When Ashley Judd decided to recite a poem entitled ‘I Am a Nasty Woman’ written by 19 year old Nina Donovan at the Women’s March on Washington, it probably would have been a good idea for her “people” to take the time to research the veracity of its content. As a celebrity feminist/activist she was given an opportunity to make a real difference, to help influence hope and change and to inspire, educate and empower millions of women, instead she chose to regurgitate the writings of an ill-informed young person to punctuate her own, seemingly, less than informed message.
This is proof positive that we are living in a “post – fact” society. We appreciate Ashley Judd’s passion, but someone has to provide some facts and, in our opinion, they are not going to be provided by Vogue or the mainstream media.
Fact: 40% of hair loss sufferers are women. Rogaine or generic minoxidil is the most “prescribed” treatment for women with thinning hair. Rogaine as well as other OTC drugs are currently taxed in the following 33 states:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois (subject to a low rate of tax), Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
So to make it clear Rogaine is taxed in most states, just like tampons.
Fact: According to the Cleveland Clinic research suggests that sexual dysfunction is more common in women than it is in men (43 percent of women and 31 percent of men report some degree of difficulty).
Fact: The “little pink pill” flibanserin (Addyi), which is flying off the shelves, receives partial coverage from insurers, meaning if they pay for the erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra, they pay for Addyi. If an individual’s health insurance does not cover these “lifestyle drugs” the only state in the nation that taxes prescription medication for both men and women is Illinois. So apparently our erections and sexual health are thought to be equally important as the sexual heath of women by every state in the nation, as well as all private insurers.
Being hyperbolic to make a point is one thing, but not taking the time to do one’s due diligence before presenting manufactured stats and information as fact is not only irresponsible, but weakens what could have been a very powerful opportunity to tackle real inequity.
Spencer Kobren‘s The Bald Truth is internationally syndicated through the GFQ Network
