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Shelly Horton has unleashed on a cafe owner who suggested women ‘wear a red sticker’ while on their period so people know to ‘tread carefully’
Shelly Horton has unleashed on a café owner who suggested women ‘wear a red sticker’ while on their period so people know to ‘tread carefully’.
The popular television personality slammed the idea as dehumanising and went on to criticise the man’s attempt to ‘gaslight’ women after he told them them the idea was in aid of them, not against them.
The man, known only as Anthony, made his unpopular opinion heard on the Kyle and Jackie O show last week, where he said he would love his staff to give notice when they were menstruating.
He said he wants his female staff to wear red stickers to identify ‘that time of the month’ so his managers and customers know to give them ‘extra space’ while they are ’emotionally volatile’.
Jackie O was quick to dismiss the idea – labelling it humiliating and adding there is no need to ‘advertise’ a woman’s period.
Shelly was even quicker to support the radio host’s disgust and dismiss the idea completely.
She also turned the idea back on the cafe owner – suggesting he wear an orange sticker every time he felt like being ’emotionally stunted’ or misogynistic.
‘But that would require a tattoo because it sounds like it’s constant,’ she wrote in her piece for Nine Honey.
Anthony, a small business owner, went on the Kyle and Jackie O morning talk show to discuss the potential policy and offer up his side of the story
Noting that the introduction of a period sticker would see Australia ‘fall even further behind’ when it comes to equality.
‘In Spain, they’re just about to introduce three menstrual days off per month. Quickly following suit are Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and Zambia.
‘Suddenly, Australia seems horribly behind in the equality stakes. We don’t get a red sticker – it’s a black mark,’ she said.
Shelly also expressed her disappointment at how earnestly Anthony presented the idea – unable to see how it would be humiliating or hurtful to the women in his life.
‘This kind of public humiliation and exclusion doesn’t even exist in high schools anymore,’ she said.
The cafe owner said he came up with the idea after one of his staff had an argument with a male manager.
He admitted he had floated the idea with staff but they weren’t keen on it.
He also suggested a calendar system could work – if staff remembered to write down when they had their period.
Jackie O called him out on the idea immediately – highlighting the fact that men are also unreasonable at times and labelling Anthony an ‘idiot’.
‘Men are not as hormonal as women,’ the café owner shot back, calling women on their period ‘hysterical and hard to understand’.
But the radio station’s listeners were firmly on Jackie’s side.
The first caller, Darren, called the café owner a ‘hardcore misogynist with mummy issues.’
Bella, a project manager, was next in line. ‘You are the most insensitive d*ckwad ever,’ she said.
Jackie O was quick to shut down the idea – labeling the caller an ‘idiot’
Shelly said the red sticker idea would have the opposite affect anyway – and just show men how amazing women are
She went on, ‘Everyone in your world is so backward and I hope everyone who knows you is ashamed.’
Shelly said the red sticker idea would have the opposite affect anyway – and just show men how amazing women are.
‘…Remind men that they might be having their period while they are running a marathon, while they’re speaking on stage in front of a crowd of a thousand people, during a very complex business negotiation or while running a country,’ she said.
Shelly wants more education around periods, both at school and in the workplace.
She would also like to see period leave for women who struggle to work through the pain of their monthly cycle, as well as the introduction of sanitary items to the workplace.