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Needlessly gendered things pop up in the weirdest places. Sometimes, this means companies adopting marketing and advertising strategies where they, bizarrely, try to gender products and services for no logical reason whatsoever. Other times, it's random people showing their antiquated attitudes.
Some folks, upon seeing this, get so frustrated that they snap a photo or take a screenshot and share it online for some public shaming. These pictures end up on the ‘Pointlessly Gendered’ and ‘Unnecessarily Gendered’ online communities, which we’re featuring today. Scroll down for our list of photos of needlessly gendered things that pushed people away.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
[gendered]
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Pushing back against pointlessly gendered products and services might be difficult, but it’s not impossible. Consumers wield a lot of power. And rational business owners tend to react to changing market trends and consumer preferences.
So, voting with your wallet is one of the most powerful things you—along with your family, friends, coworkers, and acquaintances—can do.
#4
Where The Heck Do They Think We Get It From?
#5
Cool Actually
#6
Pain
If you think that a product is overpriced, the company’s values don’t match yours, and you suspect that someone’s trying to make a quick profit, don’t reward that business with your money. On top of that, reach out to the company’s representatives about your concerns or share your insights on social media. If the behavior is egregious, reach out to your government representatives. Ask them to take a stand and protect your interests as a consumer.
Your cash, attention, and loyalty mean a lot for the longevity of any company. So, by hitting a business where it hurts (its profits and reputation), you’re forcing them to pivot and adapt.
#7
Don't Let The Man-Trash And The Woman Trash Touch Each Other! They Will Make Baby Trash!
TotallyNOTAFox 2 hours ago (edited)
Is this maybe just a representation thing, showing male and female figures to avoid only having the usual guy being shown?
#8
I’m Sat Here Wondering Why The Safety Areas Were Gendered In The First Place
#9
Special Wipes For Dudes! Can't Have That "Girly" Packaging
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 4 hours ago
This sounds wrong.... Sounds like what dudes need after lending a "helping hand" during dry patches . #nohomo.
Pointlessly gendering products can be problematic when taken to the extreme. What’s more, it can split your potential customer base.
As ‘The Society Pages’ points out, these products can reinforce gender stereotypes, lead to more inequality, and end up costing women more money. Sometimes, you’ll notice that the masculine and feminine versions of the very same product aren’t priced the same.
“When that happens, the one for women is usually the more expensive one. If women aren’t paying attention—or if it matters to them to have the ‘right‘ product—they end up shelling out more money,” ‘The Society Pages’ explains.
#10
Gendered Eggs - I Give Up
#11
Water And Water For Women. Different Ph Levels
#12
God Forbid If Your Child Learned The Wrong Alphabet
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 4 hours ago
O is for octopus or ostrich. Why is the octopus for boys, ostrich for girls?
According to ‘Popsters,’ some consumers are becoming less receptive to gendered marketing. As such, some companies are taking note and moving toward more neutral advertising. That being said, many businesses still choose to target genders when crafting their marketing strategies.
#13
Make Sure You Are Using Your Gender's Hand Sanitizer!
TotallyNOTAFox 2 hours ago
That is just preference since both contain the exact same for the same price, and given it's german I wouldn't be surprised if it's done for gender equality (Don't question the logic or it's lack behind it)
#14
Ladies Can't Handle Sleeping With These
#15
War Paint Is Eye Concealer
Sally Moen 4 hours ago
So if makeup is war paint, then drag queens are experts in battle colors
‘Popsters’ notes that “traditional gender marketing” often focuses on functionality, short formulations, jokes, provocations, and the theme of competition when advertising for men. Meanwhile, advertisements for women typically focus on strength, independence, and the desire to stand out, while avoiding humor.
#17
What The Heck Is Wrong With These People?
#18
Because Only Women Can Change Diapers Apparently
However, advertisements that discriminate, use outdated stereotypes, and use black-and-white thinking tend to cause public outcry and fail. “This is especially true for women’s advertising. Gender marketing requires the dynamic use of changes in laws and social norms,” ‘Popsters’ suggests.
