Man shops?!?

[Returning]

Ok, apologies, but I'm just running in the door to have a scream. I'll probably run straight out again.

I have two teenage DC and was window shopping for christmas ideas. Found a great shop, full of fun ideas for teenagers, but then saw the name - 'Menkind' - what's that all about then? Marketing epic fail?

"Can't blame the patriarchy for that one."

We blame the patriarchy for everything else so why not? Patriarchy is the perfect scapegoat for anything and everything we feminists don't like.

"If we stopped buying then they'd stop making."

Exactly. Someone should say that to the feminists who want to ban newspapers that print pics of topless models.

Yes, because no one ever had an opinion shaped by marketing. We spring whole and fully formed from birth with all of our product preferences in place.

"If we stopped buying then they'd stop making."

This isn't entirely true, companies have stopped selling stuff that has sexist messages on things, even though many people still buy them.

I don't find it sexist, sorry. I've seen way more shops targeted specifically for females.

YY alicemalice. And there is plenty of evidence in Susan Faludi's Backlash that companies will continue to try and sell sexist messages even though women aren't interested. She did some interesting research around clothing and how simple work suits were incredibly popular (the most popular type of outfit bought by women over a couple of years in the 80s) yet clothing and fashion lines continued to promote other, less appropriate clothing for work, far far more than suits. Even though they weren't being bought.

Of course the marketing eventually worked.

Its sexist because it promotes gender stereotypes. It suggests that fun gadgety stuff is for men, even though women are interested in this stuff. And as SoMuchForSubtley says it also feeds into the idea women will buy men's stuff. Men don't buy from shops marketed at women (unless they are buying for a woman) because obviously they won't be interested in that stuff. Which also feeds the gender stereotypes.

Neither scenario is positive for women. It helps continue the hierarchy of men as default and women as other. Neither scenario is particularly damaging for men. They get their gadgets to play with and stuff for women is still considered beneath them.

I'm sure everyone here against the name feels the same way about Mothercare...

Except, of course, Mothercare feeds into the stereotype that women are responsible for childcare. Again women stay at home, men play with stuff.

Yeah, in and of itself, the name is sexist.

But it's a very old chain that's been around for donkeys years and the name has stuck. It doesn't specifically stereotype women in what it sells - apart from products for breastfeeding etc where it's a reasonable justification to target women.

The difference with Menkind is it's new and it DOES reinforce stereotypes, e.g. this is 'stuff' for the boys. By default, Menkind is saying women aren't really into that kind of thing.

I prefer Mamas and Papas myself.

Agree that 'Womans Own' is crap and slightly intrigued that someone commenting on a feminist chat thread is even mentioning it, but hey, ho! One of the things I most enjoy about feminism is the wide range of views and responses that come forward, but I would love to hear more of your arguments as to why 'Menkind' isn't sexist.

Going back to Womans Own - how many men want to read it and are complaining that it isn't marketed for them? Personally, I can't stand anything that categorises items and hobbies as being 'for men' or 'for women' - they are both equally unhelpful. Feminist theory is a huge and fascinating topic that I thought feminist chat was a good place to explore and develop. It's funny how quickly people join us to tell us how wrong we are.

Sorry, what shops are specifically marketed at women

And I don't mean fashion shops, or posh knicker shops or sex toy shops, or shops that sell baby stuff or cooking stuff (or any other "traditional" female occupation shops)

I mean shops that sell stupid fun stuff, because people have mentioned women's shops on here a few times...and they all seem to be shitty boring shops...I still have a few presents to buy

Don't be silly Rufus, women have a purpose. We must stop doing daft fun stuff at about age 2 as we need to learn to be useful (or so I gather from the pink toddler toys like mini kitchens and dolls and so on).

Good point well made somuch my little female brain had forgotten that

BUT I WANT A ROBOT VELOCIRAPTOR !!!!!!!! NOW!!!!

A pink one obvs....