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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Have you seen the Saudi version of the catalogue? I am so dissapointed with IKEA.

63 replies

FryingNemo · 02/10/2012 05:47

Article here:

IKEA airbrushes women out of catalogue

I know they have apologised but I am so cross for the reminder that I am a second class being in the eyes of so many. Is there any point in writing to them?

OP posts:
nailak · 05/10/2012 20:42

because women aren't men?

why do women get their meals paid for on a date and chairs pulled out for them and doors opened? and the majority of women are not offended by this.

grimbletart · 05/10/2012 21:04

The strict regime for is done more as a respect for women not oppression as so many believe.

Oh come on. So it is respect that dictates that women - in perfectly respectable clothing - must be airbrushed out of existence? You have to have fallen from heaven with the last shower to believe that.

why do women get their meals paid for on a date and chairs pulled out for them and doors opened? and the majority of women are not offended by this

Because we are feeble little souls who have no money, cannot pull a chair out or open a door of course. I don't object when it's done although it irritates the hell out of me, because I am too well mannered to show my irritation and offend a guy who has the best of intentions even though chivalry is a very well constructed method of patronisation.

nailak · 05/10/2012 21:21

and do you think all women feel the same as you?

because we dont.

MooncupGoddess · 05/10/2012 21:24

Erm, nailak. Are you saying that the Saudi treatment of women is OK?

grimbletart · 05/10/2012 22:04

and do you think all women feel the same as you?

No.

A lot of women love to be infantilised.

SomersetONeil · 05/10/2012 22:18

why do women get their meals paid for on a date and chairs pulled out for them and doors opened? and the majority of women are not offended by this.

I don't really know how to respond to someone who thinks this is the blanket status quo, and feels that this is accepted, right, appropriate and that 'the majority of women are not offended by it'.

For starters - I, as a woman, hold doors open for anyone coming through them at the same time as me. Most people I encounter do the same thing. It's basic manners and I don't discriminate based on gender.

The only time anyone pulls a chair out for me is when I'm in a posh restaurant and it's a (paid) waiter doing the pulling. He pulls the chair out for the men as well.

As for paying for meals - this is an antiquated practice which happens less and less. I cannot imagine assuming anyone would pay for my meal and would always offer to pay for myself. The only reason I might not do so was if the person I was with (man or woman, if with a friend) was absolutely insistent, and I didn't want to cause an unnecessary scene. But I'd make sure I paid the next time. I met up with a male friend for lunch recently and I paid (since I invited him out, and since I'm a grown up, salaried individual).

The reason some women might be perfectly willing to be paid for might be because they're a bit tight - or poor - and are happy for someone else to take the financial hit. I'm sure there are many men who would likewise be happy to be paid for, if someone was offering. Not gender-specific.

MummyPigsFatTummy · 08/10/2012 15:24

The strict regime for is done more as a respect for women not oppression as so many believe.

So it is out of respect for women that they are not allowed to travel without the permission of a male guardian? That they cannot drive? That they cannot find anywhere to exercise outside of their own homes? That they cannot enter a coffee shop by the main entrance and sit in the same area as men? That they can be punished severely for trangressing the strict dress rules or for being seen in public with a man unrelated to them.

Right. I am glad I don't enjoy that level of "respect" Hmm

SaraBellumHertz · 08/10/2012 16:11

I'm not sure how I feel about the Ikea catalogue but I think it is wrong to say, for example in relation to the designer, the woman are airbrushed out because the view is their achievement should be credited to a man.

KSA has a fairly "good" record comparatively of woman being educated equally and having their achievements recognized: over 50% more woman in KSA unis get PHD's than men and woman work in all industries at high levels. Whilst I am not arguing the religious regime is not inherently sexist - it is - the issue relates to the appropriateness of woman being "uncovered" rather than an attempt to denigrate a woman's achievement

SaraBellumHertz · 08/10/2012 16:14

winterwardrobe which magazines are full of black marker pen? The only magazine I have ever seen with black marks is a copy of closer in which the woman was topless.

kilmuir · 08/10/2012 19:21

The women certainly do not work in all industries in Saudi.
Single women need permission to leave and work in another country. Appalling

SaraBellumHertz · 09/10/2012 18:14

kilmuir what do you mean they certainly don't?

I know journalists, lawyers, drs and teachers in Saudi as well as bankers, business woman and beauticians. Woman work in government and there are female ministers. Granted employment is a little more complicated if you want to waitress or work in a shop and you certainly can't work as a cab driver but to give the impression that woman do not work in Saudiis inaccurate.

colditz · 09/10/2012 18:26

Women are not equal in Saudi, they are little more than pets.

kilmuir · 09/10/2012 22:23

Saudi women only recently been granted license to practice law, previously only allowed to be legal 'consultants' and not allowed to represent clients in court. no license meant could not open own law firm.

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