Laura Coryton

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Laura Coryton MBE born in Shoreham, East Sussex (born 1993) [1] is a British campaigner, feminist activist and author. She is the founder of Stop Taxing Periods, a campaign to abolish the tampon tax in the United Kingdom and make menstrual products exempt from VAT. Coryton's online petition successfully lobbied the UK Parliament into establishing the Tampon Tax Fund in 2016, through which almost £100m was donated to female-focused charities. Her campaign succeeded in 2021 when the tax on all period products was axed.

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Coryton also runs the Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) social enterprise Sex Ed Matters, dedicated to making quality and confidence-building sex education accessible to everyone, for which she won UKRI's Young Innovator Award 2023 and Women in Innovation Award 2024. In the 2024 UK General Election, she stood as the Labour Party parliamentary candidate for Richmond Park. Her first book Speak Up! was published by Harper Collins UK in 2019, and in the USA in 2022.

For her work, she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to Charitable Campaigning. [2] Coryton also joined the Obama Foundation as a European Leader in 2022, joined the Department for Education's Period Poverty Taskforce in 2020, and was named one of The Observer's and Nesta's 2016 New Radicals. [3] [4] In December 2016, the BBC included her in their list of Five women who aren't on Wikipedia but should be. [5]

Education and career

Coryton was born on 28 May 1993. She grew up and went to school in Devon. [1] She graduated from Goldsmiths, University of London in 2015 and worked for the Labour Party, [3] before completing her MSt in Women's Studies at the University of Oxford, for which she gained a Distinction.

Coryton then worked for Harper Collins when she wrote her book, before founding her social enterprise. She is also an ambassador for The Eve Appeal, a British charity that raises awareness of and funds research into gynaecological cancers, [6] and founded the Homeless Period Project, a campaign to support homeless women's access to menstrual products. [7]

Stop Taxing Periods campaign

Coryton started the Stop Taxing Periods campaign in May 2014 while a student at Goldsmiths. The campaign was centred around an online petition on campaign hosting website Change.org. By early 2016 the petition had gained more than 320,000 signatures and global recognition. [5] [8] Stop Taxing Periods also used protests, demonstration and viral social media. [9] [10] [ citation needed ]

In 2015 the campaign gained the support of the then Prime Minister David Cameron, who said "I wish we could get rid of this… [but] there's a problem with getting rid of VAT on certain individual issues because of the way this tax is regulated and set in Europe." [11] Change.org's UK director Brie Rogers cited Coryton as a successful example of clicktivism and the influence of online political activism on national politics. [12]

In March 2016 Parliament accepted a Tampon Tax amendment proposed by Paula Sherriff MP, the then Chancellor George Osborne pledged in his budget to make menstrual products exempt from sales tax. [8] VAT on sanitary products was abolished on 1 January 2021 in the UK. [13]

Sex Ed Matters

Coryton co-founded 'Sex Ed Matters', a Relationship and Sex Education social enterprise, in 2019. The organisation, which she runs with her twin sister Julia, is designed to help schools deliver sex education material, including period education, consent and LGBT rights, through the means of workshops and resources.

For her social enterprise, Coryton won Innovate UK's £12,000 Young Innovator Award in 2023 and its £50,000 Unlocking Potential Award] in 2024. She has also spoken about the importance of sex education in tackling incel culture and empowering young people at events including London Labour's Equalities Conference, Harvard University and the Women of the World Festival in London.

Richmond Park candidature

On 20 April 2024, she became the Labour Party candidate for Richmond Park. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tampon</span> Menstrual hygiene product to absorb menstrual flow by insertion into the vagina

A tampon is a menstrual product designed to absorb blood and vaginal secretions by insertion into the vagina during menstruation. Unlike a pad, it is placed internally, inside of the vaginal canal. Once inserted correctly, a tampon is held in place by the vagina and expands as it soaks up menstrual blood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wendy Alexander</span> Scottish politician (born 1963)

Wendy Alexander is a retired Scottish politician and the former Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Paisley North. She held various Scottish Government cabinet posts and was the Leader of the Scottish Labour Party from 2007 to 2008. In June 2008, the Scottish Parliament's standards committee ruled that Wendy Alexander broke parliament rules by failing to register donations on her MSPs' register of interests. Wendy Alexander quit as Scottish Labour leader. In 2010–2011 she convened the Scotland Bill Committee on financial powers of the Scottish Parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feminine hygiene</span> Personal care products for menstruation, vaginal discharge, etc.

