Adam the assistant

[Burninglogsfire]

I was in a business conference today and the main speaker was a man. He kept on using examples like 'Adam the assistant' and referring to dads as customers for a childrens clothing brand. I had to go and thank him. He said he makes a concious effort to change the stereotypical language thats used. There is hope!

Or he is male - centric ! 😂

Dads as customers for a children’s clothing brand? DH has never bought any clothing for the DCs other than novelty scarves from NYC and that was about 15yrs ago. But good luck to the guy’s marketing strategy!

It wasn't about him or his strategy. He was giving examples of consumer behaviour and switching gender stereotypes around without making a big deal about it.

He sounds like he’s male centric

But consumer behaviour does have patterns. Pretending it doesn't, isn't enlightened.

Ah well.. He really was pro-equality. Im not going to transcribe the speech here, but it was definitely a point he was making. I also learned he is a girl-dad. Maybe that's why. Whatever the reason, its very rare to see, that's why i posted. It gives me a tiny bit of hope and im clinging on to that.

Hi OP, I think this sounds really positive!

It's great hearing of someone challenging norms in this way. I don't think he sounds "male-centric" at all.

I'm grateful that you've shared this, and it's a shame that the "all men are vile" inference started, however subtly, so quickly.

That's sad, why doesn't he buy clothes for them?
Edited to add, sad as in doesn't he even think he should pick up some of that responsibility.

@mercilousming Thank you 🥰 I've had my share of useless sexist abusive men and hearing someone talking in this way is really positive. Think Andy Murray and the way he kept on correcting the reporters to say he was the best Male player (crediting Serena williams etc). May there be more of these men in the world!!

Ignoring differences in men and women's behaviour and needs doesn't help women, it just means we don't get thr support we need.

For example, women and children are more likely to use London buses than men. This is because trains are used more by commuters, and buses are used more for people getting to and from shops, hospital, school etc.

If we pretend that men and women use both services equally, then we can pretend it's not indirectly sex-discriminatory when the bus service is way worse than the trains.

Sure, in an ideal world men would all be working part time equally with women and so equally likely to take their aging MIL to hospital appointments with their toddler jn the buggy. But the truth is they're not, and pretending they are isn't helping anyone

Andy Murray is excellent at correcting everyday sexism - I love him for that!

@Burninglogsfire Hey I’m not knocking anyone who’s trying to breakdown the gender stereotypes. Without hearing the speech you heard it’s tricky to comment. I wonder as a dad to girls how much clothing he buys them - it’s very easy for a parent of either sex to get it wrong!

I agree that on the surface it's good to see a man trying to avoid spoken and visual stereotypes.

But the thing is, it's a pretty low bar. Ads on tv have been showing men hoovering and shopping for years.

It feels a bit like like we're still at the 'at least he doesn't hit me or go out getting pissed up every week' sometimes.

An actual pat on the back from me would be reserved for a man who's actual everyday life reflected real equality with the women in his life. Not just lip service to it at work.