A dad of two has slammed Radox shower gels after spotting what he's deemed 'offensive' terminology on the packaging, which he believes promotes problematic gender stereotyping.
Priest and teacher Philip Green, 49, found the shower gels while shopping at the London Colney branch of Sainsbury's on 7 July. Looking closer, he saw that the products labelled for men were branded with words including 'strong' and 'powerful', while the women's equivalents bore words like 'glam' and 'fabulous'.
Philip explained that he didn't want wife Helen, 47, and daughters Emily, 13, and Abbie, 10, to get used to seeing these 'wrong' messages.
He said: "My wife and daughters are undoubtedly sporty, heroic, powerful and strong, so I was quite upset when I saw the packaging.
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"I definitely won't be buying Radox products again until the 'men' is removed from the labels.
"I used to do a lot work at school promoting equality-seeing something like this is like a slap in the face.
"I think it sends all the wrong messages and promotes stereotyping. Women can be strong and powerful and men can be fabulous.
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"I find it offensive for women to be seen only in a certain way. Why can't women be seen as strong as well?"
Philip has now approached Radox - which his owned by parent company Unilver - on social media, but has said that they are yet to get back to him.
He continued: "We are drawn to everyday sexism so much. We just buy this narrative that men are strong and athletic while women are pretty and fabulous.
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"It is so deep in our culture, the vast majority of people don't even notice - the stereotyping is perpetuating and all I want to do is to change this.
"Gender stereotyping shouldn't be an issue.
"Many companies make the same mistake - they all try to do the right thing and deal with the big issues but they end up just promoting gender stereotypes.
"All I'm asking is for the products not to be gendered - I have absolutely no problem with the product itself, I just don't agree with the labeling and I would like them to change it.
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"If they can take the 'men' off, I'd be more than happy."
Philip added: "I just wanted my girls to grow up in a world where gender simply isn't an issue - not in pay, not in marketing, not in lifestyle choices."
A Unilever spokesperson explained that Radox products can be used by both men and women, saying: "At Radox, we always try to design products that clearly explain their benefits and how they make you feel and smell.
"We have a wide range of products available, that can be used by both men and women, and that meet a variety of different needs."
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Philip has also called on Sainsbury's to stop selling the shower gels until the packaging is changed, but a spokesperson for Sainsbury's urged him to take the issue to Unilever, as the shower gels are not part of Sainsbury's own brand.
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Topics: sexism, UK News, News, UK