The first-ever “period dignity officer” position in the UK has been eliminated after a ferocious international response over the choice of a male for the £36,000 per year position.
Jason Grant, a former cigarette salesman turned macho personal trainer, was given the dubious task of educating women and girls about periods and the menopause. This move has drawn criticism.
There was a significant response to the appointment, with claims of “institutionalised mansplaining” and “peak gender foolishness” levelled at the SNP-run municipalities in Scotland’s Tay area.
Some people thought it was absurd to assign a male to educate women about menstruation.
Following the Period Products Act’s implementation, responsibilities included encouraging free sanitary product availability and addressing menstruation with young schoolchildren ‘of any gender’ across the Tay Cities region.
Mr. Grant’s post has been eliminated, according to a spokesperson for the Period Dignity Working Group, which comprises the SNP-run Angus Council and Dundee City Council. He said that this was because those engaged had received “threats and insults.”
In addition, Perth College and Dundee and Angus College are members of the Period Dignity Working Group.
When Mr. Grant was chosen, a committee headed by Katie Baxter, the Learning Engagement Officer at Dundee & Angus College, declared the choice to be “a no brainer, period!”
But allegations that the position had not been properly advertised and that the committee’s chair had previously known Mr. Grant and worked with him in at least two other capacities shook the universities.
When he was hired, a Working Group spokeswoman declared: “Jason’s extensive project management expertise from both the commercial and governmental sectors, along with his enthusiasm for making a difference for the people in our community, period! ”
He didn’t meet one very important requirement for the position:…a track record of ‘engaging and empowering a large range of people from a diverse range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, in particular young people who menstruate.’ Clare Mullen, founder of BetaHR Limited, was one of the critics. She posted on LinkedIn.
After working as a PT, he sold cigarettes. He had zero qualifications for the job. His request ought to have been turned down.
But all he did was apply. He didn’t choose his resume, do the interview, and then declare himself the best applicant for the position. A committee was in charge of hiring. They ought to be held responsible by us.
Grant had been chosen by the councils and colleges in the Tay Cities area to promote access to free menstruation products at schools and in the community and to build awareness of the new regulation.
Court acre Giving a guy the position of Period Dignity Officer, according to Martina Navratilova, is ‘crazy.
Have we ever attempted to educate males on proper grooming techniques, prostate care, or other topics? It’s ridiculous, she said.
News of the appointment quickly went around the globe, with CNN and the Washington Post also reporting on it.
The Scottish Feminist Network said that the job description’s phrasing had been purposefully genderedless.
‘I believe you definitely need to have some sense of what the issue is that you’re attempting to address,’ a representative said.
The key issue, in my opinion, is whether a person’s gender would negatively affect who engages. If there is any indication that this is the case, then a woman should ideally play the first part.
“It’s simply too crucial, especially when we’re talking about girls who are finding it difficult to speak with someone who can provide them assistance and advice or to get items.” Why does he believe he is qualified to carry it out?
In addition, Mr. Grant is a co-owner of Farm Fit at the Rhynd and operates two companies that provide fitness services, JLG Fitness Wellbeing and Rabble Dundee.
He has also participated in fitness and endurance competitions, including a boxing fight, and served as a wellness officer for Dundee and Angus College for two years.
Working group members had been instructed not to talk to the media.
A working group spokeswoman said: “It is disappointing that the function of the regional lead officer for period dignity will not continue given the threats and insults levelled at persons in recent weeks.
“Support will still be given to the coworkers and students who have been the targets of personal criticism. It is crucial for their health and safety.
The organisation asserts that it is now thinking of “other methods” to provide the “important” services.