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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Pointlessly gendered products

65 replies

Gingerkittykat · 13/10/2019 07:02

I use a CPAP machine and my mask split so I looked online for a spare part because it's easier than going to the hospital.

I found a whole sleep apnea machine for her which is a nice white colour with a pretty pink light and flowers, as opposed to the black one. Of course the "male" product is the default or regular machine.

You can also buy a mask for her which is absolutely identical in design but it says it is has elegant pink straps to support your chosen hairstyle. It does say it is slightly smaller than the male mask but since you can choose your size anyway this is irrelevant.

At least the price is the same and there is no pink tax.

OP posts:
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9
NeurotrashWarrior · 13/10/2019 07:41

I thought that one issue in some cases is the way items aren't built for female faces; I have a hard time getting goggles to fit right.

But yes, why flowers are needed is a joke.

What if I'm a goth and want skulls?

WomaninBoots · 13/10/2019 08:10

I find this really frustrating. Where genuine design differences are needed (e.g. goggles etc) they're missing but companies fall over themselves to make a pink or floral version "for women". And even if the women's version is better designed for women it still gets the pink treatment just so we can be reminded how flowery and delicate we all are.

Having said that I did see a hot pink JCB digger at a country show once that I quite fancied.

OhHolyJesus · 13/10/2019 08:11

Razors. Why do I need to have a pink razor?

I have an old fashioned, stainless steel one with actual blades. Works better than every 'female' one I've ever had.

HandsOffMyRights · 13/10/2019 08:41

Yes Oh Holy, I always buy the razors targeted at men, not the crap pink ones. Really annoys me.

Discombobulated47 · 13/10/2019 08:45

Lego. When I was growing up it was just Lego. I still played with it. I still loved it.

BertrandRussell · 13/10/2019 08:45

So many more things are gendered than they used to be. This Is particularly noticeable in baby and children’s things. It’s obviously a marketing ploy to make people buy new for a second baby, but the consequence is a reinforcing of stereotypes. It’s infuriating.

TooMinty · 13/10/2019 08:51

It especially annoys me when it's stuff for kids. In Lidl on Friday I saw waterproof trousers. They were labelled "girls" or "boys". The shape/sizing was identical but the girls ones were pink or purple and the boys ones were blue. My DS would prefer the purple ones but now he can read he is self conscious about things that are "for girls" Angry

HandsOffMyRights · 13/10/2019 09:01

Don't even get me started on birthday cards. I wanted to buy ones with the words niece and a nephew on the front.
Cue pink unicorns and blue video games.

PlaceYourItemInTheBaggingArea · 13/10/2019 09:06

Biros!

MockersthefeMANist · 13/10/2019 09:18

Why do I need a pink razor?

Because that way you pay 50% more.

(Just buy the very gender-neutal yellow ones.)

NeurotrashWarrior · 13/10/2019 09:21

Was reading a NF book to ds from the library probably published around 2000 and the clothes the children are wearing are noticeably mostly neutral.

quincejamplease · 13/10/2019 09:23

Pink isn't even a nice colour!

I went to try and buy pyjamas yesterday. Was there anything without pink, flowers, cats, love hearts, glitter, bows, or inexplicably transparent? Nope.

I gave up and went to the men's section, where the clothes weren't see through. And where interestingly the mannequins weren't contorted into weird sexualised poses, but stood like regular humans. Not twisted with their hips thrust forward or bending over with arse in the air. Or with the pj top unbuttoned to reveal their little crop top underneath.

And this was fucking M&S. I went there because I thought they might be half sensible. The poses of the female mannequins were disturbing. I'm not convinced a normal human body is capable of getting into some of those positions.

But perhaps I am weird and the rest of womankind do put their pyjamas on then walk around their homes like they're auditioning for a porn film.

Hoppinggreen · 13/10/2019 09:25

I was at a trade show once and one stall was selling construction clothes for (presumably) female builders etc.
Think pink hard hats, hi vis vests with pink trim, pink steel toecap boots etc. The lady on the stall was really nice and trying to get her business off the ground so I tried to be noncommittal rather than say what I actually thought

MidniteScribbler · 13/10/2019 09:39

I bought a reusable portable cutlery set a few weeks ago. Choice was 'male' and 'female' with the colours being blue and pink. I HATE pink.

UpfieldHatesWomen · 13/10/2019 10:04

Trainers. I find a pair I like but then it has to have a stripe of pink in it just to reassure everyone that despite doing sport I'm still a lady. I generally have never worn pink and so the pink trainers don't go with my style or anything else I'm wearing. Incidentally, I had a look in Primark the other day and inspired by these kinds of conversations I went in the men's section. I was surprised how they had clothing that was better quality than the womens' - lots of 100% cotton shirts rather than polyester, lined trousers and suits.

Anonymouse99 · 13/10/2019 10:55

MrsWednesday
I found the whole furore around the Doritos interesting. New products aren’t just launched randomly and there must have been focus groups and research done beforehand which found a desire among women for smaller bags, quieter wrapping and less messy crisps. This taps into a much bigger issue of women being self-conscious when eating (particularly of unhealthy snacks) so not wanting to draw attention to themselves. Obviously, the approach they took was misguided and just came off as patronising but it’s an interesting case nevertheless.

Sexnotgender · 13/10/2019 10:57

Did Bic not launch pink lady pens a while back?

Inebriati · 13/10/2019 11:00

Honestly, how else are we supposed to hold a pen with our ridiculous ladyhands?

HandsOffMyRights · 13/10/2019 11:04

Did Bic not launch pink lady pens a while back?

Reminds me of Pauline's pink Pentel in The League of Gentlemen.

Pointlessly gendered products
HorsewithnoRegretsNonJeNeRegre · 13/10/2019 11:06

I can think of a group of people who would welcome this #genderbollocksnonsense

(That call me ma'am person was wearing pink trainers, non?)

aliasundercover · 13/10/2019 11:59

I agree of course, yet companies wouldn't make this stuff if it didn't sell.

For example: Apple sell millions of their 'rose gold' iPhone, and it's not men buying them (well ... except for you know :)
It is annoying when you can only buy eg overtly gendered kids clothes, but these are capitalists - they'll sell us anything we want to buy.

noblegiraffe · 13/10/2019 12:04

One of these is advertised with a selfie cam. Guess which?

Pointlessly gendered products
AgeLikeWine · 13/10/2019 12:10

If anyone is stupid enough to pay more for a pink razor than an otherwise obviously identical blue one, they deserve to be ripped off, and I don’t blame companies for exploiting such idiocy.

dudsville · 13/10/2019 12:22

I agree with an above poster, if the products didn't sell... and I also agree the problem is when your size or preference, for whatever reason, comes in flowers etc., I buy men's pjs and robes, men's jumpers, etc., because I want my freakishly long and therefore unwomanly arms to be covered, i don't't want it to construct my waist, I want my belly to be covered, I'm not interested in showing off my cleavage, the listgoes on and on. But people do buy these. I have seen cars on the road with flowers on the paint job. It's ok so looking as there are choices. It's just silly that marketing for these items seem to imply that we women finally get to drive, use pens, etc.