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Original poster

Official Complaint to Mumsnet

639 replies

CoconutQueen · 02/02/2023 09:47

Totally inappropriate enormous vibrator adverts now ALL over Mumnset.

What on earth are you thinking of? Is Mumsnet really that short of cash that they have to stoop this low?

Not to mention the ridiculous woke language ie "people with wombs".

Totally inappropriate on ALL levels.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
Octopusmittens · 02/02/2023 10:40

Moopsi · 02/02/2023 10:05

So women who've had a hysterectomy are not allowed to use vibrators?

Also offensive to say that sex in motherhood is a deeply held taboo.

Deeply misogynistic.

It also looks like a mini vacuum cleaner.

I think you need a biology textbook.

Paturday · 02/02/2023 10:41

Bit awkward that mumsnet seemingly helped come up with this vibrator and I assumed agreed with the premise of it being all taboo and mums need a special vibrator, and also that mums can be men. Fail all round!

IhearyouClemFandango · 02/02/2023 10:42

SpareHeirOverThere · 02/02/2023 10:38

I don't mind the sex toy adverts. This is a website for adults. Mainly adult human females.

The misogynistic, offensive language from Smile Makers is not okay. It is never okay to replace or even supplement the word 'woman' by referring to body parts. It is dehumanising. And I am angry that Mumsnet put those words on its site.

Sex and motherhood are not a taboo combination. I have never seen a poster claim it is. Making that link is unnecessary and once again offensive.

'Community activations' is also offensive, but only to my inner pedant.

👏👏👏

ancientgran · 02/02/2023 10:42

Hapoydayz · 02/02/2023 10:07

The use of vulva owners is deeply offensive and I don’t think sex in motherhood has been taboo for at least the last 30 years!

Has it ever been taboo? How did people have a 2nd 3rd 4th etc if having sex was taboo.

My granny must have been a real rule breaker with her 12 kids.

2o23 · 02/02/2023 10:42

Use an ad-block (free) you won't see any - but I agree with OP. Mumsnet is cheapening itself if it's posting ads like that.

ofwarren · 02/02/2023 10:42

FKATondelayo · 02/02/2023 10:34

I find it odd that the Sex chat (which is often a source of good advice and support as well as being user driven) is hidden away and not allowed on the front page but vibrator companies can pay to plaster their product all over Active Convos.

The taboo of mothers having sex? Never happened. For a start mothers are the only people with stone cold evidence of their sex lives. Everyone else's is purely anecdotal.

The sex chat is now in active too...
I wish it wasn't because I don't want to see it and cannot work out how to hide it in the app.

80s · 02/02/2023 10:42

The man who took my womb out might potentially still have it. Should I get him one of these?

Is this some kind of sociology research project?

WestwardHo1 · 02/02/2023 10:42

"People with wombs"??? "Vulva owners"???

Are they having a laugh?

Where to even bloody start with THAT.

ItchySnoof · 02/02/2023 10:42

Being so afraid that TRA's will be offended that you have to say vibrators are for womb owners and ostracise a large majority of your user base is so very telling.

Just say Women??? If Trans women are women the word Women shouldn't offend them 😉😀

watcherintherye · 02/02/2023 10:42

We knew from previous activations with our community that sex and motherhood is a deeply-rooted taboo.

Is it? No, it’s really not. You seem to want to make the use of the word ‘woman’ taboo, though. Talk about a backward step!

IhearyouClemFandango · 02/02/2023 10:42

Octopusmittens · 02/02/2023 10:40

I think you need a biology textbook.

Show quote history

Why? If you've had a hysterectomy you don't have a womb do you?

CoffeeRightNow · 02/02/2023 10:42

Paturday · 02/02/2023 10:41

Bit awkward that mumsnet seemingly helped come up with this vibrator and I assumed agreed with the premise of it being all taboo and mums need a special vibrator, and also that mums can be men. Fail all round!

Absolutely this. The messaging is all SO wrong and I can’t believe MN has put its name to this.

