Sainsbury's greeting cards - tits and bitch

[Albuqwerty]

Long time lurker on the feminism board.

Saw these cards for sale in Sainsbury's today. I complained in store and they said they would escalate it, although I'm not holding out much hope. But I despair at how the use of offensive terms and objectification of women is mainstream - we are going backwards. I don't think this is funny or banter. It is normalising insulting language and objectification of women and girls.

How did anyone at Sainsbury's okay this?

Doesn't particularly offend me. Some women talk to eachother like this.

I don't but it is allowed.

I think they're marketing at jokey friendships?

I think it's horrible. It shows how we are conditioned to hold each other in contempt.

I hate the word bitch, but I hear women use it all the time. There's nothing I can do about it.
Nobody would dare buy me one of those cards.

Well I guess I do have magnificent tits and can sometimes be a bit of a bitch.. classy with it though.

So maybe they do speak to me after all...

I noticed the "bitch" one in Sainsburys yesterday, and was surprised. I would not be very happy about receiving either of those cards for my birthday, and I can't imagine sending such a card to any of my friends either.

I suspect Sainsburys would argue that these terms have been reclaimed by women and it's empowering for women to use them, in the same way that the "n-word" has been reclaimed by some black people. I don't find it it funny or empowering though. This language is intrinsically degrading and humiliating.

I wonder if it's something to do with pride month? These terms are in a similar vein to some of the misogynistic humour used in drag, so possibly they are aimed at drag queens celebrating their birthdays, or something like that...

@Siblingquandary

Doesn't particularly offend me. Some women talk to eachother like this.

I don't but it is allowed.

I think they're marketing at jokey friendships?

That was my thought too.

I would be offended if a man bought me this card, but it’s exactly the type of thing one of my friends would say (the magnificent tits one) so would absolutely buy it for her.

I think they are aimed at women to send to their friends, some people with that sense of humour would like them

What the hell! Those cards are disgraceful

In a recent afternoon TV screening of Evil Under the Sun they cut the word 'bitch', so if it's not considered appropriate there, even in the context of the heightened emotions of a murder story, I don't think it should be on a family supermarket shelf in a child's eyeline.

@IvyTwines2

In a recent afternoon TV screening of Evil Under the Sun they cut the word 'bitch', so if it's not considered appropriate there, even in the context of the heightened emotions of a murder story, I don't think it should be on a family supermarket shelf in a child's eyeline.

“The bitch, Daphne!” Then Diana Rigg hurls a hairbrush across the room.

I get that some women use that kind of language with their friends and would send the cards as a bit of fun. My issue is, as @WaltzingToWalsingham says, the words are intrinsically degrading and humiliating. I associate them with aggression from men - show us yer tits, bitch. Putting that language on greetings cards in a supermarket normalizes that language and makes it more acceptable in society for people (and I'm thinking particularly about boys and young men) to use those terms to and about women.

Is this the influence of Drag Race and drag queens?

I don't like it and if I find them in my Sainsburys I'll raise it.

Well,in todays world , crap sells well, you just have to avoid buying into it. I don't think that card is offensive, its just like a lot of others much the same, as in a bit of jokey tatt, and as people have said, it's the way some people do speak to each other.

I only usually get cards with cats, or nice scenes of gardens on them. !!

The everyday use of the word bitch to describe women as an ironic or comradely thing seemed to gather momentum after Britney Spears had her big comeback 'Gimme More' single in 2007 which opens with her announcing 'It's Britney, bitch'. It became a catchphrase I guess.

It never sat well with me then, and I still don't like it now when it's used so much in popular culture or in selling things like this card. But I guess we all have different opinions, the 'magnificent tits' one, for example, wouldn't offend me personally, whereas the 'bitch' one does.

As someone said - it's all about women being cool about and participating in their own degradation.

Obviously this is on a VERY VERY minor level. But it's the thin edge of the wedge etc.

A male friend sent me a Christmas card once which said 'to you and your beautiful minge' - I've kept it, it's the best card I've ever received! But then I do have a sense of humour and am not precious!

Not my cup of tea but do we really have to take offence at everything these days? It's so tiresome.

Did the cards have photos of a pretty dog and a well-used bird feeder?

Not a fan, and I’d be pretty disappointed to be on the receiving end. But have to say there are plenty of ageist, sexist & misogynistic cards (for males and females) out there. These don’t particularly stand out.

16:23OldTinHat

A male friend sent me a Christmas card once which said 'to you and your beautiful minge' - I've kept it, it's the best card I've ever received! But then I do have a sense of humour and am not precious!

I read that as "You and your beautiful image" at first... I need my eyes testing!

I believe that they also stock cards which 'insult' men as well, if that makes you feel better.

@OldTinHat

A male friend sent me a Christmas card once which said 'to you and your beautiful minge' - I've kept it, it's the best card I've ever received! But then I do have a sense of humour and am not precious!

People find different things funny. It doesn't mean that someone who doesn't share your sense of humour doesn't have one of their own.

Not offended by them at all 🤷🏻‍♀️😊 they’re clearly intended to be humorous. I’d buy them for friends and I’d find them funny if they were given to me 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Fluffymule

The everyday use of the word bitch to describe women as an ironic or comradely thing seemed to gather momentum after Britney Spears had her big comeback 'Gimme More' single in 2007 which opens with her announcing 'It's Britney, bitch'. It became a catchphrase I guess.

It never sat well with me then, and I still don't like it now when it's used so much in popular culture or in selling things like this card. But I guess we all have different opinions, the 'magnificent tits' one, for example, wouldn't offend me personally, whereas the 'bitch' one does.

Agree with all this. Paris and Nicole used to call each other "biatch", and really, who wants to emulate them.

If it's about reclaiming the word, I have to say I don't think it's working. Same with the word slut and slut walks...