Buying feminine hygiene products seems like a normal shopping experience for many women who need to grab things for their “time of the month”. From tampons to pads and other items, women usually just go into a store, pick some out, and buy them easily.
However, there is a lot of controversy around women’s hygiene products.
Many women have spoken out about the “pink tax,” which is a tax or higher-priced items at products marketed towards women.
Many women also argue that these products should be free.
Many argue that free tampons and maxi pads should be a human right, as women cannot choose whether or not they go through mensuration.
That being said, feminine hygiene products aren’t usually restricted in stores, though.
In many stores, tampons and pads are a very easy and normal purchase. They’re usually not restricted or put behind a lock in any store.
However, recently one TikTok user had a surprise when she went to buy some maxi pads.
TikTok user @bethanymargaret went into a store to buy some maxi pads and was asked a really strange question that I’m sure no woman has been asked before while shopping for hygiene products.
The TikTok user was shopping at Sainsbury’s, a store in the UK.
While shopping in the local store, she was asked for ID when she was at the checkout counter, ready to pay for her items.
Getting ID’d is normal for some products in store.
For alcohol or certain medication with specific ingredients, getting ID’d at a store is a normal occurrence for many shoppers.
But, Bethany revealed she only purchased pads.
The TikTok user only bought a pack of pads, and nothing else. So she was confused as to why she would be ID’d at the store for something that women routinely buy.
Confused, she asked TikTok to explain.
Bethany asked if “this was a thing,” and if women are now going to be getting ID’d for pads from now on.
RELATED STORIES
Some TikTok users were concerned.
As some young girls need to buy feminine products like this, many women on the platform were concerned that if they do ID for pads, young girls won’t be able to get what they need.
Another said they’re worried for their daughter.
One TikTok user said her daughter is 11, and she was worried that she wouldn’t be able to go and purchase the products she needs if this was happening.
Many said that women shouldn’t even have to pay for them.
One person said that women “shouldn’t have to pay for them let alone get ID’d.” And, many agreed with this statement.
One person was curious as to why…
One TikTok user asked if maxi pads had been turned into “weapons” and she was just missing out on the news.
Apparently, it happened to one girl at the same store.
One commenter said she also went to Sainsbury’s with a friend when she was 12, and could not get her pads because she did not have an ID just yet.
However, many other users suggested something entirely different.
Many thought that maybe the cashier just thought Bethany was “cute” and wanted to know her name and information to find her on social media (or even her address).
What do you think about this? Have you ever been asked for ID when purchasing pads?