Beaglesonlyplease · 02/02/2023 10:44

I’d love to know how butt plugs are marketed.. “anus owners’ toys?). Those flesh light things.. “penis owner’s plastic pretend partial vulva owner toy”..
Grim using “vulva owner”. I don’t fucking “own” a vulva like I just sell it on Vinted if I wanted to swap it up. Anatomy isn’t like that really..

orangegato · 02/02/2023 10:46

YesitsBess · 02/02/2023 09:53

And it looks like Shreks ear.

You have made my entire life.

ValerieDoonican · 02/02/2023 10:46

MindatWork · 02/02/2023 10:12

@dirt its in the product description if you go onto the product website.

Im really disappointed in the use of ‘vulva owners’. Mumsnet is one of the few places in the internet that you can argue against use of dehumanising words like ‘people with wombs’ and ‘people who menstruate’ without being called a terf whore 🫤, so to see it being used in nauseatingly ‘cool’ marketing copy for a product you’ve helped design @LilyMumsnet is actually really upsetting.

Im actually wondering if it’s been done on purpose to cause debate and give the product a higher profile, as I’m finding it really hard to believe that you thought this would go down well with your core demographic.

You're probably right. They are doubtless thrilled to have "started a conversation".

Ohifyouinsist · 02/02/2023 10:46

Vulva havers is deeply offensive to many women.

It also makes me think that the manufacturer knows eff all about female anatomy. Did they get vagina and vulva confused? Maybe they're designed by men, and dont know that women have a clitoris? Either way, the advert needs to go. It's deeply misogynistic.

Ppq · 02/02/2023 10:47

SpareHeirOverThere · 02/02/2023 10:38

I don't mind the sex toy adverts. This is a website for adults. Mainly adult human females.

The misogynistic, offensive language from Smile Makers is not okay. It is never okay to replace or even supplement the word 'woman' by referring to body parts. It is dehumanising. And I am angry that Mumsnet put those words on its site.

Sex and motherhood are not a taboo combination. I have never seen a poster claim it is. Making that link is unnecessary and once again offensive.

'Community activations' is also offensive, but only to my inner pedant.

What she said.

WOMEN WOMAN MUMS MOTHERS

ShimmeringShirts · 02/02/2023 10:47

Yup, very curious 5yo looking over my shoulder and asking “what’s that?” I’ve had to turn on my ad block, still doesn’t get rid of it on the front page though! I don’t come to MN for sex toys, entirely inappropriate to mix parenting and sex toys too 🤢

Stroopwaffle5000 · 02/02/2023 10:47

I wouldn't buy this purely because it says Vulva-Owners, no matter how wonderful it is!!

Cherryblossoms85 · 02/02/2023 10:47

I think the only person who had a problem with mothers having sex was Elvis.

orangegato · 02/02/2023 10:47

Womb owners exclude women who have had hysterectomies. Why not just use the word women for the love of God. Rather offend actual women than pretend ones? Great.

TheOrigRights · 02/02/2023 10:47

I have installed the Brave (ad free) browser solely for the use of MN because it was becoming unusable on the browsers that I (very happily and efficiently) use for ALL my other internet activities.

It was the only site that would set off the fan in my very new Mac i.e. perfectly fine hardware.

C8H10N4O2 · 02/02/2023 10:48

I'm sure there will be plenty of the cool girls who are totally down with sex aids surrounded by misogynistic language, popping up whilst they are on the bus.

For me it simply says:

  • a vendor who knows so little about women won't be producing anything useful
  • MN is happy to run ads which work by undermining women's confidence
  • get an adblocker until the advertising strategy is better managed
cofeetablebook · 02/02/2023 10:48

A bit off topic, but I wonder - is the GC population on Mumsnet really a large majority as it was described upthread? Or just the most vocal?

How would we know? There is no way to accurately measure it. AIBU polls are meaningless because they do not provide an unbiased result.

GallantGus · 02/02/2023 10:48

I cba with any of the promoted threads on mumsnet even the ones telling me about covid and vaccinations. Just get off with shovelling your crap at us.

I’m disappointed to see the sex toy crap every time I want to look at mumsnet too.