Join us in urging the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs to form a committee to look into the manufacturing and research & development (R&D) of these products and create a regulatory body that ensures the products are safe for use.
How does one define beauty? Each person’s answer to this will most likely differ from the other.
And yet, some e-commerce platforms are claiming that beauty can be standardized. How, you ask? According to many brands, it can be measured by the color and shape of one’s vagina. Can you believe that in a time where we spend so much time talking, reading, and practicing self-care, many popular beauty platforms are profiting by reproducing insecurities?
Apart from Nykaa, it has come to our notice that several other brands including Snapdeal, Amazon, PharmEasy, 1MG, Netmeds, Purpelle, FlipKart, and FirstCry are selling vaginal tightening gels.
If you have followed Jhatkaa’s work for long enough you probably know this is not the first time that we are campaigning against the sale of such harmful products. We won last time by getting many of the brands to take such products down. But to our horror and their shame, various platforms have started selling unscientific gels again!
It’s upsetting to see them selling products that normalize the idea of achieving unrealistic and scientifically unreasonable beauty standards like that of a “perfect vagina.” These unrealistic standards rely on shaming bodies that do not fit an extremely narrow definition of “beauty.” These seemingly harmless products contribute to health-related risks for people with vaginas and fuels the obsession for a “perfect body” dictated by patriarchal norms.
Doctors have repeatedly highlighted the redundancy and harmful effects of vaginal tightening and whitening creams. The notion of a vagina being whitened comes from unattainable standards set by the beauty industry that constantly lies to us, telling us that we 'are not enough.' But this is a lie.
As doctors have said:
“One thing women must know is that vaginal bleaching can be risky and it is not recommended by doctors.”
“The levels of melanin in the body's private regions are usually higher, which is why those areas may appear darker than the rest of the body and it’s absolutely normal.”
With even doctors speaking against the scientificity of these products, let us ask ourselves whether our bodies should go through so much harm and pain?
Brands with such huge user bases have a responsibility towards their users. Let us remind them that we are more than just profits.
We have won before and we will win again. Large platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, and FirstCry respond promptly to customer queries on social media and there are high chances that your signatures will put much-needed pressure on them to take this product down from their respective websites.
Down with unrealistic beauty norms!!
Sign the petition today!
Join us in urging the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs to form a committee to look into the manufacturing and research & development (R&D) of these products and create a regulatory body that ensures the products are safe for use.
How does one define beauty? Each person’s answer to this will most likely differ from the other.
And yet, some e-commerce platforms are claiming that beauty can be standardized. How, you ask? According to many brands, it can be measured by the color and shape of one’s vagina. Can you believe that in a time where we spend so much time talking, reading, and practicing self-care, many popular beauty platforms are profiting by reproducing insecurities?
Apart from Nykaa, it has come to our notice that several other brands including Snapdeal, Amazon, PharmEasy, 1MG, Netmeds, Purpelle, FlipKart, and FirstCry are selling vaginal tightening gels.
If you have followed Jhatkaa’s work for long enough you probably know this is not the first time that we are campaigning against the sale of such harmful products. We won last time by getting many of the brands to take such products down. But to our horror and their shame, various platforms have started selling unscientific gels again!
It’s upsetting to see them selling products that normalize the idea of achieving unrealistic and scientifically unreasonable beauty standards like that of a “perfect vagina.” These unrealistic standards rely on shaming bodies that do not fit an extremely narrow definition of “beauty.” These seemingly harmless products contribute to health-related risks for people with vaginas and fuels the obsession for a “perfect body” dictated by patriarchal norms.
Doctors have repeatedly highlighted the redundancy and harmful effects of vaginal tightening and whitening creams. The notion of a vagina being whitened comes from unattainable standards set by the beauty industry that constantly lies to us, telling us that we 'are not enough.' But this is a lie.
As doctors have said:
“One thing women must know is that vaginal bleaching can be risky and it is not recommended by doctors.”
“The levels of melanin in the body's private regions are usually higher, which is why those areas may appear darker than the rest of the body and it’s absolutely normal.”
With even doctors speaking against the scientificity of these products, let us ask ourselves whether our bodies should go through so much harm and pain?
Brands with such huge user bases have a responsibility towards their users. Let us remind them that we are more than just profits.
We have won before and we will win again. Large platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, and FirstCry respond promptly to customer queries on social media and there are high chances that your signatures will put much-needed pressure on them to take this product down from their respective websites.
Down with unrealistic beauty norms!!
Sign the petition today!