Survey says women patronized by pink tech

Normally we don't go in for the whole "listening to what surveys say" thing, but when it comes to the cause of questioning the logic behind endless lines of pink gadgets designed to appeal to the female "market," we'll gladly pass on the criticism. There's a clear British slant to the story -- the survey was commissioned by Saatchi and Saatchi after all -- and it would be ludicrous to say that all women find pink / diamond encrusted gadgets and the atmosphere in gadget retail stores patronizing, but it's clear that the technology industry is tipped towards satisfying male buyers. To prevent this post from collapsing into a psychoanalysis of the gender associations with the color pink, we'll open this up to the floor. Gadgets + pink = perfectly ok, or totally patronizing?

[spider @ Sep 15th 2007 10:52PM]

By the way no offence to those who like pink with my "Flashy" comment with a 7yr old who loves pink I have a house full of it and many supporting Breasting Cancer

[Pink Bits @ Sep 15th 2007 10:53PM]

Amusing.

Does anyone really think that the company released a gadget in a colour they thought would NOT sell? One would think the Marketing Dept of any tech company would have done their market research and released colours based on the results. That would have been my first order of business if I was running the company. They are there to profit for their shareholders etc, not to run costly trial-and-error coloured gadget releases on a whim, or an unproven market perception. Nor is any modern company about to knowingly put it's reputation (not to mention it's board & shareholders livelihoods) at risk by being labelled sexist or patronising.

Seriously, who thinks up these headlines and why do people respond to them?

[Amanda @ Sep 15th 2007 10:55PM]

Im a woman and i think this article is stupid. Who cares what colors companies decide to put out there. Its nice to have a variety of colors to choose from. Why do people have to think up these ridiculous questions and have people get all upset about a pink phone. WHO CARES! Find something more useful to write an article about. People are too sensitive about gender issues. Just be yourself and live your life and if you want a pink phone then its good that you can go to the store and have the option to choose that color.

[bitsep00km @ Sep 15th 2007 11:14PM]

I HATE PINK... and would not buy anything in PINK... ICK

[Bitse Pookm @ Sep 15th 2007 11:15PM]

I so hate PINK... EWWWWWWWWW and would not buy anything that is / was made for a specifically for a woman just because they made it in PINK... ack

[amanda @ Sep 15th 2007 11:19PM]

As a woman who has always been able to out-do any man she's dated in the maintenance/building department (I used to be a museum exhibit designer), I have a wide variety in tools in my toolbox. The truth is that even if I felt the need to demean myself by purchasing pink ones, they'd soon be black if you actually used them. Personally, I think they're stupid. Even worse are the ones that are flowered. They make me want to throw up. If a woman has to "chickify" her tools in order to lend a hand around the house, she should just leave it to her man to begin with. Blah

[amanda @ Sep 15th 2007 11:22PM]

ooh, sorry... those pink tools they sell everywhere were the first thing i thought of, and i ranted about that so long that i forgot to add in my opinion of pink gadgets... ironically, i don't have a problem with those. go figure. lolol!

[John @ Sep 15th 2007 11:37PM]

A color cannot by itself be patronizing...it's the actions of people that are. Give a woman a pink dress, pink shoes, a pink credit card, and put a diamond on her finger and she's all happy, but give her a pink phone and a diamond encrusted pink ipod and all of a sudden we're having this stupid conversation. Women out there.....get a life !!!

[Delores @ Sep 20th 2007 9:48PM]

Your ignorant and misogynist statement is EXACTLY why women have these "stupid" conversations.

[jengo @ Sep 15th 2007 11:44PM]

When I walk into an electronics store, I look for the technology rather than what color it is. Its not like all women are drawn to sparkly pink things that would look sooo cute with their outfit. Some are drawn to sparkly pink things, I however prefer to have something that doesnt scream 'girly girl'. I like sleek sophisticated electronics that doesn't jump out at people, I like people to notice me, not my gadgets. I don't think it's patronizing.. more like a brief eyesore that will stay on the shelf at the store and not go home with me.

[sneaky @ Sep 15th 2007 11:50PM]

Hey Amanda, I am maintenance too. Not only do the pink or flower covered tools look awful, but they arent even craftsman! If they were craftsmen, it would take a little sting out of having pretty tools.

[John @ Sep 15th 2007 11:56PM]

Maybe, if every time a woman saw something in pink, she didn't say,"awww....that' sooo cute", then the color pink wouldn't be so closely associated with them. It might not even be considered a primarily feminine color. So, ladies, if you're going to cry "patronization" over the use of a color that you frequently refer to as "cute", and express affection for, then you brought it on yourselves.

