Page 5 | B&Q think ‘girls’ cant do stuff

Coralleadery · 2025-05-27T10:29:14+00:00

B&Q have listed a flatpack cabinet with the description ‘easy to assemble, even for a girl’ At the same time they’re running a big ‘purpose’ advertising campaign around encouraging female tradespeople. [[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14752363/amp/B-Q-apologises-bathroom-cabinet-easy-girl.html https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14752363/amp/B-Q-apologises-bathroom-cabinet-easy-girl.html]] Apologies for the DM link - I couldn’t see a better one (The Sun?!)

JohnTheRevelator · 27/05/2025 15:10

I am absolutely astounded that they thought this appropriate for 2025. Only about 50 years behind the times. No wonder they had to apologise.

ChocolatesAndRainbows · 27/05/2025 15:26

GreyCarpet · 27/05/2025 11:33

Well, they've just lost my custom.

And I have a long memory. I haven't had a Yorkie bar since Nestlé announced they weren't for girls 😁

I’m sure they will go bankrupt now.

TheNightingalesStarling · 27/05/2025 15:30

O/T but they used have Yorkies in the military 24hr Ration Packs. That version was labelled "Not for Civvies". (It was a different recipe, had extra stuff added).

Sandy792 · 27/05/2025 15:32

I hate that the B&Q website now has all sorts of shite from random sellers that is 'not available in store'.

feelingbleh · 27/05/2025 15:53

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 27/05/2025 15:10

😆

But, but aren't you a GIRL?! 😂

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Yes a girl who is shit at diy and loves a yorkie

notacooldad · 27/05/2025 16:16

Yes a girl who is shit at diy and loves a yorkie
That's me!🙋
I dont get offended at being called a girl, my diy causes more problems than I'm supposed to be soving and I love a good raisin Yorkie bar. I've been in B and Q numerous times since last week. ( I'm sick of hearing ' can you nip down to B &Q,I need another tub of Sandex, or go and see what you want for the hall!)

Hwi · 27/05/2025 16:59

greatyak · 27/05/2025 14:20

Wow. So you sneeringly look down upon trades obviously 🙄

tradespeople can be extremely highly skilled and can earn very good money. Pity there are still dinosaurs like you around who look down on them like they are second class citizens

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If only it was me who looked down on them - look on MN around uni entrance time - the scale of worry if their little darlings don't get into the uni they wanted. Simultaneously, threads like 'he only spent 40 minutes fixing my tap, why did he charge £90? Also, 'tradies don't get to use my toilet' - the shameful prejudice on MN against trades and you blame me?

Hwi · 27/05/2025 17:03

ErrolTheDragon · 27/05/2025 12:44

There may be a few things where there’s a split (those requiring more brute strength or size than most women possess, for instance) but it’s risible to imply that’s the case with most flatpack furniture. There are items which require more than one person to assemble them but I’m not sure I’ve come across anything where blokes would be required.

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My point was that we ARE different. Chess don't require brute force, but we, girls, are still shit at it.

OutandAboutMum1821 · 27/05/2025 17:15

That’s such a shame. Really disappointing.

Please do not let this deter you though if you are a woman who is interested in DIY. I’m in and out of B & Q with my DD. I’ve taught myself how to do all sorts of internal and external painting projects; as well as heavier gardening, emptying and re-filling a pond, etc. The staff in our local branch have always been nothing but polite and helpful without being patronising when I’ve had queries. I’ve never felt judged.

TriesNotToBeCynical · 27/05/2025 17:18

Hwi · 27/05/2025 17:03

My point was that we ARE different. Chess don't require brute force, but we, girls, are still shit at it.

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That may be socialisation and opportunity though; who lets girls spend six hours a day studying chess openings?

ErrolTheDragon · 27/05/2025 17:22

Hwi · 27/05/2025 17:03

My point was that we ARE different. Chess don't require brute force, but we, girls, are still shit at it.

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Are we? or maybe we’re typically just less likely to spend our time playing games rather than doing something real? Hard to disentangle nature v nurture. Some of us excel in stereotypically ‘masculine’ fields. 🤷‍♀️ but assembling flatpack furniture isn’t remotely one of those!

Hwi · 27/05/2025 17:25

TriesNotToBeCynical · 27/05/2025 17:18

That may be socialisation and opportunity though; who lets girls spend six hours a day studying chess openings?

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The former socialist countries did - zero result. And this is precisely the point - boys do want to spend 8 hours a day doing it and girls don't. We ARE so different, it is amazing and unbelievable.

Hwi · 27/05/2025 17:42

ErrolTheDragon · 27/05/2025 17:22

Are we? or maybe we’re typically just less likely to spend our time playing games rather than doing something real? Hard to disentangle nature v nurture. Some of us excel in stereotypically ‘masculine’ fields. 🤷‍♀️ but assembling flatpack furniture isn’t remotely one of those!

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'Excel' is a big over-estimation here, I am afraid. Attempting - yes, trying hard - yes, desperately trying - also yes, but excelling? The European Mathematics Olympiad is divided into boys' and girls' categories, if memory serves, to hide the fact that if pitted against each other, the best girl's place would be around 200th.

TriesNotToBeCynical · 27/05/2025 17:59

Hwi · 27/05/2025 17:25

The former socialist countries did - zero result. And this is precisely the point - boys do want to spend 8 hours a day doing it and girls don't. We ARE so different, it is amazing and unbelievable.

