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Original poster

Halfords and every day sexism

130 replies

Baxer · 17/01/2021 16:32

A poster started a thread about this on another section but I think it warrants a mention on here.

This might be a small issue when it comes to the huge battles women face at the moment, but for me these small instances of everyday sexism are a huge problem when you add them all together.

Halfords have decide to call two of their women’s bikes ‘Entice’ and ‘Virtue’. [name edited by MNHQ at OP's request] As the poster pointed out on her thread, it feeds into the misogynistic attitude that women are either enticing or pure.

On the other thread a large number of people couldn’t understand why it was a big deal, but for me these small acts of every day sexism are a big problem when you add them all up and whilst I can see through them, I worry about my daughters and other young women being exposed to these attitudes.

I have tweeted Halfords, but I suspect they will just ignore me like other companies do when I point these issues out.

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Original poster
Baxer · 17/01/2021 19:11

@Ihopeyourcakeisshit

Sometimes dumbass stereotyping rather than sexism is at play. Not saying it doesn't need to be called out, but not everything is a misogynistic attack.
Where did I say it was an attack?

I said it was a misogynistic attitude which, when added to all the other instances, is damaging.

OP posts:
AKissAndASmile · 17/01/2021 19:09

A man's bike would never be given those names. Why is that?
A lot of women will like the name. Why is that? 🤮

lazylinguist · 17/01/2021 19:04

Not saying it doesn't need to be called out, but not everything is a misogynistic attack.

Nobody is saying it's a misogynistic attack. I mean it's not as if we're saying Halfords chose those names in order to deliberately stick it to the feminists.

These kinds of little things are worse in a way - they are a sign of the fact that the belief that women are all about looks, flirtatiousness and femininity is still so embedded in a lot of people's brains that they don't even stop to think whether it's true or whether it might be offensive to brand women that way.

It's not that women aren't flirtatious etc. It's the idea that beauty and sexual attractiveness are deemed to be central to women and whatever they are doing - sport, politics, music etc.

JanewaysBun · 17/01/2021 18:47

I agree, why can't bike be called "speedy" or "zoom" you don't need to be alluring or virtuous (virginal?) To ride a bike.

I'm generally sick of this, I might be a stupid little woman but I don't need to be convinced to buy a bike because it might make me "alluring"Angry

AKissAndASmile · 17/01/2021 18:41

@SunsetBeetch

AIBU, where minor parking disuptes and loud sneezes will make people spitting mad, but examples that show sexism is still alive and kicking are met with an uncharacteristically zen like calm.
YANBU It's ridiculous
SunsetBeetch · 17/01/2021 18:33

AIBU, where minor parking disuptes and loud sneezes will make people spitting mad, but examples that show sexism is still alive and kicking are met with an uncharacteristically zen like calm.

AKissAndASmile · 17/01/2021 18:32

This is why I honestly don't have any energy for feminism. Too many women are happy with the status quo so I can't be arsed. Racism is my focus these days.

AKissAndASmile · 17/01/2021 18:31

I saw that thread, OP and was not surprised when all the cool girls came out in force saying the clichéd ' I can't get worked up about this'.

Original poster
Baxer · 17/01/2021 18:21

I just realised I listed the names of the bikes incorrectly in my op. The second bike was called ‘virtue’ not allure.

OP posts:
Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 17/01/2021 18:09

Isn't an 'ism' something that actively disadvantages someone? (Genuine question)

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 17/01/2021 18:05

And I have first hand knowledge of the male/female cycle purchaser.

SunsetBeetch · 17/01/2021 18:03

Sexism IS dumbass stereotyping.

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 17/01/2021 18:00

Sometimes dumbass stereotyping rather than sexism is at play.
Not saying it doesn't need to be called out, but not everything is a misogynistic attack.

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 17/01/2021 17:58

Sorry, Blush
I will in future automatically think the worst.

SunsetBeetch · 17/01/2021 17:52

I'm only shocked that the bikes aren't bright pink with flowers on them Hmm

AKissAndASmile · 17/01/2021 17:50

Ihopeyourcakeisshit

Is it perhaps about enticing women into cycling? Making it more alluring? After all cycling is very much a male dominated sport/hobby?

I hope you didn't pull something with the amount of reaching you did there

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 17/01/2021 17:45

Is it perhaps about enticing women into cycling? Making it more alluring? After all cycling is very much a male dominated sport/hobby?

bourbonne · 17/01/2021 17:31

The men's versions are apparently Slant, Phase and Evade. I guess Slant and Evade could evoke cycling. Not sure what Phase is meant to mean but then I'm not a cyclist.

I'm amusing myself now by trying to picture a woman cycling in an enticing way or a virtuous way. I guess the latter would be John Major's old maids cycling to church past the village green.

Meh. I wouldn't have blinked at this, but I'll bow out.

lazylinguist · 17/01/2021 17:17

but they are random in that there is no obvious connection to bikes.

Yes, that's the point. They have chosen stereotypical feminine attributes to name the bikes, rather than names which have anything to do with bikes or cycling. Why? I wonder what their men's bikes are called - 'ruggedly handsome'? 'Macho'? I somehow doubt it.

Original poster
Baxer · 17/01/2021 17:06

@Longdistance

Are the Apollo bikes actually made by Halfords?
I’m not sure if they are, but either way they choose to sell them.
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Original poster
Baxer · 17/01/2021 17:04

@bourbonne

Surely this is true of many products? Especially when there are male and female versions and they want to differentiate them for the different markets. Shoes for example always have random and ridiculous names. I always wonder who comes up with them.
Yes you’re right, it is true of other products. I would call them out too if I came across them.
OP posts:
Longdistance · 17/01/2021 16:55

Are the Apollo bikes actually made by Halfords?

bourbonne · 17/01/2021 16:54

I know they are chosen to sound vaguely feminine, @goingtothebudgies, but they are random in that there is no obvious connection to bikes.

Goingtothebudgies · 17/01/2021 16:51

The names aren't random though. That's the problem.

bourbonne · 17/01/2021 16:49

Surely this is true of many products? Especially when there are male and female versions and they want to differentiate them for the different markets. Shoes for example always have random and ridiculous names. I always wonder who comes up with them.

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