Racist contraceptive?

[BLMquestion]

Name changed because I’ve discussed this in real life and don’t want to link to my other posts.

Recently started on the EVRA contraceptive patch. It sticks on your skin. I’m white (this is relevant). The patch is coloured a skin tone that matches mine, a pinky/beige colour.

Is it racist? Because it makes me feel like it’s been made for my skin tone and that a black woman wearing this would have something very much more visible than a white woman and so be disadvantaged.

AIBU?
YANBU- contraceptive patchers should be available in all skin tones or clear

YABU - it’s perfectly fine to have a pinky/beige contraceptive patch

And someone else brought up the whole left handed thing and someone else said this was never a basis for people being treated badly.

What has this got to do with the fact racism is completely within our system so that we don't even think about it because white people are the normal default?

Because nobody is claiming that the frequent absence of objects catering to left handed people is evidence of society's deep seated anti-leftism and promotion of right handedness as the default.

@overtherainbow88
No but they were caned and not allowed to write with their left hand and constantly oh you're left handed, always working with a right-handed set up.
If the word racist is used lightly and for every little thing then it loses its meaning.
Clear patches and plasters would cater for all which is how it should be. But I wouldn't see it as racist.

@EmilySpinach I was thinking exactly the same about Noughts and Crosses. Imagine having to wear a dark brown plaster on pale skin because that's what "most people's" skin is like. White people say it's not a big deal because they are in the majority. Obviously nobody's skin exactly matches the colour of plasters or these patches but the complete lack of any attempt to offer different colours, or clear ones is an indication that people of colour are of less importance.

[quote bonbonours]@EmilySpinach I was thinking exactly the same about Noughts and Crosses. Imagine having to wear a dark brown plaster on pale skin because that's what "most people's" skin is like. White people say it's not a big deal because they are in the majority. Obviously nobody's skin exactly matches the colour of plasters or these patches but the complete lack of any attempt to offer different colours, or clear ones is an indication that people of colour are of less importance.[/quote]
Tesco's sell plasters in different shades.

www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/305056444

Right handed is the default

White male is the default for medical research

White is the default for skin tone

Being able bodied is a default.

Heterosexual is the default for family images- though it’s interesting to see the attempts by advertisers to be more inclusive.

Regardless, in this context op, thank you for noticing the default and the potential impact on poc.

The more that people notice the better imo

It’s beige. I had one and it didn’t blend in. I’m white and very pale skinned. There’s many places you can stick it where it doesn’t show anyway. Even on your bum cheeks, so shouldn’t be a problem to anyone.

@KylieKoKo

If you're not white it's just one of a load of ways that society isn't designed for you. It's not that the makers are intentionally racist. It's just that white people are seen as default and the only group worth considering.

When the population is mainlyprodominatly white it is the default. I bet in Africa or India they wouldnt have white or pink coloured contraceptive patches

Goodness. A lot of anger from people who see this as a ‘non-event’. Almost as if it’s threatening to suggest that perhaps white skin shouldn’t be the norm.

I wonder what kind of person would be threatened by that?

Just to take the thinking process through logically for some posters ...
Should all wheelchair access be removed? As the majority don’t need it ?

Rummikub

But people who need wheelchair access really do need it. Nobody needs a plaster to match their skin tone. I would perfectly happily wear a black plaster.

I'd agree that it's institutional racism, in the same way that having e.g. car seats designed around men's frames is institutional sexism. It's good that people are starting to notice though - I remember a big online argument with a fabric supplier a couple of years ago who iirc renamed a colour "ballet" from "nude" because so many customers weren't pale pink when nude.

And yes, for a patch it'sv aesthetic rather than functional, but it's also not fair to say that you can only be discreet about your birth control of you fall in a certain range on the colour chart.

People are not angry because it is not an issue and is being raised, people are angry that race crimes and institutional racism that has a serious impact on people’s prospects in life are being diluted by someone saying this is racist.

I find it very difficult to believe that there apparently aren't enough black women in the UK to make it financially viable to make them in darker colours. Have these companies done enough market research?

With regards to plasters, clear ones aren't so great because they still have the little white bit that gets placed on the actual wound, so that bit doesn't get camouflaged. Clearly Tesco think there's enough of a demand for the darker colours, and if they weren't selling then they wouldn't continue making them.

@Rummikub

Just to take the thinking process through logically for some posters ... Should all wheelchair access be removed? As the majority don’t need it ?

That's fundamentally different. If you remove wheelchair access to train station you will prevent people from using a service they absolutely need. Simply not comparable to wrong colour contraceptive patch or having to order things online.

If you remove wheelchair access to train station you will prevent people from using a service they absolutely need. Simply not comparable to wrong colour contraceptive patch or having to order things online.

Right, but giving someone a product that doesn't match their skin tone, or doesn't suit them in some way, or doesn't look right on them, is basically like giving them the crap version of a product.

Right, but giving someone a product that doesn't match their skin tone, or doesn't suit them in some way, or doesn't look right on them, is basically like giving them the crap version of a product.

It’s having a limited range, in the same way as not all shops stock every size.

Right, but giving someone a product that doesn't match their skin tone, or doesn't suit them in some way, or doesn't look right on them, is basically like giving them the crap version of a product.

The thing is that you have a choice to go for a different product. Or put the patch somewhere where it's not visible. It is not great, it isn't, but it's simply absolutely not comparable to removal of a wheelchair access.

I think a lot of people think racism is only offensive language, abuse or violence, hence why so many racist people say they're not racist. The manifestation of racism takes many forms.

OH FFS WHERE DOES THIS END?????????? ITS A CONTRACEPTIVE F*CKING PATCH!!!!!

GET A GRIP WOMAN!!!!!!

[quote bonbonours]@EmilySpinach I was thinking exactly the same about Noughts and Crosses. Imagine having to wear a dark brown plaster on pale skin because that's what "most people's" skin is like. White people say it's not a big deal because they are in the majority. Obviously nobody's skin exactly matches the colour of plasters or these patches but the complete lack of any attempt to offer different colours, or clear ones is an indication that people of colour are of less importance.[/quote]
I agree. It blows my mind that people on this thread are commenting that plasters don't exactly match their shade of white and so it's the same thing.

I think everyone can and should be catered to- with the acknowledgement that there may be more options available for the majority. I live in a majority African American area in the US (just over 60%). The white population is around 27%.

When I shop for hair and beauty products, there are many options, e.g. foundation for a huge range of skin tones. I sometimes can’t find the paler shades for my fair skin, as I imagine less of those are stocked. But they’re produced and I can get them.

Products like clear contraceptive patches make complete sense as they cater for everyone.

I think a lot of people think racism is only offensive language, abuse or violence...

I think most people know that racism is a form of prejudice.

Having google the patch, nobody has skin that colour. it's going to look like a large plaster on any skin colour person. Does it need to be put on a visible place of the body?