[John @ Sep 16th 2007 12:04AM]

Caitlin, pink is NEVER the primary feature that is used to market a product to be sold to women. Other things might be patronizing to women, such as saying "so simple, even my girlfriend could use it", or something like that which would be stupidity. But as for phones, I have NEVER heard a phone commercial on tv saying, "come buy this phone ladies....it's pink". Usually, you don't even know a specific phone is even available in pink until you get to the store and see it there. If using a color were a primary selling feature, that's like saying even though I am a guy I would have a closet full of orange skirts simply because I like orange. Nonsense. Get the facts before you post.

[Delores @ Sep 20th 2007 10:09PM]

Yeah, because the RAZR commercial DIDN'T use the song using the lines, "Isn't she pretty in pink" and started selling them for Valentine's Day, nonetheless.
You are right on one thing though, "Nonsense. Get the facts before you post."

[mary @ Sep 21st 2007 1:33PM]

First of all i think all you stupid women that are whining like babies of the color pink need to have your heads examined.... This has got to be one of the most stupidest posts i have ever seen in my life, i have to second that comment by john i have never seen a comercial patronizing woman, becasue of the color "PINK". Second of all i would love to know what who did these fools survey that they can say women are being patronized by pink, i belong to at least 10 different major survey companies, and i never received a survey pertaining to this issue.....I'll tell ya, i am a woman some of you will come up with any thing to cry about, suck it up and move on with your lives and stop worrying about this petty nonsense.

[Dyanne @ Sep 16th 2007 12:25AM]

Pink is my fav-or-ite color as Aerosmith says....
I love me some pink! ;-)

[Janet @ Sep 16th 2007 12:26AM]

I am an adult female, (41) and I love the color pink. Maybe that's why I never thought of this as patronizing, but I don't think so, since I am also somewhat of a feminist. I think they just want to sell the product, and a even though I am an older person who loves pink, I know that a lot of younger people, teenagers and twenty something's buy these things, and a lot of them like pink. I think that is the target market with items such as pink phones and laptops, not women in general. A lot of teenaged girls will buy something pink over something of another color. As an adult, I have decided that as much as I love Dell's pink laptop and want one, I am not buying one, because I am too cheap. Like someone else posted, green is the most important color.

[Tanya @ Sep 16th 2007 12:41AM]

I don't find pink items patronising. I just don't like the color pink. Now give me something cool in purple and I'll buy it every time.

[Michele @ Sep 16th 2007 1:03AM]

My 18 yr old daughter DOES NOT like pink at all.

[nancy @ Sep 16th 2007 1:04AM]

So making things pink are gonna make females more interested in gadgets? Maybe six year olds, really. My mother is tech-savvy now, for Christ's sake, and she is an uneducated hillbilly (ya, I'm from Arkansas, so what).

[MDwannabe @ Sep 16th 2007 1:33AM]

How ridiculous. I'm sorry, but manufacturers can't make you feel any certain way just because of the color they are making their product; if you feel patronized, then it is likely you have a feeling you are being patronized anyway, even if there were no pink gadgets. I am a female; I happen to like pink so of course I have a pink gadget or two; but I also have some black ones and some orange ones. I prefer to have color choices, pink included. It doesn't make me feel patronized at all, b/c I don't put my own worth in what society thinks about my femininity. I am currently working on my masters in psychology, so I could really care less if society puts a label on me b/c of the color gadget I carry, that would show the stupidity of the person doing so. I don't think men think any less of women who carry pink gadgets or that society views us as "little girls" or whatever paranoid notion someone would create that makes them feel patronized by having the option to buy a pink cell phone. Seriously, people are reading way too much into something unimportant, which tells me that they already had deep seeded feeling of being patronized to start with.

[Andrea @ Sep 16th 2007 1:55AM]

I'm a preschool teacher and it scares me how many girls choose pink as their favorite color. I've had classes where I've had to remove every pink toy because the girls would torment each other with them by hoarding them. At the risk of getting too psychological for this forum, do these little girls love pink because they've been trained to?

Personally, I never cared for pink, nor have I ever used it to define myself as female. My favorite color has always been green. In a pinky female world I guess that makes me progressive.It's a big, wide, colorful world out there. Let's enjoy it all.

Peace.

