Boots became the second major UK retailer to announce it would rename its ‘female care and hygiene’ department to ‘menstrual products’, sparking online controversy.
A Boots spokesperson said the new name will change people’s perception of the products and make it easier for all people to find the products they need.
Boots has already been changed on the website and will be released in all stores later in the year.
This move, which follows the same change as Asda, has been praised by those who say it will help remove the blemish surrounding menstruation, as words like “hygiene” and “sanitary” perpetuate the idea that menstruation is unclean.
However, others have expressed concern about the move, some calling it “offensive” and “joking” and others saying the move shows that women may have nothing for themselves.
The Boots website (pictured) now has an online “corridor” called “menstrual products” instead of “feminine hygiene”
Boots (pictured) split after it appeared on its website that it’s renaming its feminine hygiene aisle and will kickstart the movement in stores throughout the year.
Many online praised the retailer, calling the move inclusive and making it clear that menstruation is not unhealthy.
One Twitter user wrote: “People couldn’t wait to hop on the boot cart at Boots by replacing their aisles with vintage products. Cis is not about destroying women and their rights. The words “sacred” and “hygiene” conjure up the connotation that menstruation is unclean. Well made boots.
Another said, “It shouldn’t be feminine hygiene because nothing about your period is unhealthy, the period says exactly what it is, we should never be ashamed of menstruation and include anyone who bleeds.”
The third said: “Boots transform feminine hygiene into menstrual products. There is nothing unhealthy during #periods!’
Several Twitter users praised Boots for renaming the aisle, saying the move would help clear up the blemish surrounding menstruation.
Others weren’t too happy with the move, but with a tweeter caption: “Looks like a bad name change to me, women can’t have a thing for themselves for once.”
A second tweeter said: “Female hygiene products include items other than menstrual products (tampons and sanitary pads). Label change on boots etc. is wrong. online and in stores.
And another felt even stronger and added, “This is a complete joke. It’s so humiliating. #boycott your boots.’
Many social media users were horrified by the aisle’s name change, and some thought it was a bad move.
The move comes after a series of debates about removing words that refer to women when describing menstrual products.
In July 2021, shoppers called for a boycott of the old pant brand Modibodi, for using the term “menstrual” instead of “woman” in a “harmful and offensive” social media post.
And in September 2020, shoppers said Superdrug was “waking up” after launching wellness products for “menstruating people” because the word woman is “not inclusive enough.”
The £3.99 brand ‘Luna’ is the first brand sold by the high street store to use more inclusive language on the packaging.
A month later, Tampax faced an online backlash after claiming that “not everyone with periods is a woman.”
Bumper company tweeted in support of trans people: “Truth: Not all women get periods. Also a fact: Not all menstruating people are women. We celebrate the diversity of all people who bleed. #broken myths #periodic truths #transition is beautiful.”
Some online feminists have accused Tampax owner Procter & Gamble of “deleting” women with its messages.
The retailer also received mixed reactions from social media users, some of whom praised the move. However, others called him “wake up pointless”.
When Asda changed the name of its obsolete department last month, many praised the move, but others criticized the retailer, accusing it of falling into “wake-up crap”.
Regarding the new aisle name at Boots, Jamie Kerruish, the retailer’s director of beauty, said: “We know that when it comes to menstruation, retailers can play an important role in changing people’s perceptions, including the words we use to describe products.
“We’re proud to make this change to Boots, starting by removing words like ‘hygiene’ and ‘sanitary’, and even more so by saying ‘menstrual products’ on boots.com and the Boots app.
“We are also reviewing the in-store signage, which will be updated later in the year.
“Period products are important, and we want to ensure our customers can easily find and access all the products they need at Boots.”
Source: Daily Mail