Feminine hygiene products are personal care products used for women's hygiene during menstruation, vaginal discharge, or other bodily functions related to the vulva and vagina. Products that are used during menstruation may also be called menstrual hygiene products, including menstrual pads, tampons, pantyliners, menstrual cups, menstrual sponges and period panties. Feminine hygiene products also include products meant to cleanse the vulva or vagina, such as douches, feminine wipes, and soap.

Rely was a brand of superabsorbent tampons made by Procter & Gamble starting in 1975. The brand's advertising slogan was "It even absorbs the worry!", and claimed it could hold up longer than the leading tampon, because it was made differently. "Remember, They named it Rely" was the last line of most commercials.

Always is an American brand of menstrual hygiene products, including maxi pads, ultra thin pads, pantyliners, disposable underwear for night-time wear, and vaginal wipes. A sister company of Procter & Gamble, it was first invented and introduced in the United States in 1983 by Tom Osborn, a mid-level employee at Procter & Gamble, then nationally in May 1984. By the end of 1984, Always had also been introduced internationally in the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Arab world, Pakistan and Africa. Despite the Always' pads runaway international success, Procter & Gamble almost fired Tom Osborn twice in the early 1980s as he was developing this product.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture and menstruation</span>

There are many cultural aspects surrounding how societies view menstruation. Different cultures view menstruation in different ways. The basis of many conduct norms and communication about menstruation in western industrial societies is the belief that menstruation should remain hidden. By contrast, in some indigenous hunter-gatherer societies, menstrual observances are viewed in a positive light, without any connotation of uncleanness. In most of India, menarche is celebrated as a rite of passage.

Leona W. Chalmers was an American actress and writer who invented the first usable and available modern menstrual cup. She was also an actress and author who wrote the book The Intimate Side of a Woman’s Life.

Women's Voices for the Earth (WVE) is a feminist, women-led, North American environmental organization that specializes in research and advocacy regarding toxic chemicals used in products that disproportionately impact women's health, including cosmetics, menstrual care products, professional salon and cleaning products. WVE is a non-profit organization whose mission is to amplify women's voices to eliminate toxics that harm communities and health. With its inclusive vision of environmental work WVE has become a hub for visionary feminist environmentalism that recognizes the systemic connections between health, class, race, and the environment. Addressing the inter-connectivity of these various channels of exposure to toxic chemicals has been key to WVE's approach which is multi-scalar: targeting consumer behaviors, corporate practices, and government policies.

Menstrual Hygiene Day is an annual awareness day on May 28 to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) at a global level. It was initiated by the German-based NGO WASH United in 2013 and observed for the first time in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ingrid Nilsen</span> American make-up artist and YouTuber

Ingrid Nilsen is an American influencer and YouTuber from Rowland Heights, California. She is the co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of The New Savant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nadya Okamoto</span> American social entrepreneur (born 1998)

Nadya Teresa Okamoto is an American social entrepreneur who is the founder and former executive director of the non-profit organization Period Inc., which distributes menstrual hygiene products and advocates for ending what is known as the tampon tax. In January 2020, Okamoto stepped down from Period Inc. as executive director; later that year, she left Period Inc. entirely after controversy over alleged misconduct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tampon tax</span> Value-added tax or sales tax charged on feminine hygiene products

Tampon tax is a popular term used to call attention to tampons, and other feminine hygiene products, being subject to value-added tax (VAT) or sales tax, unlike the tax exemption status granted to other products considered basic necessities. Proponents of tax exemption argue that tampons, menstrual pads, menstrual cups and comparable products constitute basic, unavoidable necessities for women, and any additional taxes constitute a pink tax.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pink tax</span> Higher pricing of products marketed to women

The pink tax refers to the tendency for products marketed specifically toward women to be more expensive than those marketed toward men. This phenomenon is often attributed to gender-based price discrimination, however research shows that the primary cause is women sorting into goods with higher marginal costs. The name stems from the observation that many of the affected products are pink.

