Sanitary pad scandal sparks outrage over gender inequality in China
Chinese netizens embroidered these sanitary pads to draw attention to issues regarding women's health. (Supplied)
In brief:
Controversy has erupted in China after the discovery that sanitary pad manufacturers have been consistently producing pads shorter than indicated on the packaging.
At least one pad manufacturer has apologised and promised to redesign their products.
What's next?
Experts say the scandal has turned long-standing frustrations over inequality into demands for change.
A growing controversy over sanitary pads in China has sparked a national debate on gender equality, after women discovered major brands selling pads shorter than the length advertised on packaging.
The discrepancy led to a surge of complaints across social media platforms, including on Weibo, where the topic generated nearly 200 million views in a week.
Women have this week continued to call attention to the issue even as global news threatens to bury the debate.
"Everyone is talking about South Korea right now, can anyone pay some attention to the problems of our sanitary pads?" one user posted on Weibo on Wednesday.
Women have reported the shorter pads causing discomfort.
"The worst sanitary pad I used. Leaks every single time when I use it," one user said.
The controversy began in November when women started measuring their sanitary pads and posting the results on social media. (AP: Andy Wong)
The revelations have prompted a broader discussion about the treatment of women in Chinese society.
"[The] public outcry about sanitary pads shows growing social concerns about women's health and consumer rights in China," said Pan Wang, an associate professor of Chinese and Asian Studies at the University of New South Wales.
"This has somewhat cultivated a sense of sisterhood and unity among women consumers.
"It's about social trust. It's about gender equity."
How the controversy started
The controversy erupted in November when netizens began measuring sanitary pads they had purchased and found that the actual length differed from the size advertised on the packaging.
More than 20 major Chinese brands were selling pads shorter than the length noted on the product, according to Chinese media The Paper.
"Almost all sanitary pad brands in China have been involved in this controversy," The Paper article said.
It found that the exterior of most of the pads was 4 per cent shorter than advertised, right on the 4 per cent margin of error allowed by China's national standards.
Meanwhile, the length of absorbent material in the pads — which is not mandated in the national standards — was generally much shorter.
In one case, a pad advertised as being 28.4cm had an absorbent lining only 22.6cm long — a difference of 58mm or 20.4 per cent.
Pan Wang says women are increasingly standing up for their rights. (Supplied: Pan Wang)
"This growing movement, driven by feminism, has empowered many women to stand up for their bodily rights and consumer rights," Dr Wang said.
"It is encouraging many women to voice their anger, express their opinions, and defend their rights."
In response to public pressure, one sanitary pad brand apologised and pledged to redesign their pads.
An article on state-owned news wire Xinhua said manufacturers needed to improve their products but also suggested customers should take responsibility for purchasing quality products.
"As a daily necessity for women, the quality of sanitary pads is directly related to women's health and comfort. However, the problems of some sanitary products in the current market cannot be ignored," the article wrote.
"The market is still facing a chaotic and problematic reality, such as some merchants falsely label the product or selling defective products as good."
Amid the furore, some netizens tested pH levels of sanitary pads and alleged the levels detected were similar to pH levels found in textile products that do not come into direct contact with skin.
Women then expressed concern that the pH standards required by Chinese regulations for sanitary pads were similar to levels allowed for items like curtains or tablecloths.
The test results have not been independently verified.
Sales of medical-grade sanitary pads have increased in the wake of the scandal.
'Pink tax' in China
In China, sanitary products are taxed at 13 per cent, one of the highest rates for consumer goods.
There is also a "pink tax" in China, where products marketed to women are often more expensive and lower in quality than similar items for men.
Chi Zhang, an associate lecturer from the University of St Andrews in Scotland, said the pad scandal had turned long-standing frustrations over inequality into demands for change.
"Women have been strategically framing their demands in a way that resonates with state priorities, ensuring that their concerns are treated not as mere 'women's issues' but as matters of public health and national importance," she said.
"Women are now calling for higher standards in the production and regulation of sanitary products."
Chi Zhang says women in China are demanding change from pad manufacturers. (Supplied: Chi Zhang)
Dr Zhang said the sanitary pads controversy had also opened a broader conversation about menstruation itself, a topic that can be taboo in China.
"The issue of sanitary pad quality ignited a strong reaction because it is not an isolated case, but part of a broader pattern of neglect and discrimination against women's needs," she said.
It was part of a "larger struggle against systemic gender biases, not just in the marketplace but also in societal attitudes and policies".
"It underscores the urgent need to address women's basic needs with dignity and fairness."