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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

This is progress? Woolworths and feminine hygiene

62 replies

IrishMumInLondon2020 · 26/02/2021 13:52

I despair. Feminine hygiene has now been renamed ‘period care’.

Because boys and men can have periods too.

Is this meant to be progress?

OP posts:
PotholeParadies · 26/02/2021 13:58

I didn't expect to say this, but I may be okay with that. I'm open to persuasion why it's a change for the worse, but feminine hygiene has always bothered me for reasons I couldn't quite put my finger on.

RedskyBynight · 26/02/2021 13:59

Have Woolworths said that is the reason?

I actually see this as a positive step - why not call a period a period, rather than hiding it behind a euphemism as if it's something shameful?

MedusasBadHairDay · 26/02/2021 14:01

I'm good with calling it period care rather than the twee euphemism feminine hygiene, especially as the hygiene part suggests it's to deal with something unhygienic.

Aspiringmatriarch · 26/02/2021 14:01

I prefer period care. Feminine hygiene always struck me as unnecessarily prissy. It is period care, surely?

letmeadoreyou · 26/02/2021 14:04

According to the managing director:

'This is a change we can make today that will help debunk the stigma of calling a period what it is and will help many young women grow up feeling less shame or embarrassment, so we're excited to introduce this in Australia.'

I'm struggling to see an issue with this. She even refers specifically to 'young women.' Is there an article I have missed, or are you simply making assumptions?

EdgeOfACoin · 26/02/2021 14:06

I prefer period care, tbh.

Periods aren't unsanitary or unhygienic. It would be much more accurate to call toilet paper 'hygiene products'.

I'm not sure what Woolworths' intention was, but I think the ultimate result is fine.

CarolJordan · 26/02/2021 14:06

I'm ok with it.

Feminine hygiene was always cringey. There's nothing feminine about periods. Female, yes. Feminine? Nope. (And I object to feminine as a concept in general. It is unachievable for me and part of patriarchal sexism).

But the hygiene? It always seemed to imply that periods were unhygienic.

So I'm ok with period care. It's a bit more of a spade being a spade.

(Until they start making tomato juice freeze pops or something...)

eddiemairswife · 26/02/2021 14:08

I was going to query Woolworths but I see you are in Australia.

Whatwouldscullydo · 26/02/2021 14:09

I'm OK with things being called period care.

However feminine hygiene was one of the last indicators of who the products were even for that's left of any of it any more. In that sense it's probably not so great its been changed.

Jointhecircus · 26/02/2021 14:09

Period care is fine, and loads better than feminine hygiene!

newyearnewname123 · 26/02/2021 14:14

I was going to query Woolworths but I see you are in Australia.

I was so confused, they closed years ago.

ErrolTheDragon · 26/02/2021 14:18

Yes, 'period care' is fine, so long as they've not obliterated all reference to females, women and girls from product information.

newyearnewname123 · 26/02/2021 14:19

I never understood what "feminine hygiene" meant, period products makes more sense. Obviously, only women and girls have periods.

I am someone who used to get confused as a teenager when sanitary pads said they were "safe". As opposed to dangerous? How can a pad be dangerous? I think they meant the didn't leak. I prefer clear language!

sqirrelfriends · 26/02/2021 14:21

I don't mind the change but I do wonder if "period care" is accurate. It's my understanding that not all feminine hygiene products are 100% period related:

Thrush treatments
Cystitis treatments
Vagisil
Tena lady
Panty liners
Etc.

sqirrelfriends · 26/02/2021 14:24

And if the move is made to include trans men then it strikes me as ageist to completely disregard older women buying products for their other, non period related hygiene.

TheSockMonster · 26/02/2021 14:27

Happy to see the back of the bloody awful “feminine hygiene”.

Period care is absolutely fine. A welcome change IMO.

justanotherneighinparadise · 26/02/2021 14:30

I never liked feminine hygiene either 🤢

Mycatismadeofstringcheese · 26/02/2021 14:32

I saw this yesterday and I prefer period care. Better than the flowery euphemism that is feminine hygiene.

IEat · 26/02/2021 14:33

Ark east it’s being named as what it is ..period. Such a taboo word for too long

MissBarbary · 26/02/2021 14:35

@sqirrelfriends

I don't mind the change but I do wonder if "period care" is accurate. It's my understanding that not all feminine hygiene products are 100% period related:

Thrush treatments
Cystitis treatments
Vagisil
Tena lady
Panty liners
Etc.

I have used thrush and cystitis treatments. I never thought of them as "feminine hygiene". They aren't marketed as "feminine hygiene" and they kept in the same part of the shop as non- prescription medicines. Men can get thrush and cystitis too.

Tena isn't marketed as feminine hygiene either- it's marketed as an incontinence solution. Men suffer from incontinence too.

Pads for non menstrual use are always beside menstrual and female incontinence products. I'm sure buyers will still find them.

letmeadoreyou · 26/02/2021 14:36

@sqirrelfriends

I don't mind the change but I do wonder if "period care" is accurate. It's my understanding that not all feminine hygiene products are 100% period related:

Thrush treatments
Cystitis treatments
Vagisil
Tena lady
Panty liners
Etc.

It has been renamed 'period and continence care' which also covers things such as tena lady.

Frankly I think this is a great step towards removing the stigma towards periods and continence issues. The fact that it just happens to make it more inclusive towards trans men can only be a good thing - yes we know that only women and girls can have periods but if it comforts a gender dysphoric female to no longer have to look through the 'feminine hygiene' section I really can't begrudge that. The change doesn't appear to have anything to do with trans inclusivity but rather destigmatisation of periods.

RancidOldHag · 26/02/2021 14:36

I think period care is a better term than the dreadful euphrmisn 'feminine hygiene'

I also liked it when sanpro (the ordinary sector term for it, which never used 'feminine') moved out of haberdashery departments

BiscuitSewingTin · 26/02/2021 14:37

I also prefer “period care” as “feminine hygiene” feels othering, in the same vein as “women’s problems”.

merrymouse · 26/02/2021 14:39

Agree with PPs. Have always hated 'feminine hygiene'. For a long time I honestly thought it referred to horribly scented soap.

MissBarbary · 26/02/2021 14:40

@sqirrelfriends

And if the move is made to include trans men then it strikes me as ageist to completely disregard older women buying products for their other, non period related hygiene.
I buy Always dailies as they are brilliant for coping with the occasional mucus caused by Crohn's Disease. They work well for light urine leakage too.

As it happens I actually am a very feminine presenting woman, always have been and have no issue as being described as "feminine"

The problems that Always solves for me are hygiene problems- they has damn all to do with femininity or even being female.