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Dismay as popular sanitary product drops female imagery due to complaint

The decision to remove the ‘Venus’ symbol from Always sanitary products following backlash from transgender activists has caused outrage among feminists.

Always, which is owned but Procter & Gamble, announced its product packaging revamp this week - inciting calls from long-time female customers to boycott the company.

A transgender campaigner named Ben Saunders, 18, sparked the debate in June after taking to Twitter to ask Always about the feminine symbol, according to The Mirror.

Always, which is owned but Procter & Gamble, announced its product packaging revamp this week - inciting calls from long-time female customers to boycott the company. Source: Twitter
Always, which is owned but Procter & Gamble, announced its product packaging revamp this week - inciting calls from long-time female customers to boycott the company. Source: Twitter

Many others then joined in, with one person saying “there are non-binary and trans folks who still need to use your products too you know!”

Not long after, Always responded to Ben in a letter, revealing they had redesigned the packaging and hope to introduce the pattern worldwide by February 2020, according to The Mirror.

"We are glad to inform you that as of December we will use a new wrapper design without the feminine symbol,” a spokeswoman said.

"We are absolutely grateful for having people like you voicing their opinions. Thank you for contacting us, your comments help us improve every day!"

A transgender campaigner named Ben Saunders, 18, sparked the debate in June after asking the company about the feminine symbol on Twitter. Source: Twitter
A transgender campaigner named Ben Saunders, 18, sparked the debate in June after asking the company about the feminine symbol on Twitter. Source: Twitter

While the change was praised by some, feminists have slammed the decision as “eliminating women’s biology,” according to The Mirror.

“Women are quite literally being erased from sanitary products now. Is there anywhere we are allowed to be visible!?” one woman wrote on Twitter.

“When will any company stand up for women? A company providing personal sanitary products for females keels over after 'Ben' complains,” another said.

A Procter & Gamble spokeswoman told The Mirror the Always brand has “championed girls and women” for 35 years.Source: Getty
A Procter & Gamble spokeswoman told The Mirror the Always brand has “championed girls and women” for 35 years. Source: Getty

A Procter & Gamble spokeswoman told The Mirror the Always has “championed girls and women” for 35 years.

“For over 35 years, Always has championed girls and women, and we will continue to do so.

“We’re also committed to diversity and inclusion, and we realise that not everyone who has a period and needs to use a pad identifies as female.

“That is why we wanted to ensure that anyone who needs to use a period product feels comfortable in doing so with Always.”

The move comes one week after Flora margarine pulled its advertising from Mumsnet amid accusations the successful parenting website is transphobic.

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