A Finnish menstrual-product company launched “tampons for men” for International Men’s Day and international Transgender Awareness Week.
“Periods aren’t just an issue for women, as trans men and non-binary people may also have a womb and periods,” the company Vuokkoset said in a press release this month.
The product, called “Tampons for Men,” is sold in a navy blue box that says “For Men” and “Struation” wrapped around another side, reading “For Menstruation.”
The box also states that “periods are not a gender issue.”
“Assumptions and terminology related to menstruation are highly gendered. It is important to remember that menstruation is not a sign of femininity,” reads the box. “By changing attitudes and broadening perspectives, we can eliminate discrimination against gender minorities.”
The company wants to “raise the issue of genderedness of hygiene products and anxiety related to menstruation in trans men” because “for trans men menstrual pain is not just physical pain,” stating that “93 percent of trans men have experienced menstrual-related gender dysphoria.”
Dakota Robin, a DEI consultant and the face of the campaign, said in the press release, “Our culture does not really acknowledge the diversity of menstruating individuals.”
“If you don’t think I’m man enough, still I think we all agree that you need to have the balls to do this kind of move so for all the transphobes I want to send peace & love and BIG DICK ENERGY #transawarenessweek,” Robin wrote in a social media post for the product.
Tampax, an American company, tweeted in 2020 that “Fact: Not all women have periods. Also a fact: Not all people with periods are women. Let’s celebrate the diversity of all people who bleed!” Project Untaboo shared on Instagram that “Period equity means standing for all people who bleed.”
Callaly, a British company, has a campaign called “Tell the Whole Bloody Truth” to highlight the narratives of “people with periods” who represent a range of disabilities and gender identities. Callaly’s chief marketing officer argued that “It’s time we recognised that not only cisgender women have periods.”