Shoppers have criticized Superdrug for offering sanitary products for ‘people who menstruate’ rather than just saying ‘women’.
Shoppers slammed Superdrug for launching a range of plant-based sanitary towels for ‘people who menstruate’ because the word woman ‘is not inclusive enough.’
she faced immediate backlash in a Twitter storm where people highlighted it is not only cis-gendered women who menstruate.
Superdrug’s Luna brand is thought to be the first high street product to use more inclusive language on its packaging.
But it has proved controversial on social media where women have criticised the store for ‘playing games’ with gender and joking ‘just wait until JK Rowling hears about this.’
However others were impressed with the product branding and congratulated Superdrug for the move.
One person tweeted: “Not putting women in a product related to menstruation – only women menstruate – sounds pretty erasing to me.”
Another person said “female erasure cheer it on ladies” while another argued “men don’t generally menstruate.”
In a decision to boycott the store, one person said: “will no longer be shopping with Superdrug.
“People don’t menstruate, women do. Shame on you for dismissing women in this way. Trans women cannot menstruate ever, no matter how much they pretend they can.”
Yet others queued up to defend Superdrug and praised the new use of inclusive language.
One person said: “Saying only women menstruate erases the experiences of trans men who still go through menstruation.
“By saying ‘people who menstruate’ Superdrug is acknowledging these trans men.”
Another said: “Oh my goodness. I am so so impressed by Superdrug today. Not only are their own brand Luna pads entirely plant-based, on the back it says ‘a person who menstruates.’ A person. Yesss.”
Each Luna packet contains 14 sanitary towels made from organic cotton, certified sustainable pulp and renewable plant-based plastics.
On the back of the box, it reads: “A person who menstruates will on average have over 400 periods and use around 11,000 period products in a lifetime.
“However, we understand periods are never average so we have created LUNA, a range of period products that suit you as an individual.”
The communications assistant for LGBTQ+ charity Mermaids, Jake Edwards, also welcomed the change, the Mail Online reports.
Jake said: “As a trans person who still experiences periods, I dread the days when my supplies start running low.
“I run through a million scenarios of people staring at me, questioning me, laughing behind my back. Now I can confidently walk into a Superdrug and if anyone challenged me I could point to the packet and say “look, this is made for me”.
“For many, changes like this might seem pretty small – insignificant even – but for trans people, it can help them feel safe and seen.
“Periods have so much stigma and shame attached to them, especially for trans people.
“For trans men and non-binary people it can be a reminder of something deeply upsetting so anything that combats that can only be a good thing.
“When young trans men are experiencing their first period, making sure they’re acknowledged will bring huge relief. At Mermaids, we applaud Superdrug.”
A Superdrug spokesperson said they felt the word “person” was more inclusive than “women” for the product, created to help “champion inclusivity and diversity.”
They said: “When writing the copy for the products we were aware that there could be customers of this range who are currently transitioning from one sex to another or who identify as non-binary but will still be menstruating, alongside the women that use the products.
“We therefore felt ‘person’ was a more inclusive noun to use than ‘woman.’
“We are continuing to review all new products and the language we use throughout the business, to ensure we are being as inclusive as possible.”
