MP Eva criticizes colleagues over misogynistic comments

North-Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla has criticized misogynistic arguments put forth by her collegues against levying taxes on female sanitary products.

During deliberations on a bill to amend the law on levying taxes on goods and services, several parliamentarians focused on how expenses for such products are often made by men.

In this regard, Thulusdhoo MP Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim said that women in the Maldives are usually under the care of a male, either a relative or husband, and that in this way, the tax impacts the entire society.

“This tax affects men as well. Women are under the care of a man, a husband, a father, or a brother, and so it is an expense taken on by the entire family”, MP Waheed said.

MP Waheed had also questioned the ‘logic’ behind charging taxes on such an essential product, and maintained his support towards slashing the tax.

MP Eva had asked her collegues to refrain from describing women in the Maldives as individuals who do not have the capability to spend on themselves. She highlighted how a great number of Maldivian women are employed and manage their own expenses.

“I do not think there is any reason to describe Maldivian women as people who cannot afford to spend on themselves, or to say that this tax impacts men. I think this society has come far enough to let go of such a primitive bias”, Eva said.

The bill, proposed by Kurendhoo constituency MP Abdula Baaree Abdulla, was proposed on Monday, and was passed for committee review at Wednesday’s sitting.

Slashing Goods and Service Tax (GST) on sanitary products is one of the pledges made by incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during his presidential campaign.