#20
Do You Ever Find Your Cotton Swabs Are Too Damn Feminine?
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 4 hours ago
Cotton swabs? Cotton is too soft for men! The swans should be tipped with grit glued on.
#21
Definitely Men
Gender-neutral marketing, however, can help companies expand their target audience and increase brand loyalty. After all, this way, you’re aiming your products and services at the entire population, not just half of it. For instance, instead of labeling the toys you sell by gender, you can do so by age, product category, and brand.
#22
Felt Like This Belongs Here
#23
Gendered. Pickles
#24
Gendered Baby Brushes - The Exact Same Product, The Exact Same Baby On The Packaging - But The Pink One Costs More
The ‘Pointlessly Gendered’ subreddit was first created in March of 2015, and it continues to be popular to this very day. At the time of writing, it boasts a whopping 134k weekly visitors, as well as 3k weekly contributions.
Meanwhile, the ‘Unnecessarily Gendered’ community was created in December of that same year, but it is more niche.
#25
How Else Will People Know You’re A Straight Couple?
TotallyNOTAFox 2 hours ago
For pure anatomical reasons.... shouldn't it be the other way around?
#26
I Can Feel My Estrogen Supplies Dwindling Already
The Queen of France 4 hours ago
“You’ve just k****d a small animal! It’s time for a light beer!”
#27
No Avocados And Blueberries For Women. They Might Explode, Since This Is Specifically For Men
Despite the differences in popularity, both online groups focus on the same thing: products that shouldn’t be gendered but are, in the most humorous ways.
As the moderators of ‘Pointlessly Gendered’ point out, their community should focus on humorous posts about gender and needlessly gendered things. Meanwhile, “certain products are gendered for a reason” and shouldn’t be posted.
#28
Masks Donated To My Work Today
#29
Ouija... Just For Her!
#30
Ah Yes Because Girl Bug Notebooks Need Eyelashes
Once you’ve finished looking through this list and upvoting the most egregious examples of gendered products, we’d like to hear your thoughts in the comments down below.
Realistically, what do you think it would take for companies to stop with this nonsensical product gendering? What’s the worst, most pointless example of a gendered product that you’ve stumbled upon personally? Let us know.
#32
Batteries Are Now Gendered, Too - So You Can Pay Extra For Pink Plastic Wrap That No One Will Ever See
#34
This Is The Definition Of Unnecessarily Gendered
Sarah bell 4 hours ago
I can maybe see this one even if it does kinda look ridiculous. I have the same shirt in a ladies and a men's since my ex left it . It fits different amd is cut differently so this might be the reason but I am not 100 percent on that
#35
Saw This On Instagram And Figured I'll Share This Here
#37
Everyone Knows Real Men Have Bald Eyelids
#38
Checkout Options
#40
I Think We Know What The Writer Wanted
#41
Barbells At The Gym
#45
The Excitement Of Gunfighting Is Clearly Not Something Girls Would Enjoy, But What About Shooting Gossipy Messages At Each Other?
#46
Why Do We Need To See Her Bare Shoulder (Barely Can Tell She Is Wearing A Shirt) And Have Her Posing Like That?
#47
Grow A Girlfriend Has “No Nagging” And Other Phrases While Grow A Boyfriend Just Has Instructions
#50
But Like... They’re Dogs Though
CrazyKnitter 4 hours ago
We sometimes get the pink ones for my male dog, Fred. He doesn't care.
#51
Hey Kids! Guess What? You Could Become A Powerful Knight... Or A Pwetty Lickle Pwincess!!
#54
What Is This Meant For Exactly??
#55
Not Even The Dragons Are Safe
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 4 hours ago
I bet the female Dragon would have more of a shapely chest as well.
#56
True!!
#57
Women Can't Feel Lonely, Apparently
#58
I Cannot Facepalm Harder
#59
Why Are Shirt Buttons On Different Sides For Men And Women???
