Amidst Mallorcan municipalities dedicating substantial resources to events for 25-N, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, a debate has emerged regarding the sale of sexist souvenirs across the island's countless tourist shops. Unides Podem raised this issue at Alcudia Town Council, submitting a motion against the sale of Mallorca mementos shaped like genitalia and other erogenous zones, which they've labelled as "sexist and vulgar".
The left-wing party specifically urged the Alcudia council to follow Benidorm's example by launching an awareness campaign targeting local merchants to discourage the distribution of these controversial items in Puerto Alcudia. "These souvenirs are clearly sexist and crude; they project an inappropriate image of Alcúdia to visitors whilst simultaneously perpetuating sexism and, consequently, gender-based violence," explained María Ramos, Unides Podem's spokesperson in Alcudia.
Beyond raising awareness about the social impact of such merchandise, Ramos advocated for including a ban on their sale within municipal regulations. However, the motion faced rejection, with the governing coalition of PP-Vox-UxA voting against it, whilst PSOE and Pi abstained. Podem subsequently remarked that "the governing team's view appears to be that sexist and vulgar Mallorca souvenirs are acceptable (they sell well)". This controversy has brought the reality of what many tourist shops across Mallorca offer into sharp focus.
The clash highlights the tension between commercial interests and efforts to combat sexism in a major tourist destination. While some defend these items as harmless novelties that tourists willingly purchase, critics argue they normalise objectification and undermine broader initiatives to promote respect and gender equality.
The defeated motion in Alcudia represents just one battleground in a wider conversation about how tourist destinations should balance financial interests with social responsibility, particularly as awareness of gender issues continues to evolve globally.