Halfords and every day sexism

[Baxer]

A poster started a thread about this on another section but I think it warrants a mention on here.

This might be a small issue when it comes to the huge battles women face at the moment, but for me these small instances of everyday sexism are a huge problem when you add them all together.

Halfords have decide to call two of their women’s bikes ‘Entice’ and ‘Virtue’. [name edited by MNHQ at OP's request] As the poster pointed out on her thread, it feeds into the misogynistic attitude that women are either enticing or pure.

On the other thread a large number of people couldn’t understand why it was a big deal, but for me these small acts of every day sexism are a big problem when you add them all up and whilst I can see through them, I worry about my daughters and other young women being exposed to these attitudes.

I have tweeted Halfords, but I suspect they will just ignore me like other companies do when I point these issues out.

Photos here

I agree, OP. The idea that even sport and outdoor exercise somehow have to be sexy if women are doing them is ridiculous and frankly offensive. It doesn't matter that it's a small example. The attitude behind this kind of crap should have died out long ago.

Yeah that's a load of crap. Bit like Halfords bikes really.

I am neither enticing nor alluring when sweating my fat arse off on a bike.

No. It's Entice and Virtue. So the idea of a woman being either fallen or pure.

@Goingtothebudgies

No. It's Entice and Virtue. So the idea of a woman being either fallen or pure.

Urgh that's even worse. not envy.

Surely this is true of many products? Especially when there are male and female versions and they want to differentiate them for the different markets. Shoes for example always have random and ridiculous names. I always wonder who comes up with them.

The names aren't random though. That's the problem.

I know they are chosen to sound vaguely feminine, @goingtothebudgies, but they are random in that there is no obvious connection to bikes.

Are the Apollo bikes actually made by Halfords?

@bourbonne

Surely this is true of many products? Especially when there are male and female versions and they want to differentiate them for the different markets. Shoes for example always have random and ridiculous names. I always wonder who comes up with them.

Yes you’re right, it is true of other products. I would call them out too if I came across them.

@Longdistance

Are the Apollo bikes actually made by Halfords?

I’m not sure if they are, but either way they choose to sell them.

but they are random in that there is no obvious connection to bikes.

Yes, that's the point. They have chosen stereotypical feminine attributes to name the bikes, rather than names which have anything to do with bikes or cycling. Why? I wonder what their men's bikes are called - 'ruggedly handsome'? 'Macho'? I somehow doubt it.

The men's versions are apparently Slant, Phase and Evade. I guess Slant and Evade could evoke cycling. Not sure what Phase is meant to mean but then I'm not a cyclist.

I'm amusing myself now by trying to picture a woman cycling in an enticing way or a virtuous way. I guess the latter would be John Major's old maids cycling to church past the village green.

Meh. I wouldn't have blinked at this, but I'll bow out.

Is it perhaps about enticing women into cycling? Making it more alluring? After all cycling is very much a male dominated sport/hobby?

Ihopeyourcakeisshit

Is it perhaps about enticing women into cycling? Making it more alluring? After all cycling is very much a male dominated sport/hobby?

I hope you didn't pull something with the amount of reaching you did there

I'm only shocked that the bikes aren't bright pink with flowers on them

Sorry,
I will in future automatically think the worst.

Sometimes dumbass stereotyping rather than sexism is at play.
Not saying it doesn't need to be called out, but not everything is a misogynistic attack.

Sexism IS dumbass stereotyping.

And I have first hand knowledge of the male/female cycle purchaser.

Isn't an 'ism' something that actively disadvantages someone? (Genuine question)

I just realised I listed the names of the bikes incorrectly in my op. The second bike was called ‘virtue’ not allure.

I saw that thread, OP and was not surprised when all the cool girls came out in force saying the clichéd ' I can't get worked up about this'.

This is why I honestly don't have any energy for feminism. Too many women are happy with the status quo so I can't be arsed. Racism is my focus these days.

AIBU, where minor parking disuptes and loud sneezes will make people spitting mad, but examples that show sexism is still alive and kicking are met with an uncharacteristically zen like calm.