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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Have I hit peak feminist or am I reading too much into this

108 replies

NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 17:02

In paperchase today I was browsing with DD (8) who liked some notepads (obviously aimed to appeal to the girl / teen girl market).

I looked at the display and as a bit Hmm.

There were 3 designs,
1 an avocado (ok - unless I am missing something)
1 an aubergine (widely accepted text speak for penis)
1 a peach (widely accepted to refer to bums, and drawn like a bum really, and with a heart stamped on one cheek so it looked like an arse tattoed with a heart)

Are they doing this on purpose? It seems really odd. Lots of people (mums and kids) might not realise especially with the dick one.

Someone did a thread the other day about girls tshirts with cherries on as well.

It's deliberate isn't it. Why do they do this? Any ideas?

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MaisyPops · 18/08/2018 17:04

Isn't there a trend for putting avocados on things at the moment? (I've seen a few things including mugs and t shirts but have no idea what it's for)

The other 2 are obviously penis and bum references though. How odd.

Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 17:05

Here is the pencil case with all three

This is weird isn't it?

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Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 17:07

I mean I don't imagine that there's some big paedophile conspiracy to get sex references all over kids stuff,

Is it a shit joke on the part of the designers?

I just don't understand - anyone got any ideas?

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CardsforKittens · 18/08/2018 17:10

Hadn't heard the aubergine thing before. I must be getting old. But then surely an avocado is a vulva or front hole ?

TimeLady · 18/08/2018 17:13

It would appear that they are emojis, according to the Paperchase website:

www.paperchase.co.uk/peachy-slim-hardshell-p-cse-1.html

Much has been made of the arrival of the avocado emoji, which now allows youths to accurately portray their love of brunch. Few are aware that brunch itself has a hidden meaning, however, as translated from millennial-speak the concept means: “I am not a racist.”

www.newstatesman.com/science-tech/social-media/2016/12/guide-secret-meanings-apple-s-new-emoji

Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 17:15

Cards is that a "thing" or a guess? Not heard that before but I'm not exactly down with the kids!

So the pencil case might go "cock cunt arse"???????? Crikey.

And then it's children like my 8yo who will want the stuff and oblivious middle aged women (I count myself in this!) who will buy it for them.

Why do retailers do this? For kids stuff? Inside joke in the industry?

It's a shit joke. You will end up with older boys (who tend to know more of this stuff) or sometimes older girls laughing at them and saying do you know what your pencil case means. I mean it's not good surely, is it?

I might send them an email TBH it's just so weird I'd love to know the thought process around it!

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Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 17:16

So it goes

COCK "I'm not racist" ARSE

?

bonkers

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Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 17:17

The word avocado originally comes from a word for testicle.

May or may not be pertinent!

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CardsforKittens · 18/08/2018 17:18

Just a guess. But my daughter says no one uses the avocado emoji as a euphemism so I must be wrong.

Clairetree1 · 18/08/2018 17:19

avocado always meant vulva, but I'm going back 30 years....

On the other hand, fruit does sometimes just mean fruit

Clairetree1 · 18/08/2018 17:21

avocado always meant similar to fig. Only from a different angle, if you see what I mean. Both have represented female genitalia since roman times

paintedwingsandgiantrings · 18/08/2018 17:25

Aubergine definitely means penis in text speak. And that peach does look just like a bum.

No you're not reading too much into it, the designer would have known, surely.

Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 17:27

Have sent this.
They had trouble recently with some cards I think and had to pull them from the shelves (sexually explicit or something).
I think maybe they have a weirdo in the design dept.

"Hello
I was in your shop today and my 8yo daughter was interested in some of your notebooks. One had an aubergine on and one had a peach on. The other was an avocado.
Fortunately I am aware that the aubergine emoticon means "penis" and the peach emoticon means "arse" and in fact the one on your notepad is even drawn to look like a bum with a heart tattooed on the cheek.
The other one was an avocado - I am not aware of any sex / body related thing for that, but prepared to be enlighted if there is.
My question is, given that your range is going to appeal strongly to girls and teen girls who may well not be aware of these meanings, why you are putting these particular emojis on them. What was the thought process? Is the expectation that the purchasers (female and often young) will be keen to buy notebooks that announce "penis" when they are using them?
It would be great if you could explain this design decision as, especially given your core market, it's completely baffling.
Thanks,

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ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 18/08/2018 17:27

Well this was eye opening....

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=avocado

Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 17:30

I can't open urban dictionary as I put some child controls on the new router the other day and half the things I try to get at are blocked!

What does it say? The racism thing?

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Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 17:32

Did urban dictionary on phone!

"Women love it on their faces"

erm.

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ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 18/08/2018 17:34

Used to describe a person, particularly a man, who is socially construed as straight by those around him/her, but in actuality is gay. Someone who goes undected on the gaydar spectrum. Thick, deceptive skin on outside, but a fruit on the inside

Alternatively

To go soft during sex
"Is the avocado soft?"

"It's not my fault!"

Of course everything on urban dictionary is made up ... 🥑

Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 17:35

The facial thing fits more with the theme.

Cock, facial, woman's arse.

Anyway. Avocado aside Grin the other two are what they are. Cock and arse.

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VickyEadie · 18/08/2018 17:37

COCK "I'm not racist" ARSE

I'm I the only one seeing a father Ted episodes mash-up here?

LassWiADelicateAir · 18/08/2018 17:44

What does it say? The racism thing?

The New Statesman article was satire /parody

Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 17:54

Vicky not just you!

Ah fair enough Lass.

The cock and the arse are indistutable though.

I can leave the avocado.

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Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 18:00

"The hard shell protects your most precious pens, pencils and stationery accessories, with an eggplant charm attached to the zip for that extra detail- what's not to love?!"

You open the pencil case by pulling a little cock.

I am just ?????????? at this entirely.

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exaspirational · 18/08/2018 18:57

So essentially it's your basic funny willy/boobs type of object, that some people would always have found hilarious, just expressed via emojis and so not as obvious to everyone?

Say what you like about the more old fashioned kind of willy-based merchandise, at least it would have been pretty obviously not something a primary school aged child should take to school. You wouldn't expect to find the comedy chocolate willies in amongst the normal sweets!

Original poster
NothingOnTellyAgain · 18/08/2018 19:20

I'm not sure though because why the avocado?

I will definitely update when (if) I get a response!

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SoftSheen · 18/08/2018 19:25

According to that Urban Dictionary reference, 'Its name is derived from the Aztec word for testicle'. Not a coincidence, I think Hmm