Women's sanitary products should be available for free in prisons, shelters, and schools

Our economic system is based in this idea of capitalism, yet we still deviate as the US supports programs like welfare, unemployment, and various other programs that allow money to be given to those in need. Along with this, shelters and aid groups exist that already give out "free" products to those in need. The USA is not stranger when it comes to giving money to those who are poor, unemployed, sick, disabled, or suffering any other detriment to their ability to lead a normal life. Certain organizations allow housing and food to be made for free already to those in need, the resolution is simply asking the USA to take this already used system to extend it to women in need. Of course some may argue (as they already have in the comments) that this resolution is unfair because men get nothing immediately in return. That this is unequal or unfair because men aren't getting anything. But as I've already said this resolution would only level the playing field. Impoverished women have a giant obstacle that's expensive and can affect their health that men don't ever have to worry about. Allowing sanitary products to be made available to those in need would only make things more equal, as now neither gender has to worry about this issue, which leads me to my next point. My opponent and I are both in agreement that unemployment initiatives would be beneficial. But allowing women to have access to the products they need would be an unemployment initiative in itself. One reason some impoverished women are stuck without jobs or housing is because they can't afford it. If they could eliminate one cost like tampons/pads they'd be one step closer to leaving the unemployment pool as they'd more easily have access to education, food, and housing. Some may argue that this cost of tampons and pads is minimal, but research shows the opposite. One study estimates that the average women will spend $18,171 in a lifetime for period related products. $18,171. Imagine if impoverished women saved a fraction of this number, that'd definitely be enough to help them make the leap from poverty to employment. Cost and economics, another issue that is of controversy in this debate. Where will the money come from to allow poor women to have these products? The tax payer? Private industry? Donations? Look at it this way, tampons are a multi-billion dollar industry, women are forced to pay a "pink tax" (luxury tax) on tampons. These tax dollars are sent to improve other programs like defense, public works, SS, Medicare/Medicaid, and many others. Women are already spending billions of tax dollars because of their periods to help domestic and international programs. So wouldn't it be fair to take some of these dollars towards helping women in need? I completely agree that we need to eliminate poverty. Allowing women to have access to these products however would allow them to have a greater chance of making the leap out of poverty. We don't have time to wait around for new programs and initiatives to take form, women are suffering from diseases such as TSS & infection from a lack of proper products. In order to help women get out of poverty and protect their own health, we must allow these products to be made available.