The Twitter verse is back with a new uproar – right on time for Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. The Hershey chocolate factory is facing tremendous backlash after releasing a women’s advertising campaign in Canada, featuring a transgender person.
“Investing in the right programs, initiatives and strategies with inclusion, equity and diversity are at the core of our business to make a difference and support our long-term business growth,” said Michele Buck, CEO of The Hershey Company.
Tweet posted from @FaeJohnstone:
The chocolate's out of the wrapper!
Honoured to be featured in this campaign by @Hersheys Canada for #InternationalWomensDay alongside 4 brilliant sisters and change-makers. https://t.co/0s9uh8MvHv pic.twitter.com/jdXNJfcZmo
— Fae Johnstone, MSW (@FaeJohnstone) March 1, 2023
#BoycottHershey’s became the top trending hashtags on Twitter, with users displeased on the choice of “women” for International Women’s Day.
In a public statement, the Hershey company said, “This year’s HER for SHE initiative highlights five Canadian women working to build a better future through their passion, activism and work in their communities: Autumn Peltier, indigenous rights activist; Fae Johnstone, 2SLGBTQIA+ advocate; Rita Audi, gender equality and education activist; Naila Moloo, climate technology researcher; and Kélicia Massala, founder of Girl Up Québec.”
Some reactions via Twitter:
#BoycottHersheys for deeply disrespecting women on International Women’s Day. #IWD2023 pic.twitter.com/9S5YZOqtgc
— 🇨🇦 Women Exist ♀#IStandWithAmyHamm (@Women___Exist) March 2, 2023
Once a man, always a man.
Once a woman, always a woman.
No matter how many surgeries one gets, the amount of makeup they put on, or how they dress, one can never change their gender.
Stop erasing women.#BoycottHersheys— Leftism (@LeftismForU) March 2, 2023
Fun fact: Trans women were born MEN.
#BoycottHersheys for erasing women with Trans women on their packaging 😡
— James Bradley (@JamesBradleyCA) March 2, 2023
There are 3.9 billion females out there and Hersheys decided to pick a misogynist dude for International Women’s Day.#BoycottHersheys pic.twitter.com/tloUGhBsYx
— Li Ern (@RealLiErn) March 2, 2023
International Women’s Day origin lies in the U.S. and European suffrage movements of the early 20th century – it was adopted by the United Nations in 1977 and takes place on March 8.
The inclusion of transgender women in female issues, sports and spaces has been in hefty debate from quite some time, some arguing that transgender women should be treated the same as other women, while others claim they are different and strive to protect biological women’s rights.
The question is, will you be boycotting Hershey’s for International Women’s Day?
Add comment