The CEO of August, a tampon manufacturer, faces backlash after referring to her customers as “menstruators” instead of women.
Nadya Okamoto, the CEO of August, was recently featured on a segment called “Changing the Game” on Gayle King’s CBS Mornings. During the segment, Okamoto expressed that “periods make human life possible” and said menstrual cycles are “one of the most natural biological processes of life.” However, she did not explicitly mention that women are the ones who experience this process.
“We’re also wanting a period positive, gender inclusive brand,” Okamoto said. “We are August, on the pack it says ‘we’re here for everyone who menstruates.’ And I think especially in this age of transphobia it really means a lot to us to be a proudly gender-inclusive brand.”
By consistently using the term “menstruators” instead of “women”, Okamoto triggered a wave of criticism on social media. Many individuals argued that this reflected a trend in woke culture to eliminate the word “women” in an effort to accommodate trans and non-binary individuals.
“Sounds like …. The Handmaiden’s Tale… ‘the menstruators’ .. what’s next? We’re asked to wear red coats and robes to identify as bleeders?” one Twitter user wrote.
At the age of 19, Okamoto established the nonprofit organization called Period. The organization aimed to supply menstrual products to women in need. Her remarkable efforts with the organization led to her inclusion in Teen Vogue’s “21 Under 21” list in 2017. Despite being a sophomore at Harvard University at the time, Okamoto revealed that her family had experienced homelessness.
In 2020, period activist Ileri Jaiyeoba accused Okamoto of fabricating her history and exploiting homelessness in order to enhance her platform. In response to the accusations, Okamoto asserted that she had never lied about her housing situation.