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What that suggests to me is that the relevant socialisation must be very early in life.

TriesNotToBeCynical · 27/05/2025 18:02

Hwi · 27/05/2025 17:42

'Excel' is a big over-estimation here, I am afraid. Attempting - yes, trying hard - yes, desperately trying - also yes, but excelling? The European Mathematics Olympiad is divided into boys' and girls' categories, if memory serves, to hide the fact that if pitted against each other, the best girl's place would be around 200th.

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By the end of primary school the number of girls excelling at maths is very much smaller than the number of boys. And who lets girls spend all their time studying maths?

ErrolTheDragon · 27/05/2025 18:06

Hwi · 27/05/2025 17:42

'Excel' is a big over-estimation here, I am afraid. Attempting - yes, trying hard - yes, desperately trying - also yes, but excelling? The European Mathematics Olympiad is divided into boys' and girls' categories, if memory serves, to hide the fact that if pitted against each other, the best girl's place would be around 200th.

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I’m talking about excelling at actual jobs in such fields.
Not an overestimation at all.

Hwi · 27/05/2025 18:07

TriesNotToBeCynical · 27/05/2025 17:59

What that suggests to me is that the relevant socialisation must be very early in life.

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As I said, zero result. Early socialisation.

Hwi · 27/05/2025 18:08

TriesNotToBeCynical · 27/05/2025 18:02

By the end of primary school the number of girls excelling at maths is very much smaller than the number of boys. And who lets girls spend all their time studying maths?

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Those parents, who send them to the European Olympics Olympiad, where these girls, with extra tutoring and the same amount of hours per day dedicated to the subject, take 200th place.

Hwi · 27/05/2025 18:11

ErrolTheDragon · 27/05/2025 18:06

I’m talking about excelling at actual jobs in such fields.
Not an overestimation at all.

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Examples? London law firms - female partners 37%. Ortho surgery - women are 7%. Inventions in the UK (Patent Office)? 7% are female.

ErrolTheDragon · 27/05/2025 18:17

Hwi · 27/05/2025 18:11

Examples? London law firms - female partners 37%. Ortho surgery - women are 7%. Inventions in the UK (Patent Office)? 7% are female.

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Lived experience.
yes, there’s still a disparity in numbers in many fields but having worked in one such area for about 4 decades and a daughter in the early stages of another, I simply don’t see any inherent reason for that. Women can, and do, excel in the real world. Of course many of us get hit by structural sexism along the ay (largely because men are undeniably 100% rubbish at having babies).

but we sure as hell can put together a sodding flatpack.😂

LoveFridaynight · 27/05/2025 19:07

Hwi · 27/05/2025 12:47

I sincerely hope our girls won't go into trades, I dread the idea. First, it is not where real power lies, secondly, uterine prolapses, hernias and the rest. I agree with your about stem subjects, but unfortunately, the only girls (now women) who performed well in this country due to studying stems - like the only successful commercial architect, the first female brain surgeon, etc. they all came from repressive-dictatorial families, i.e. were pushed by parents' pressure. I wish we could have more role models like that, real ones, only with the normal non-dictatorial families, purely through normal (not private) schooling. I wish we could have one half-decent female chess player who could compete with men in chess - after all, we are told we are the same, aren't we?

I also wish women can leave all the B&Q, trades, and other 'shovel-heavy shit' type jobs deflections alone and concentrate on gaining access to real power - i.e. architects, lawyers, doctors, chemists, physicists. I did not include engineering (real one, not fixing electric mains) meaning materials engineering, civil engineering, etc. because unfortunately we underperform in those disciplines as well, despite massive leg up by all educational establishments.

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Why is it okay for men to suffer from all the health complaints you've listed but not women?
I think women should be encouraged to do whatever job they want. Most tradespeople make good money and have a huge skillset, why wouldn't you want that for your daughter's?

greatyak · 27/05/2025 19:36

Hwi · 27/05/2025 16:59

If only it was me who looked down on them - look on MN around uni entrance time - the scale of worry if their little darlings don't get into the uni they wanted. Simultaneously, threads like 'he only spent 40 minutes fixing my tap, why did he charge £90? Also, 'tradies don't get to use my toilet' - the shameful prejudice on MN against trades and you blame me?

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Well you are the one admitting to looking down on them so yes. I’m addressing YOU

Hwi · 27/05/2025 21:21

LoveFridaynight · 27/05/2025 19:07

Why is it okay for men to suffer from all the health complaints you've listed but not women?
I think women should be encouraged to do whatever job they want. Most tradespeople make good money and have a huge skillset, why wouldn't you want that for your daughter's?

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For my daughter's what?

LoveFridaynight · 27/05/2025 21:25

Hwi · 27/05/2025 21:21

For my daughter's what?

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Wouldn't you want them to have a well paid job and a wide skillset.
Obviously other jobs offer this too but being a tradesperson is a pretty good carer. Why are you so against women having a job like building, plumbing etc?

Hwi · 27/05/2025 21:50

LoveFridaynight · 27/05/2025 21:25

Wouldn't you want them to have a well paid job and a wide skillset.
Obviously other jobs offer this too but being a tradesperson is a pretty good carer. Why are you so against women having a job like building, plumbing etc?

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This is what I am all on about when I am talking to my dc, saying 'you need a skillset, you need to work with your hands, you need to be very specialised'.