The glee is followed by ridicule: the Teesside region of Scotland has faced malicious and abusive reactions when it appointed a man as the first representative for the Menstrual Articles. The Regional Council tasked Jason Grant from Dundee to promote access to free toiletries in schools and universities.
Grant’s appointment as period dignity officer came after Scotland was internationally acclaimed as the first country in the world to have access to free cosmetics. From Monday, city administrations and educational institutions are legally bound to provide menstrual items such as tampons and pads for free.
“simply funny”
Former tennis star Martina Navratilova commented on the appointment on Twitter, “It’s just ridiculous.” “Have we ever tried to teach men how to shave or how to take care of their prostate?” He asked. “this is absurd.”
Gina Davidson of Radio LBC said that the appointment of a man to the position was “the epitome of mansplaining” – a position in which men, despite little knowledge, feel they have to explain something to women. Davidson was responding to a photo of Grant talking to a woman and her daughter about menstrual products.
Newspaper columnist and suffragette Susan Dalgeti tweeted, “I don’t know why anyone thought it was a good idea to nominate someone.” Grant said of his appointment that it could help “break down barriers” and encourage more open conversations to be enabled. “Even though women are directly affected by periods, this problem affects everyone.”
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