Official Complaint to Mumsnet

It's for moms.

Are we in the US now?
What's with the feeding bottle bullies?
Fuck off with your sexist bullshit.

The phrase 'Smile Makers' is deeply, deeply creepy in this context. 😕

Another one who finds this horrendous. Just say it's for women. Why even say it's for mothers as a lot of people on this site (myself included) are in the infertility and IVF community trying desperately to become mums.

From the Instagram advert - not a fan of what looks like babies milk bottles as bullet points for the features of the vibrator...

This is appalling.

What is also appalling is the lack of response or update from HQ. It only makes the situation worse.

Sorry, dunno if this has been covered and I missed it, but do we know why it’s important that the thing is quiet?

is the idea that you’re going to use it while your baby is in the room sleeping or something?

Absolutely agree with this. It's gaslighting of sorts, disingenuous at the very. least. It's as if to say Mumsnetters are so stuck up and need a bit of help with their sex life, as supposedly we are all such prudes not to want overtly sexual gender woo in schools and libraries.

It does look like MN have removed the 'vulva owning' from their text but too little too late imo, that does not excuse it being there in the first place.

By Mumsnet HQ | Last updated Feb 2, 2023

"We knew from previous activations with our community that sex and motherhood is a deeply-rooted taboo. The lack of conversation and resources on the topic is leaving mothers feeling side-lined as sexual beings. At Smile Makers, we have been tackling taboos around female sexuality for over 10 years and that was obviously an important one to remove.”

hahahaha 😂
The rest of this womb owning vulva having brand exercise is fucking depressing, no just NO.

Vulva owner? Sounds like I keep it proudly on display on the mantelpiece 😂

👏👏👏

I may be being extremely naive here but would a non”vulva owner” actually be interested in buying or looking at an advert for a women’s vibrator so who are they scared of offending?

I also have to say that I can't think I have ever come across any sense that sex or sex toys is taboo for mothers. It seems like a created problem for this advert. Time and energy to have the inclination might be a issue sometimes but there's no "Taboo" around it. So why pretend there is?.

I am also imagining this. I'm supposed to be "doing DIY" today (pun not intended) but have instead been on here wondering much the same as you!

I have fixed one toilet though. So am declaring a win.

I just want to add my voice to the sea of others who find this language absolutely disgusting.

Can you imagine any other situation where we’d reduce a marginalised group to utterly dehumanising language and then celebrate it as a success? It’s not even done with the dominant class - men.

If there’s one place I’d expect better, it fucking mumsnet.

Well what adverts DO you all want to see?

I just scroll past all ads, barely look long enough to notice what they are

Feels like a good compromise would be:

Can MN limit adverts for this type of product and associated adverts to only the more adult-content threads - those where we are less likely to be reading it on the train, in front of young children etc?

Personally, I wouldn't buy from this company now because of phrases like vulva owner, people with wombs etc. I don't own my vulva any more than I own my elbows. There is no buying and selling going on with my body parts. I exist in a body with a vulva because I am female. I have elbows same as a large proportion of the animal kingdom. ;-)

Other members here may feel differently and I don't have a problem with MN accommodating that too, they just won't see a penny of my money.

I couldn't believe it when I saw this kind of thing was being advertised here.

I’m no longer seeing the extremely offensive ad in question. Has it been taken down?

Totally agree.
I don't want to see or read about that over my cornflakes!
Also people with wombs... WOMEN!!

Inspired idea on the other thread to call the Mumsnet vibrator The CFer

It’s back in Active for me (for now 🙄)

I imagine it’s a bit like the hokey-cokey whilst execs from Smile & MN have crisis talks about their spectacular shit-show of a product launch.

Anyone else can’t help thinking of the Apprentice?!

It’s come back in my active

This is really bad, MNHQ.

Surely you checked out the company before joining forces in this venture? Is money really so right you need to resort to this? Did you even read the copy?

Can you not see how hideously dehumanising and creepy this all is?

My dear cat is a 'vulva owner'.

Baby girls are 'vulva owners'.

Have they changed the wording on the link someone shared upthread (this one: www.mumsnet.com/articles/the-whisperer) to remove the 'people with wombs' bit people mentioned? I can't see it in the copy?

It's so disappointing to see us reduced to parts of our anatomy. As PP said I wonder if butt plug makers will start referring to their demographic as 'anus owners'... doubt it.