[RowansMom702 @ Sep 16th 2007 2:05AM]

As someone who loves technology, I do not understand why this is a problem. You can also buy these gadgets in red, blue, white, black, and some in yellow. It's a preference. What is your favorite color? Mine is red. Does that mean if they make something in red they are patronizing me? Seriously, there must be something more interesting to discuss here.

[Jade @ Sep 16th 2007 3:08AM]

The color pink in itself is not what some women find patronizing, it's the idea that companies seem to think that women will buy anything if it's colored pink. In fact, a popular saying in advertising in regards to selling to women is "shrink it and pink it".

I actually saw a "toolkit for women" in the store the other day. Hammer, pliers, screwdrivers, measuring tape, and toolbelt to carry it all in. Guess what color each and every item was?

Honestly, if that's not patronizing, I don't know what is.

Yes, there are women who like pink, and no, there is nothing wrong with pink being offered as a choice of color, but when pink is being offered with the assumption that it is what all women want, that's patronizing and that is wrong.

[etak2007 @ Sep 16th 2007 3:12AM]

sometimes people think into things way to much.....like people who get upset about pink gadgets.

[Kathy @ Sep 16th 2007 3:25AM]

They can make all the pink gadgets and housewares they want and I won't buy them. Pink is not my thing and never has been.
To the preschool teacher who wonders if girls are trained to like pink, maybe... I know I received more pale pink clothing for my daughter than I ever wanted (it's just not practical). Girls seem to go from pale pink to hot pink, then purple, lime green, then black (junior high) and then they discover they don't have to go with the latest fad. It's all age related.
There are definitely fashions in electronics as well as appliances. Remember how dated all those yellow and avocado appliances got long before they died? Stainless is the new avocado.

[Sunfaccra51 @ Sep 16th 2007 3:29AM]

Frankly, I loathe pink! But my niece loves it...just another generalization that means squat!

[Kathy @ Sep 16th 2007 3:30AM]

You know some women will buy that pink toolkit though, just like they'll buy the pink kitchen appliances, bowls, etc. I saw advertised just last week... pink appliances for breast cancer, a new low in merchandising.

[Jo @ Sep 16th 2007 3:37AM]

I can think of alot more interesting things then to make a gender issue out of a color, give me a break. So what it is pink, if women have such an issue with it, then I say it is the issue of the individual, personally I don't care, I happen to like the color, and I enjoy it in my house as well as my wardrobe. enough is enough.

[CaliforniaKid @ Sep 16th 2007 3:49AM]

I'm not too sure just why anyone would get their nickers in a twist over someones Idea/Opinion that "Pink is for Girls...". I think most everyone relates "Pink" to femininity, and "Blue" to masculinity, what's so wrong about that? I know there are some females out there who feel they are a "man trapped in a womans body", I don't buy it, but somehow, I don't think they really care if I do or not. Words are really nothing more than a linear grouping of letters that form our means of communicating. If someone is offended, change channels, or walk the other way.....

[Arthur @ Sep 16th 2007 3:55AM]

Paige says:
>Calling Native Americans indian is VERY >offensive.
How many American Indians do you even know? All the American Indians that I know hate the term "Native American". It was made up by the Census Dept about 30 years ago.
The American Indian Movement says "You named us Indians, you killed us as Indians, and now as a final blow to remove our Culture you pretend you did that killing to someone else, and call us a new name."

[Stacy @ Sep 16th 2007 4:03AM]

I am female and I personally do not like the color pink all that much. I would not buy any product if its pink unless I have no choice. I know a lot of females that do like the color pink. Yeah, I know its just a color but I have to stare at it everytime I need to use whatever is pink would drive me crazy after awhile. I like blue, green, purple. I would most likely purchase black or silver in gadgets. It seems classier than something with color, it just appears cheap or for teenagers. This is just my opinion not facts. This is not menant to attack anyone or their tastes. So please do not be offended by what I have said. If you are, I apologize in advanced. :D

[Jane @ Sep 16th 2007 5:23AM]

Color is not an issue with me...I buy what appeals to me. Go for pink and bling if it's your thing!
I stick with basic...will have to get new one next year, anyway! Dr. B

[Techchic @ Sep 16th 2007 8:55AM]