Sharra Louise Vostral is a Professor of History and Science and Technology at the College of Liberal Arts at Purdue University. She has written two books about menstruation and history: Under Wraps: A History of Menstrual Hygiene Technology and Toxic Shock: A Social History.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menstrual hygiene management</span> Access to menstrual hygiene products and disposal of used products

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) or menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) is the access to menstrual hygiene products to absorb or collect the flow of blood during menstruation, privacy to change the materials, and access to facilities to dispose of used menstrual management materials. It can also include the "broader systemic factors that link menstruation with health, well-being, gender equality, education, equity, empowerment, and rights". Menstrual hygiene management can be particularly challenging for girls and women in developing countries, where clean water and toilet facilities are often inadequate. Menstrual waste is largely ignored in schools in developing countries, despite it being a significant problem. Menstruation can be a barrier to education for many girls, as a lack of effective sanitary products restricts girls' involvement in educational and social activities.

Ella Daish is a British environmental activist campaigning to persuade retailers and manufacturers to remove plastic from menstrual products. In February 2018, whilst working as a postal worker, she started the End Period Plastic campaign. She went on to become a full-time activist. The BBC put Daish on its 100 Women of 2019 annual list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world.

Isobel Marshall is a South Australian social entrepreneur and medical student who was named Young Australian of the Year for 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Period underwear</span> Menstrual garment

Period underwear are absorbent garments designed to be worn during menstruation. Period underwear is designed like conventional underwear but it is made up of highly absorbent fabrics to soak up menstrual blood. Most commercially manufactured period underwear makes use of microfiber polyester fabric. It is recommended that period underwear should be changed every 8-12 hours to avoid leakage and infection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Period poverty</span> Economic justice issue related to female periods

Period poverty is a term used to describe a lack of access to proper menstrual products and the education needed to use them effectively. In total, there are around 500 million women and girls that cannot manage their periods safely due to lack of menstrual products and for fear of shame. The American Medical Women's Association defines period poverty as "the inadequate access to menstrual hygiene tools and educations, including but not limited to sanitary products, washing facilities, and waste management". The lack of access to menstrual hygiene products can cause physical health problems, such as infections and reproductive tract complications, and can have negative social and psychological consequences, including missed school or work days and stigma.

Natracare is a British feminine hygiene brand that produces organic and plastic-free menstrual products, including tampons, sanitary pads and panty liners.

References

  1. 1 2 Cross, Charlotte (27 February 2015), Campaign to #EndTamponTax to go before George Osborne after topping 188,000 signatures, ITN
  2. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/658daadd80a3bb000d9d05bd/NY24_-_GOV.UK_New_Year_Honours_List_2024.pdf
  3. 1 2 "Laura Coryton Nesta". www.nesta.org.uk. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  4. "2016 New Radicals: the story behind this year's winners". The Observer. 10 July 2016.
  5. 1 2 White, Catriona (7 December 2016). "Five women who aren't on Wikipedia but should be". bbc.co.uk.
  6. "Meet our Ambassadors | The Eve Appeal". The Eve Appeal. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  7. "Tom throws weight behind Homeless Period Project". Tom Brake. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  8. 1 2 "How a student started a global movement to end the tampon tax". The Independent . 23 February 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  9. "Cambridge grad marches on Downing Street to fight against the Tampon Tax". The Tab. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  10. "Russell Howard just nailed why the tampon tax is so ridiculous". The Independent . 7 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  11. "David Cameron: I would like to get rid of tampon tax". Politics Home. 22 April 2015.
  12. Butter, Susannah (8 January 2016). "How Change.org boss Brie Rogers Lowery is clicking up an activism storm". Evening Standard .
  13. Russon, Mary-Ann (1 January 2021). "Activists cheer as 'sexist' tampon tax is scrapped". BBC News .
  14. Tweet

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