Tampax has has been criticised for launching new tampons with ‘silent wrappers’, which promise ‘full discretion’ when opening them, with critics claiming that the brand is feeding into period shame.
The product was higlighted on Twitter by a UK-based user, Sophia, who called the product’s branding ‘stigmatising’ and outdated, while others questioned why there’s still a ‘taboo’ about menstruation.
However, some users defended the brand’s discreet packaging, saying that it would be welcomed by teenagers who may be embarassed about using tampons at school.
A P&G spokesperson told FEMAIL the brand ‘believe in normalising the conversation around periods’, while still giving people ‘a choice to manage their period in a way that’s right for them’.
Tampax has been criticised for selling tampons with silent wrappers (pictued), which promise ‘full discretion’ when opening them
UK-based Twitter user Sophia blasted Tampax on Twitter , calling the product’s branding ‘stigmatising’ and outdated
TAMPAX state on its website that Pearl Compak tampons are the brand’s ‘best tampons for comfort, protection and discretion.
‘Compak have bold and colourful wrappers that are easy to open, purse resistant and open silently for full discretion,’ it says.
Sophia’s tweet, which racked up 2,000 retweets and 36,600 likes, read: ‘Silent wrappers?! I’m on my period, not an MI5 mission ffs.’
She added: ‘Honestly, grow up @Tampax_UK – what is this stigmatising bull****?’
Several other users questioned why there’s still a ‘taboo’ about menstruation, and argued that being on your period is nothing to be embarrassed about
‘Actually racking my brain trying to think of single scenario when you would need to unwrap a tampon silently??? Nope’, replied one user.
Another commented: ‘160 years on from the creation of period products, and there’s still a taboo on opening Tampons and pads in the toilet cubicle.’
Some users felt that the packaging was to benefit teenagers who may be embarrassed about their school peers knowing they’re menstruating.
However, others pointed that if there wasn’t such a stigma surrounding periods, teens would have no reason to be embarrassed.
TAMPAX state on their website that Pearl Compak tampons are the brand’s ‘best tampons for comfort, protection and discretion
But some users defended the packaging, arguing that silent packaging could be a ‘positive’ for people with periods who do not identify as women, saying that it can be ’embarrassing, invalidating and unsafe’ for them to use feminine hygiene products.
‘As a trans man who would usually use the mens room, silent wrappers are better for my safety,’ wrote one user.
‘I usually pre-open a wrapper and put it in my pocket beforehand. We need to work towards period-destigmatisation, whilst also allowing people like me safety in the interim.’
Another commented: ‘Silent tampons are actually a really positive “invention” for trans folk or people with periods that might not be using the women’s bathroom! It can be embarrassing, invalidating and unsafe to have noisy feminine products as a trans man.’
However some users defended the packaging, arguing that silent packaging could be a ‘positive’ for people with periods who do not identify as women
A third argued: ‘Part of me wants to be outraged that it’s implied we should hide our bleeding, but another part of me thinks how wonderful this would be if you were someone who had periods but used the mens toilets.’
A P&G spokesperson said: ‘At Tampax, we believe in normalising the conversation around periods through awareness, information and education.
‘We continuously talk to those that use our products to better understand their needs and then find ways to meet them.
‘We want to give people a choice to manage their period in a way that’s right for them.
‘For some, that includes the way that our wrappers are designed. They maintain the integrity of the product especially when kept in bags and are silent to open – a feature that some users value.’