Chinese women are furious after discovering that many sanitary pads are shorter than what their packaging claims.
The controversy started when social media users shared videos measuring pads from popular brands, revealing that most were smaller than advertised. This has led to a wider debate about the quality and fairness of products made for women.
One video on the Chinese platform Xiaohongshu compared nine brands and found none met the promised lengths. This sparked widespread criticism online, with some consumers accusing companies of cheating.
BBC reports that a Chinese investigation into over 20 sanitary pad brands found nearly 90% were smaller than advertised, with many having even shorter absorbent layers meant to handle menstrual flow.
Chinese authorities are now revising national standards for sanitary pads to address these issues, according to BBC.
However, the uproar grew worse when a popular brand, ABC, dismissed complaints by telling customers they could simply stop buying their products if they didn’t like the size.
ABC later apologized, calling their response “inappropriate” and promising to improve. Other companies like Shecare and Beishute have also issued apologies.
BBC highlights that this isn’t the first time sanitary pads in China have faced scrutiny. Past scandals include a 2016 operation where fake sanitary pads were made in unhygienic factories and a 2021 case where a woman found a needle in a pad from a popular brand.
This backlash reflects a larger issue, as women feel products designed for them often fail to meet basic quality standards.
A trending phrase on China’s social media sums up the frustration: “Sanitary pads lose a centimeter; women lose a lifetime.”
BBC points out that this movement is about more than just sanitary pads—it’s about women demanding better quality and fairness in the products they rely on every day.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cev9ry341dyo