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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

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Original poster

a friend has just asked this on FB

48 replies

BooyFuckingHoo · 28/02/2011 19:52

so i thought I'd ask here too for another perspective.

she has asked how come the likes of mr muscle, mr sheen, henry etc have male names when it is usually women that use them.

i told her it was so that mr sheen got the money in his bank account rather than mrs sheen's. it was in jest but i can't help think there may be some truth in that.

OP posts:

SeeJaneKick · 28/02/2011 22:55

Kids knock over glasses of milk. Dogs make a mess drinking out of the toilet. Dads leave footprints down the hallway after gardening. Mum loses her mind and squirts Daddy's Sauce all over the walls "There you bastard! Have your fuking sauce! Who says it's YOURS anyway!!??... There's always a mess for someone to clean up!

But that's okay... because messes happen! With Brawny® paper towels in the house, you've got the strength to get things done.

My version

SeeJaneKick · 28/02/2011 22:52

Yeah...they'll have a pic of some woman in a
t- shirt with "Someone" on the front.

melpomene · 28/02/2011 22:33

Has anyone seen the episode of the Simpsons where Marge Simpson fantasises about "Chad Sexington", the macho mascot of Burly paper towels. This was based on Brawny paper towels.

A quote from the Brawny website:

"Kids knock over glasses of milk. Dogs make a mess drinking out of the toilet. Dads leave footprints down the hallway after gardening. There's always a mess for someone to clean up! "

Hmmm, I wonder who that someone will be?

SeeJaneKick · 28/02/2011 22:28

Oh right! Shows how much it affects me anyway doesn't it!

Personally if they make a product look like it was made pre 1970 it always appeals to me. Don't know why...I go for vintage looking things all the time...why? Do I secretly want to be rubbing my step with a donkey stone? Or mangling my whites i the back yard? Who knows...

melpomene · 28/02/2011 22:24

few years ago I mean, not few weeks

melpomene · 28/02/2011 22:24

Mr Muscle used to be a scrawny wimp a few weeks ago - I think it intended to suggest that because the product was strong, the user didn't need to be strong.

But now they have changed him to a more conventional muscly superhero-type.

whomovedmychocolate · 28/02/2011 22:16

I buy oven brite - I don't care whether it's male or female, I want intelligent oven cleaner

whomovedmychocolate · 28/02/2011 22:15

SeeJaneKick - what was your complaint? Other that he's an irritating twit ?

SeeJaneKick · 28/02/2011 21:45

Ah yes who moved....that's it!

SeeJaneKick · 28/02/2011 21:44

I cmplained to advertising standards about Cilit Bang and they said something like "Athough we have recieved a number of complaints, there have to be over a certain amount before we can take action."

I want to smack Barry Scott upside the head with a can of that shit.

whomovedmychocolate · 28/02/2011 21:43

Ah that was a 'men are shit at cleaning, women are better at it so we will supply the tools and you will do the work' thing I think

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 28/02/2011 21:43

he may be a scrawny wimp but he made a better job of my oven than dh did last Saturday.

SeeJaneKick · 28/02/2011 21:42

Wasn't Mr Muscle done as a scrawny wimp though? I wonder whatthe thought process behind that was?

Monty27 · 28/02/2011 21:36

They should seem me scraping the aluminium mop bucket up and down the tiled hall when I'm cleaning it. They's soon call my floor cleaner Monty27 THE BIG ONE! or whatever.

Oh and there's always MR MUSCLE!! lolol

whomovedmychocolate · 28/02/2011 21:35

Mavis sounds like a downtrodden charlady though

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 28/02/2011 21:32

you're right, faced with that choice of drain cleaners I would pick Bruce.
If they were furniture polish I would probably go for Mavis.

whomovedmychocolate · 28/02/2011 21:31

I like the Jedward version better

ivykaty44 · 28/02/2011 21:30

Original poster

BooyFuckingHoo · 28/02/2011 21:29

ah right! thanks.

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 28/02/2011 21:28

Original poster

BooyFuckingHoo · 28/02/2011 21:27

who is barry scott?

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 28/02/2011 21:26

Oh come on, everyone knows Cillit Bang is Barry Scott's lovejuice

Original poster

BooyFuckingHoo · 28/02/2011 21:24

well you see cilit bang does quite wel without having a male or female name so i don't see why drain cleaner has to be named bruce or mavis to accurately reflect it's purpose.

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 28/02/2011 21:19

Isn't it about what the product primarily does though - if it's practical ( efficient, dull ) they use a male name and voice for the product.

For the less practical ( fripperies, cosmetic ) like shampoo for example, a female, fluffy name or image is used. For example Fairy liquid is aimed at women, it's marketed that it keeps your hands soft (why do people want that btw, it's a weird ambition, like having slightly softer skin on your hands will help you in life ).
Or Herbal Essences which apparently is better than sex (whoever wrote this campaign needs to find a better lover frankly).

And it actually sort of fits into societal norms. Would you, for example buy a drain cleaner called Mavis? Or would you prefer Bruce? We are brought up to associate strength and functionality with men and gentleness and ornament with women.

Prolesworth · 28/02/2011 21:18

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