Transgender model claims sanitary brands should be re-designed because using ‘pretty and pink’ products targeted at women causes him psychological pain
- Kenny Ethan Jones, 25, London, opened up about having periods as trans man
- He says that he felt isolated as ‘everything about periods was tailored to girls’
- Claims shopping in ‘women’s health’ sections in stores causes mental dysphoria
- James has had a double mastectomy but he is yet to have bottom half surgery
A transgender man has claimed that using ‘pretty and pink’ sanitary products causes him ‘heightened dysphoria’.
Kenny Ethan Jones, 25, a model and activist from London, has revealed that menstruating as a man has made him feel ‘isolated’ as ‘everything about periods is tailored to girls’.
He claimed in an interview with NBC News that his gender dysphoria already cases him psychological pain and shopping in ‘women’s health’ sections in stores for products targeted towards women, only heightens his mental anguish.
It comes after the decision from sanitary towel-maker Always, last October, to to remove the ‘Venus’ symbol, the female sexual identity mark, from sanitary towel wrapping.
Kenny Ethan Jones (pictured) , 25, a model and activist from London, has revealed that menstruating as a man has made him feel ‘isolated’
Jones started taking testosterone at 18, followed by a double mastectomy but he is yet to have bottom half surgery
Jones originally came out to his mother at the age of 11 before starting to take testosterone at 18. A double mastectomy followed a year later although the activist hasn’t had bottom half surgery.
‘I didn’t believe that having periods would be a part of my lived experience,’ Jones said.
‘I felt isolated; everything about periods was tailored to girls, yet me, a boy, was experiencing this and nothing in the world documented that.’
‘Having a period already causes me a lot of [gender] dysphoria, but this dysphoria becomes heightened when I have to shop for a product that is labeled as ‘women’s health’ and in most cases, is pretty and pink.’
Jones began his transition in his late teens after coming out to his mother as male at the age of 11
Jones says his gender dysphoria already cases him psychological pain and shopping in ‘women’s health’ sections in stores for products targeted towards women, only heightens his anguish
The brand made the decision after pressure from trans activists, who claim that the female symbol is inappropriate as not all people who menstruate identify as female.
The decision was prompted by 18-year-old trans activist Ben Saunders – named young campaigner of the year by LGBT charity Stonewall in May after making a documentary about being transgender – who contacted the sanitary pad makers in June.
However, the choice was slammed by some feminists, who feared the choice is ‘erasing’ female identity.
One angry user wrote: ‘Women are quite literally being erased from sanitary products now. Is there anywhere we are allowed to be visible!? @Always.
‘I have bought your product since the age of 10. Stop erasing the people who use your product from your product. Or you erase my purchase power too.’
Several users felt as though the decision was disregarding femininity, and many raged the brand was bowing to the whims of’ woke’ Twitter users.
Sanitary towel-maker Always sparked online debate after removing their ‘Venus’ sign following pressure from trans activists
18-year-old trans activist Ben Saunders – named young campaigner of the year by LGBT charity Stonewall in May after making a documentary about being transgender – contacted the sanitary pad makers in June complaining about the sign
In November last year, Kenny revealed his fury at having a near-naked photo of himself taken down by Instagram,which showed him naked but with his hands covering his genitals.
The social media giant quickly ruled that the photo breached ‘community guidelines’ and removed the image.
Jones then posted an alternative image, this time using Instagram’s famous pink, purple and yellow logo to protect his modesty this time.
He revealed he’d also emailed Instagram, saying: ‘It’s pretty unsettling when I can literally scroll down my explorer page right now and find CIS men more naked than I am in that photo but yet, mine gets removed.’
He told his 16,400 followers ‘Instagram removed my photo due to ‘nudity or sexual activity’ so here’s a version that may be better suited to their community guidelines.
Censored? A near-naked photo featuring Kenny Ethan Jones, from London, who’s transgender, was removed by Instagram for violating the social media platform’s ‘community guidelines’. Jones re-posted the image, with the company’s logo covering his hand, which had been protecting his modesty in the original image
Jones also shared the message he’d been sent by Instagram alerting him to the fact his photo had been removed
Jones said Instagram had been ‘helpful’, saying the social media platform had ‘agreed to jump on a call with me to discuss policies in more detail as this can be a common problem amongst models. I’m very happy with that way this situation is being handled but I’m still mad that it got taken down.’
MailOnline contacted Instagram, owned by Facebook, for comment. A spokesperson said: ‘Every day we’re inspired by the millions of people using Instagram to express themselves, redefine body standards and promote positivity.
‘With such a globally diverse community, we have to put rules in place around nudity to ensure content is appropriate for everyone, particularly young people.
‘We will take action on content reported to us if it breaks these rules. We give people the opportunity to appeal the decision and will reinstate content if we mistakenly remove something.’
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