Feminism, Opinion, Sexism, Women's Issues

Brace Yourselves: International Women’s Day is Coming

International Women’s Day is Coming

And, predictably, so are the men who are terribly upset by the concept.

A friend posted on her Facebook page about an International Women’s Day event hosted by her employer. She was frustrated and irritated because the keynote (and only) speaker booked for the event is a man. On raising the issue with the organiser, her concerns were swept aside. She was told that it is important that we include men in these events.

Let me say it again: this is for an International Women’s Day event.

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Feminism, News, Sexism

Pepsi Are Making Special Lady Chips for Women

Pepsi, the parent company of Frito-Lay, have announced that they are developing a new kind of product. Chips, but for women.

Yes, you read that correctly. Chips for women.

via GIPHY

Apparently, the Doritos you normally scoff by the bag, coating your fingers in tasty orange dust, are NOT chips for women. We’ve been forced into eating non-female-specific chips for years without even knowing. Call me cynical (because I am) but this reeks of a sexist marketing ploy relying on harmful stereotypes. PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi was interviewed by Freakonomics, where she discussed the upcoming product.

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Health, Sexism

Panty Liners + Powdered Glue = A Bad Idea

Panty Liners.

You know, those things we are apparently supposed to wear between periods? When I was 19, I worked in a pharmacy. I have a vivid memory of a company rep coming to talk to my boss about putting in a panty liner display. I was standing next to her when he explained that the concept behind panty liner marketing was to make women feel that they needed to wear one everyday, thus creating a constant circle of profit.

A man literally stood there and told two women that his company’s genius lay in convincing women that they needed to buy a product that they didn’t actually need. The idea, he said, was to make women feel that liners would keep them “clean”. That’s why, he explained, the packaging uses words like “fresh”.

2 women pretend to vomit at the idea that panty liners are a necessity Needless to say, my boss chose not to stock that particular product. Despite that, panty liners made their way into the market and loads of women buy into the idea that they need them or use them out of preference.

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Feminism, Guest Post, Sexism

School uniforms: Public Opinion & the Rule of Law

Today, I have a special guest post from Dr Amanda Mergler, co-founder of Girls Uniform Agenda. Girls Uniform Agenda campaigns for young girls to have the right to a choice of uniform, including pants, like boys have. This is something I’ve written about in the past and it’s interesting to see what the legislation says versus what is actually in practice.

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