It is not unusual to see headlines involving professional athletes. Even once an athlete retires, it's not uncommon to continue to see their name come up in the news.
However, this situation might have you scratching your head. Or at least questioning some things.
Former professional rugby player Dane Swan is being mocked on Twitter for mistaking incontinence pads and absorbent incontinence underwear—which address issues with bladder control—for men's tampons which some men do buy for their own or someone else's use.
The 38 year-old former pro rugby player in the Australian Football League (AFL) posted his sexist, transphobic rant on Twitter.
"It’s been some day folks cause today is the day i learnt that men can buy tampons. I’ve now officially seen it all.”
\u201cIt\u2019s been some day folks cause today is the day i learnt that men can buy tampons. I\u2019ve now officially seen it all. \nBookmark this too please @rtralphy .\u201d— Dane Swan (@Dane Swan) 1672816214
The attempt at criticizing trans people failed when people took to the comments to point out not only was the remark incredibly rude and uncalled for, but also incredibly stupid.
The photo he included with his post showed a shelf full of incontinence pads and absorbent underwear for men, products cisgender men use to stop from soiling themselves.
These products can be used by men who are older, or who have medical conditions that cause incontinence.
In his tweet, he tagged Ralph Horowitz, the co-host of his podcast Swanny and Friends. It is likely they will be discussing this topic in a future podcast episode.
People took to the comments to inform Swan of what was actually in the photo he included in his post and what they were used for.
\u201c@swandane It\u2019s an astonishing world we live in. Not only can blokes buy tampons, blokes who have prostate cancer or - in the case of my old man - advanced Parkinson\u2019s and associated dementia, can buy and wear protective underwear like these\u201d— Dane Swan (@Dane Swan) 1672816214
\u201c@swandane @rtralphy Thought you were an advocate for men\u2019s health? It\u2019s a struggle to get men suffering from pelvic floor and prostate issues to not feel self conscious about using these vital products as it is without you posting this rubbish\u201d— Dane Swan (@Dane Swan) 1672816214
Others hopped into the comments simply to make fun of the former pro athlete.
\u201c@swandane @rtralphy Dane, my dude, I reckon you\u2019ve gotta get some tampons (not these things) to stick up your nose to prevent whatever brains you may have left from falling out of your head.\u201d— Dane Swan (@Dane Swan) 1672816214
\u201c@swandane @rtralphy guess we got our answer now\u201d— Dane Swan (@Dane Swan) 1672816214
\u201c@swandane @rtralphy It\u2019s a toss up, but for my money, not knowing what a tampon is, is more embarrassing than not knowing what an incontinence pad is\u201d— Dane Swan (@Dane Swan) 1672816214
\u201c@sbooth29 @swandane There\u2019s a picture on the pack and everything lmao\u201d— Dane Swan (@Dane Swan) 1672816214
Others jumped into the comments to give Swan some educational information on tampons.
\u201c@swandane @rtralphy 1: There have never been any restrictions on who could buy tampons. \n2: These aren't tampons.\u201d— Dane Swan (@Dane Swan) 1672816214
\u201c@swandane @rtralphy Please get some basic education on what tampons actually are. Hint: they go inside a vagina and look nothing like incontinence pads.\u201d— Dane Swan (@Dane Swan) 1672816214
Tampon companies have begun to acknowledge those that use their products include trans men among other menstruating people.
In 2019, the tampon brand Always removed the female symbol from its packaging in order to be more inclusive. Similarly, Tampax has started using they/them pronouns in social media posts.
While it is amazing tampon companies are beginning to change their mindset, it is clear from tweets like these there still needs to be a lot more education given to the masses on not only what a tampon is and what its used for but on tansgender people in general.