Lost Panda 4 hours ago
This goes back to long long ago when the women were dressed by servants and the man dressed themselves. True, it no longer matters, but there you go.
#62
Men’s Reading Glasses
Sally Moen 3 hours ago
This one is slightly common in clothes and eyewear and hats, as many men have bigger bodies than women. However, as seen from this list, there's too many items of the same make but more expensive for women. If a woman can get over her internalized sexism and just purchase the so-called mens' products, she will probably save cash and everything will work out fine
#63
Masculine Chargers Are Something Else
#64
Poems That Make Grown People Cry
#66
Because Women Can't Hold The Big Tube?
#70
Got Some Man Debt?
Did I say that out loud? 2 hours ago
I wonder if this is illegal under the Séx Discrimination Act?
#72
Angry Monkies For Boys Only, But At Least They're Giving Therapy For Both
#73
Gendered. Chocolate
#75
Bc Only Boys (And Sabrina Sexton) Will Appreciate This
Lost Panda 4 hours ago
I'm pretty sure that this type of post has nothing to do with gendering. I think they were truly just following that fad "my boys" "my ladies". Stupid fad, but *shrug*
#77
Gender Is Pointlessly Gendered
Sally Moen 3 hours ago
Well that's a conspiracy theory that very few people will get behind. Click bait
#78
Need A New Account For These Shoes
CrazyKnitter 4 hours ago
So I'm not allowed to buy something for my husband? (And yes, I would also totally wear men's stuff, I'm just trying to think simplisticly)
#79
They Have Gendered The Bugs. Bugs, People
Kiki Likes Sweets 2 hours ago
Wouldn't the women one have spiders and praying mantises? You know, the ones who know how to deal with the males of the species?
#81
I Was Playing With The Background On A Web Poll At Work And Found The "Thinking Male" And "Thinking Female" Background Options... Just Why?
#82
I Want To Know If There's A Difference Between These But Don't Want To Buy Them
#83
For Ladies Delicate Ears Only Pink Will Do. And They Only Cost A Little More!
Kristiina Männiste 17 minutes ago
The womens part is unnecessary but Im thankful (if that is a word) for smaller earplug sizes - I actually DO have narrow and sensitive ear tunnels
#84
That Is Not How Trauma Works
#85
You're Not A Woman Unless You Can Do These Things
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 4 hours ago
Isn't all this the reality of being a parent regardless of gender?
#87
Can’t Even Start Reading Without Being Locked In A Gendered Choice
#88
Birthday
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 4 hours ago (edited)
Billy no mates at the bottom is angry because no one gives a d**n about him.
#89
So Apparently Women Won’t Understand…fried Eggs?
#91
Blueprints Are For Men, Birds And Flowers Are For Women
#93
?? Why
#98
Safe For All, Thank Goodness
#99
Knifes For Women
Upstaged75 2 hours ago
Pioneer Woman is just the name of the brand - it's not saying the knives are only for women.
#101
Couldn’t Eat My Roommates Lettuce, Didn’t Fit The Right Gender
Sally Moen 3 hours ago
No this one shouldn't be on the list. Organic Girl is the company name, like it or not.
#102
The Male Equivalent To Getting Flowers Is Getting Flowers
Did I say that out loud? 2 hours ago
As I posted on another thread yesterday. "Don't send me flowers when I'm déad. If you like me,send them while I'm alive.' Brian Clough.
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What do you think ?
TotallyNOTAFox 2 hours ago
I think the listings on online stores with girl or boy for unisex stuff are just there to have an additional word a search engine would pick up. And some like the trashcan stickers or the two coloured bins are there for showing equality with both genders represented and not for separating them.
TotallyNOTAFox 2 hours ago
I think the listings on online stores with girl or boy for unisex stuff are just there to have an additional word a search engine would pick up. And some like the trashcan stickers or the two coloured bins are there for showing equality with both genders represented and not for separating them.
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