Procter and Gamble has been criticised for “erasing women” after its brand ‘Always’ announced it was removing the symbol for female from the packaging of sanitary towels.
Two trans activists separately contacted Always, asking the company to remove the Venus symbol used to denote femininity, with one saying “non-binary and trans folk need to use your products too”.
The feminine hygiene products are set to go gender-neutral from January.
Capitulation
A spokesman for Always said the company had made the decision because “we realise that not everyone who has a period and needs to use a pad identifies as female”.
But many women were outraged, with women’s rights campaigner Julie Bindel saying: “Removing the female symbol from sanitary towel packaging is basically denying the existence of women.
“We’re now moving towards the total elimination of women’s biology. The women’s symbol has been used by feminists for decades.
“This is pure cowardice and virtue signalling from these big corporate brands who are capitulating to the trans agenda.”
Erasure
Another women’s rights advocate, Maya Forstater, tweeted: “The venus sign in biology is used to represent the female sex (you know, the ONLY people who will ever need these products). It does not represent gender identity.”
Other women took to social media to express their annoyance, with one tweeting: “Women are quite literally being erased from sanitary products now. Is there anywhere we are allowed to be visible!? @Always.
“I have bought your product since the age of 10. Stop erasing the people who use your product from your product. Or you erase my purchase power too.”
Another said: “This is complete nonsense from Always. Seriously what on Earth is this world coming to when a product specifically, and only, for women removes the sign for a woman because it’s been deemed offensive?”