Teaching Note: Blood, sweat and tax: Rochelle Courtenay’s fight for period equity

This case study examines Rochelle Courtenay’s journey to abolish the “tampon tax” in Australia. It begins with a phone conversation in March 2017 that ignited a movement to tackle period poverty. The case follows Rochelle’s transformation from a personal trainer to a leading activist and founder of “Share the Dignity,” an organization dedicated to providing menstrual products to vulnerable women.

The case highlights the policy contradiction of taxing essential menstrual products as luxury goods, despite their classification as medical necessities. Students will explore Rochelle’s strategic dilemma following her March 2018 confrontation with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who dismissed her concerns...