IKEA instructions - is this sexist?

[booksrock]

Dh and I are building IKEA wardrobes. As a perfectionist dh is doing the building and I am holding/ supporting as required. In the book a man does the building and a comfy dressed sized 12 woman does the holding. Have they been designed for us or are dh and I actually living in an IKEA manual.

[RevoltingPeasant]

Possibly the most infuriating thing I have ever put together was DD's Snuzpod. I was 34w pg and you actually do need 2 people to hold all the bits. I remember being DESPERATELY POLITE to DH whilst trying not to let my absolute rage at how he was doing it all wrong show.

Mostly I get him to play with DD whilst I do stuff, as it's faster and less sweary and doesn't fall apart afterwards.

[ArthurMcAffertyhastwocats]

I love putting together IKEA furniture. My proudest moment was the sofa bed which I did single handedly. Recently, dd (11) has been the other jelly-baby person of unidentifiable sex and has proved quite handy with the electric screwdriver too, although she was perturbed by the figures in the drawings then decided they were female. DP - not yet living with us but moving in soon - was sent away by her with a firm "I think only women can do this, according to the instructions" by her.

[Elledouble]

Fixed it!

[MotherKat]

I'm a flatpack lover, DH does the holding as he is physically stronger (not gender related, his hobbies include weights and distance running, mine crochet and baking) I do the instructions and building as he is about as practical as a hat made of jelly I'm the more hands on one.

[Guitargirl]

The OP said it was a size 12 female. I meant that they are only showing the 'norm' and if they were to be properly inclusive it should be a bigger size.

It was a joke.

Never mind.

[AnnieOnnieMouse]

I've always been flatpack queen here, even in the pre-ikea days of MFI
Dh doesn't have the patience for it. I built all our kitchen units, but he fitted them.

[CeeceeBloomingdale]

That's my ideal, however the roles are reversed here.ive literally just finished building a bookcase with the occasional support from DH as its too heavy to hold it in place whilst tightening screws alone

[tomatodizzy]

ImogenTubbs sounds like us. We have similar chairs too, we bought six, I made five. DH made one, then took it apart and made it again correctly.

[PaulAnkaTheDog]

Two people working together to put something together?! Shocker!

[SoupDragon]

...and him banging in nails

TBH, if you think he is banging in nails it's probably a good job you were doing the holding

[NorksAreMessy]

DS was 15 and we were making a wardrobe together.
About half an hour in he said "mum, I don't suppose you could make us a cup of tea could you?"
I wandered off, made the tea and came back only for him to say "you go and sit down, I can manage this"

In other, politer, words "bugger off, mother, you are holding me back".

I can build flat pack perfectly well by myself, but I am not so good at teamwork

[EatingMyWords]

Weird, I always thought IKEA were less sexist than most places. Not to mention the fact* men are crap at flatpack because they don't read instructions.

I love flatpack- I put together everything in our house, though DH did help with the massive bookcases but strictly to my instructions

*OK, only a fact to me...

[SalemSaberhagen]

Elle

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

springs I like your style.

I fucking HATE flatpack furniture. Nothing to do with being a woman, in a lot of other areas I am very handy much handier than DH or even my DDad but DH has to build all the IKEA because I would kill someone by heaving the biggest heaviest bit out the nearest window.

[Guitargirl]

Size 12 you say?

So, sizeist as well.

[JennyBunn]

If those instructions were true to life, then in this house they would feature a crazed wild eyed woman building 2 Billy bookcases with height extensions whilst looking after a 2 and 5 year old. Whilst the male lies on the bed reading a book. Said male is supposed to be watching the kids.

But I'm not bitter.

[LoveBoursin]

Oh they used to be very gender neutral.
That's not good why on earth did they change the stick fugues they used to have

[booksrock]

It's opening ceremony will be sometime tomorrow as its a very large one with lots of drawers, trays etc

I'm looking forward to a tidy room

[Pipbin]

I think you are being unkind calling her a size 12. She looks smaller than that to me.

[springscoming]

It needs to show teens being handed a tenner while parents sit elsewhere and guzzle wine - reaping the rewards of buying Lego and K'nex 10 years ago - like sensible people.

[LumpySpacedPrincess]

I single handedly built a room full of Billy bookcases, I was so proud!

How is the pax wardrobe, is it up yet?

And yes, it is sexist if all the leaflets show the man doing the stuff and the little women holding the stuff.

[Hulababy]

Wouldn't reflect us. I make the flat pack here. DH tried to stay as far away as possible. However if it is something big/tall I do call him in to hold stuff in place.

[Elledouble]

This step is DEFINITELY sexist.