Girlfriend
  • News
  • Beauty
  • Fashion
  • Life and Advice
  • Entertainment
  • Role Model Search
  • Dolly Doctor
  • Video
Girlfriend
  • News
  • Beauty
  • Fashion
  • Life and Advice
  • Entertainment
  • Role Model Search
  • Dolly Doctor
  • Video
  1. Home
  2. Life and Advice

Finally! Your Local Supermarket Just Renamed Its Prude-ish 'Sanitary' Aisle To... The Period Aisle.

No beating round the bush ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ - by Faye Couros
  • 25 Feb 2021

We kinda can't believe it hasn't happened already, but here we are.

Let's call for a little celebration because Woolworths is finally calling sanitary products what they are: Period care.

WATCH: Modibodi Period Underwear Ad Banned By Facebook.

For years, society's outdated 'norms' have led many to feel like periods are a taboo subject. 

From frankly awkward nicknames like Aunt Flo (cringe), that time of the month, Lady Business and probably worse of all the Red Badge of Courage (for real, why would that be okay?) to having to hide tampons up our sleeves.

Oh, and FYI, trans-masc and non-binary people can get periods too. Menstruation isn’t just a biological woman’s issue.

e

Ash London.

Supplied

Big corporate companies bound by old-school practices and wildly outdated traditions certainly don't help the cause - BUT it finally looks like the tide is turning.

Woolworths is among the first of the Australian supermarket giants to rebrand their ‘Personal care and sanitary product' category to the name ‘Period and Continence Care.’

To add to the glorious news, the company isn’t wasting any time - as of literally today, Woolworths has made the change, and they're openly acknowledging that period is just a word.

Woolworths managing director Natalie Davis said in a statement: “This is a change we can make today that will help debunk the stigma of calling a period what it is and will help many young women grow up feeling less shame or embarrassment, so we’re excited to introduce this in Australia.”

Go to your local Woolworths and see it for yourself - the rollout spans across its online shopping website as well - effective immediately.

The initiative was trialled in New Zealand supermarkets last year, and even though it is only just coming here, Australia is still one of the first places in the world to use the word.

r

Period Care. That's literally what it is.

Supplied

To add to the encouraging news, Woolworths has been partnered with Share The Dignity, a period poverty organisation bringing awareness and helping women who are unable to afford period products. 

Since Woolworths began working with Share The Dignity, more than $1.8 million has been donated to support impact programs since 2019.

Politically, there has some progress flowing through Australia and New Zealand in the past few years.

r

Cher is all of us when we have our period.

Instagram

In 2018, the Australian government banned Tampon Tax, and the New Zealand government has given a leg up to schools to offer their students free period products.

Given people have been having periods since the dawn of time, the fact that there is still a stigma around it is a little baffling. 

That said, it is encouraging to see progress in this landscape, and hopefully we'll only see it continue. 

The next step? Period products to become free - are you listening Scomo? 

  • Life and Advice
  • Dolly Doctor

Subscribe to our sister mag and save up to 35% -

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to our sister mag and save up to 35%

Subscribe to our sister mag and save up to 35% -

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to our sister mag and save up to 35%

Recommended to you

Sophie Monk drops another epic Love Island trailer
Watch 1:00

Sophie Monk drops another epic Love Island trailer

{headline}

{headline}

5 Common Periods Myths Debunked

5 Common Periods Myths Debunked

Circling Back T0 Your Menstrual Cycle To Find Out What's Actually Happening In Your Body

Circling Back T0 Your Menstrual Cycle To Find Out What's Actually Happening In Your Body

Here's Why Your Tampon Might Be Leaking

Here's Why Your Tampon Might Be Leaking

At home hacks to help subside period pain so you can have some well-deserved relief

At home hacks to help subside period pain so you can have some well-deserved relief

{headline}

{headline}

Giving a voice to the silent disorder Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Giving a voice to the silent disorder Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

This is how many girls are having sex on their period

This is how many girls are having sex on their period

Ways That You're Unexpectedly Making Your Period Worse

Ways That You're Unexpectedly Making Your Period Worse

{headline}

{headline}

World Sleep Day: Our best sleep hygiene tips

World Sleep Day: Our best sleep hygiene tips

"That's such a silly myth." Your OG Dolly Doctor Melissa Kang answers your questions about boobs

"That's such a silly myth." Your OG Dolly Doctor Melissa Kang answers your questions about boobs

Should it hurt to take out a tampon? Dolly Doctor has the answer

Should it hurt to take out a tampon? Dolly Doctor has the answer

Period! Pads and tampons are set to be free in NSW public schools

Period! Pads and tampons are set to be free in NSW public schools

How To Safely Navigate TikTok's Toxic Pro-Anorexia Content

How To Safely Navigate TikTok's Toxic Pro-Anorexia Content

Don't Panic! Dolly Doctor Explains What A Normal Vagina Looks Like

Don't Panic! Dolly Doctor Explains What A Normal Vagina Looks Like

Gigi Hadid's Wellness Routine Revolves Around One Word: Balance

Gigi Hadid's Wellness Routine Revolves Around One Word: Balance

Girlfriend
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Practical Parenting
  • That’s Life
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • Hard to Find
© 2023 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. Are Media and its brands may have generated text partially using generative AI. Upon generating draft language, our editors review, edit, and revise it to their own liking. We take ultimate responsibility for the content of our publications.
Get more from Girlfriend

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to our sister mag and save up to 35% -

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to our sister mag and save up to 35%