Asda and Aldi have followed in the footsteps of another retail giant - Boots - to rename some of their shopping aisles. But, upon announcing the name changes, some shoppers have been left unimpressed.
The Manchester Evening News reports that, while some of the supermarkets' customers are happy or indifferent about the changes, others have said they feel 'disgusted' by the need for such rebranding. And many customers felt angry that more thought had gone into changing the names of aisles - which sell period products among other things - while period poverty hasn't been "properly addressed" here in the UK.
Aldi is in the process of updating signage in stores for items such as tampons, sanitary towels and panty liners, scrapping the former title of 'feminine hygiene' products and replacing it with 'period products' instead. The name changes to such aisles is set to be welcomed by campaigners, who say that the word 'hygiene' implies that periods are unhygienic, adding to the negative stigma surrounding menstruating.
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Taking to social media, shoppers shared their thoughts on the name change - with many left feeling angry as a result. One shopper commented: "Omfg. Stop the world, I want to get off! This is absolutely ridiculous over the top virtue signalling. Sick of it."
A second asked: "What about the women who aren’t having a period anymore as menopausal but want to buy femfresh products… I don’t want to be reminded that I don’t have a period anymore. I’m offended… who do I write to?" While a third added: "But they are feminine hygiene products for god sake… I honestly hate this world we live in now."
And another said: ""In all honesty what is wrong with naming an aisle "Feminine hygiene” ..After all that’s exactly what the generic products are !!!! & Not all products are just for periods!"
The comments also included discussions around the very real issue of period poverty pointing out that, while they weren't 'disgusted' with the name change itself, they were angered by the fact that more thought had gone into the name change than into providing products to the people in need of sanitary items the most. One shopper commented: "The only renaming of feminine hygiene products should be, "Subsidised by the Government" instead of letting companies charge way too much for an essential item for woman of all ages for half their lives."
A second agreed, saying: "Who cares what it’s called, but they should lower their prices on all period products to stop period poverty!" With a third also adding: "Who cares what they call these products, in the grand scale of life does it really effect women? No!
"In all fairness I was more concerned when they changed the name of a marathon to a snickers, but it didn't kill me, tastes the same ( smaller through). Come on people if it don't threaten your life or the life of others just let it go, the world is changing and we have to change with it or be miserable!"
A third wrote: "Gee thanks. Just what we have been asking for, right? OH, no, I think we've been asking for these products to be free since they are a necessity. Unless you want us all free-bleeding, of course."
Others commented on other factors, such as how the perception of sanitary products has changed over the years - and also the issues surrounding views on trans people with periods. One shopper reminisced about times gone by, writing: "As long as we can buy them off the shelves who cares.
"Gone are the days thankfully when you had to go to the chemist and whisper to the assistant that you wanted sanitary products. My mother was appalled when the supermarkets openly displayed them!" While a second pointed out the number of negative comments around the subject and wrote: "So many negative comments but what difference does it make to ANYONE apart from those who use period products but don't identify as female..say it's virtue signalling all you want but in reality the only thing you're doing by disagreeing so strongly with an entirely harmless rebrand is signalling your own transphobia.
""What is the world coming to" applies more and more every day, but not in the way that transphobes disagreeing with positive changes like this, think it does. educate yourselves, I beg."
Share your own thoughts on the changes in the comments below.
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