COLUMBIA, S.C. — For the third year, the Cola Rosé Shower celebrated women and promoted awareness around feminine care issues.
The event provides a place for women to be seen, heard, and celebrated, according to founder and CEO of the event, Deonna Wiley.
“We don't really talk about it. A lot of it is dealt with in silence. So, just bringing everyone together in unity and saying it's okay to talk about it, we can be celebrated, and you have support,” Wiley said.
Wiley made an effort to bring more awareness to the challenges women face when it comes to the reproductive system after facing challenges herself for over a decade.
“I learned about period poverty from constantly having to be up and down that aisle to Target purchasing those products,” Wiley explained.
After her hysterectomy, she wanted to spread awareness around women's reproduction by having the Rose’ Shower where guests bring menstrual products to donate to the non-profit Period Project.
“It's a party with a purpose. And it's really a way to have a captive audience to share what menstrual poverty and mental equity is all about,” said Karen Dudley-Culbreath, CEO of the Period Project non-profit.
With the non-profit aimed to eradicate period poverty and reinforce the dignity of those impacted by inequality, Dudley-Culbreath says events like these help educate people on menstrual health poverty, something House Bill 3563 can help with if passed.
“One of the issues we face is that this is a female issue or person that ministates issue, so when we have the majority of males making the decisions in our state legislature, they don't have first hand experience,” Dudley-Culbreath said.
If the bill is taken up this session by the senate and passes, products including tampons, pads, wipes, and liners will be tax free for women within the state of South Carolina.
“It is a way to help alleviate some of the financial pressure that some of our families are experiencing here in SC,” Dudley-Culbreath added.
21 states have passed similar bills where period projects are not taxed and, although the goal is to have all 50 states pass similar bills, the work doesn't stop there.
“After we have the exemption for the sales tax we are interested in ensuring our school systems in SC also provide these products that way they are able to remain in school or not have a high absence rate for missing school,” Dudley-Culbreath concluded.
As the Period Project expands their efforts, donations of different kinds can be made here.