What does it mean to design products specifically for women?
Submitted by Guest on March 19, 2009 - 09:01.
More and more women are entering into roles traditionally reserved for men, and companies are taking notice. An recent article in the Wall Street Journal Online (http://www.livemint.com/2009/03/17211810/Brands-try-to-cross-traditiona....) talked about companies now designing products and advertising specifically for women. In your opinion, what does it mean to design products "for women"? What are some examples of good design for women? Do you think this a positive shift towards taking women's needs into account, or a negative/neutral one, meaning only that advertising is now directed at women without significantly improving their lives?
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Women no longer like
Women no longer like hard-sell products and do not feel special with the “Specially for Women” whim bang BS reverse psychology when all they are really selling women are mere under-quality and over-priced products.
Few days back I came across
Few days back I came across an article which talked about how Iran's biggest motor manufacturer decided to take the country's gender sensitivity to new levels by producing a car specially for women.
The specially designed car will be fitted with features common on the international market but seen as female-specific in Iran's male-dominated culture. These include an automatic gearbox, electronic parking aids, a navigation system and a jack designed to make it easier to change a wheel, suggesting that women drivers lack the mechanical competence of their male counterparts. Alarms may also be installed to warn of flat tyres. The vehicle will be painted in soft "feminine" colours and include interior designs tailored to women's tastes.
"Women's necessities are different from men's," the managing director of the manufacturing company said. "For example, a woman goes shopping, takes children to school - so this car is going to have some visual distinctions that will separate it from other cars. It will be more beautiful. Cheerful and attractive colours will be used - for example red. A series of decoration pieces will be added to the interior, on the dashboard for example. What's important for women is that the car should be comfortable and handle well."
The idea is in line with gender separation officially encouraged by Iran's Islamic authorities. Last year they backed a proposal for a female bicycle designed to conceal the rider's legs and upper body. Women are discouraged from cycling, mainly to preserve notions of female modesty, and are banned from riding motorcycles, except as passengers.
Pink is good :)
You girls anyway like anything that is in pink, dont you?? So why complain? \
"For Women” products ads
"For Women” products ads always make it seem that products only come in pink or red, furnished with carnations/flowers and lacey frills decorations at the sides like as though their targeted advertising audience is The Stepford Wives(a film by Frank Oz)?
Talk about sexism in
Talk about sexism in comments and here it is!
Whenever I see products
Whenever I see products designed for women, they are the same thing as for men, just in pink. This is not meaningful! Wake up, companies. If you don't believe me, just check out this link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10241299-1.html
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