who argued during the bill’s time on the House floor that “they [feminine hygiene products] are luxuries. You don’t have to use them.” One of my female classmates said something back that made me laugh but at the time is an incredible response to such comments saying,
“What, you want us to just free bleed everywhere? You guys are already so uncomfortable even talking about this issue, how will you feel when we all just start bleeding all over the place?”
What should current lawmakers consider when creating legislation that affects young women and girls?
They are current daughters, sisters, and best friends and future moms, CEOs and Presidential candidates, but most importantly they are people and uniquely individual. Where government fails is when they begin to forget the true nature of those they govern and make rules about. There needs to be a basic understanding of those effected by legislation and the potential consequences of it as well as the real needs of individuals in order for it to be effective.
What makes you #GirlStrong?
Growing up in a strong Irish Catholic home, I became involved in the church and started altar serving from a young age. I was trained by a girl who was a senior in high school and had an amazingly kind and nurturing personality. Several years later, I was regularly serving with a boy my age, working perfectly in tandem as equally experienced and qualified servers both now long since independent of our trainers when he told me about his coach that occasionally attended mass at our church. He told me that his coach was part of the more traditional branch of the church and often told him that he should get me to stop serving since women should not be allowed to altar serve. The boy told his coach that he thought I was a great example of how well women can do the job and that he loved serving with me, but the story still made me uncomfortable as I realized that the community I served so willingly for years had individuals that viewed me and what I was doing so negatively. Since that day, supporting women and advocating for them, being a passionate voice in my community, is something I have taken very seriously and value immensely. After this incident, I began more fervently encouraging younger girls in my church to altar serve and helping train them. No one should be intimidated by the words of another. Hopefully, I have helped the girls I’ve trained find their own strength in the face of criticism and they can pass this strength on to the next generation of Girl Strong altar servers.
