Amy Schumer's link to a tampon shortage is one nobody saw coming.
and tampon absorbencies, it certainly didn’t make Tampax so trendy that every person with a uterus had to have a box. But Procter & Gamble, the maker of Tampax, would like you to think this is the reason. “Retail sales growth has exploded,” since the Schumer campaign aired, P&G spokeswoman Cheri McMaster toldThe company doubled down on their facts and figures saying “demand is up 7.7%” over the two years of the pandemic and they are working 24/7 at the tampon factory to keep up.
But Schumer only represents one brand, and the shelves are bare whether you buy Kotex, Tampax or a generic box. There’s likely a more sensible answer to the shortage:when it comes to the materials used in tampons. Items like cotton, rayon, and even plastic for the applicators were prioritized for personal protection equipment during the pandemic, so that added to the shortage.
There seems to be no rush to find a solution to this monthly issue either — you probably know the reason why — many of the people in charge are men, who are not affected by this problem. It’s why the conversation about periods needs to continue to make its way all the way to the top, and where those decisions are made. It’s convenient to blame Amy Schumer, but she certainly isn’t the reason Tampax is flying off the shelves.