I have experienced a lot of gender bias in technology sales. Recently I (a 34-year old woman) shopped for technology items including smart phones, digital SLR cameras, televisions, and computers. I shopped Best Buy, Circuit City, Macy's, Target, Radio Shack, and the individual stores for Sony, Apple, and Verizon Wireless. Of all the people I spoke with, I found that the male sales clerks generally pushed the "impulse buy" strategy and took every opportunity to cut down any prior research I had done. My general feeling was that they were determined to sell me the highest-cost item with the most user-friendly features. (The technology was really dumbed down at a higher cost.) Most of the female sales clerks deferred to the male sales clerks for "heavy" technical questions. The best salesperson I encountered was Chaz at Verizon Wireless in Manchester, MO. He was respectful and made me feel his equal while making himself available as a source of product knowledge. He was extremely professional and focused on the merchant-buyer relationship rather than on the sale itself. Ultimately I opted to make most of my purchases online (except for my phone, which I bought in the store) and I continue to recommend Chaz to everyone I know who is in the market for a new phone. Word of mouth is powerful; I wish retailers would remember that.

[techchic @ Sep 16th 2007 9:13AM]

When I found out that I was having a baby girl (she's now 6) I was bound & determined that she would not have pink shoved down her throat or be dressed like a doily. Before it was trendy to do so, I dressed my baby in rock-n-roll inspired onesies and prints (leopard print, plaid, stripes, etc). She has never really watched much television because, frankly, she prefers to make art or music or play outside. (Her dad & I are artists by trade, and I'm also a piano teacher.) In spite of my best efforts, my daughter's favorite color is pink and she wants to be a princess when she grows up. I would say that abou 80% of her clothing is pink by her choosing. So, it wasn't trained into her and she STILL loves pink. Curious, isn't it?

[Toni @ Sep 16th 2007 9:34PM]

I don't particularly like the color pink. My objection is: color it pink and raise the price. A small pair of needle-nose pliers in the craft department costs 4.98. The same pliers with black or blue handles in the hardware department costs 1.98. Duh. No pink for me!

[Maria @ Sep 16th 2007 11:16PM]

I am a 52yr old woman. I think this country has become so worried about offending and being offended that we are paralyzed. I agree with the young, very astute young people here. Get real if you don't like pink don't get pink.

[Stephanie Hates Pink @ Sep 17th 2007 4:44PM]

I cant stand pink things...

I am a women, and everytime gift giving season comes around i will at LEAST get two or more pink things.

I can stand it. I think people should not suppose that all girls and women love pink.

[Pamela Cichocki @ Sep 17th 2007 11:01PM]

Personally, I dislike pink. I see those catalogue deals of 50 piece tool kits in pink cases with pink handles, and I sneer. Instead of pink, why not go flashy, and give us bright, cheery colors, soft pastels, and wild animal prints as well?

[gadgetgrrl @ Sep 20th 2007 7:47AM]

the great thing is they make them in both pink *and* black. honestly, is this really an issue for people?

[Eve @ Sep 20th 2007 11:09AM]

As a female who owns a pink razar and yes, even a pink video camera (which I purchased because the color caught my eye although they also had it in black)... I have to wonder why this is such a heated topic? Women have actual CHOICES. The chocolate phone comes in many colors or they can limit themselves to silver or black or even gold. The only think that I find somewhat patronizing is when the price is raised on a product simply because of the color and the marget that color option is meant to target. The product costs no more to make or package than it does in any other color. The only time that this may be somewhat acceptable is when the product is encrusted with rhinestones as that is an addition that is not included in the black or silver models. As a consumer well over my tweens I simply refuse to pay more for a product due to the fact that the color is "cute". If I am not being treated fairly because of my preference for pink, I have the option of taking my green elsewhere and happily spending my hard earned money where a phone or camera in pink, green, black, silver or blue costs the same if it is the same make and model with the same features. Imagine that!?

[Paul Richardson @ Sep 20th 2007 12:22PM]

we are who we are. men and women both are attracted to certain things and they way they are presented and it will never change. it is how we are wired for companies and individuals to disagree is to miss out on a huge opportunity. That is how you sell items by connecting on an emotional level with that persons value chain. it is like vegas. you play the odds. some it will tick off but 85-90% of the people will buy it. it's like porn, it's like fast cars, jewelry, some don't agree with it nor like it but it sells and makes billions. the quicker people realize to embrace human basic characterists, male/female charactersistics, and human nature the easier they will connect and succeed.

[gabe @ Sep 20th 2007 12:24PM]

I wouldnt say that "pink" gadgets are patronizing, but i will say that my girlfriend doesnt have such a high interest in pink products anymore(i.e pink ipod, zune, razr, etc). She did have a pink razr but got tired of PINK PINK PINK. I think its cool how some products are offering more colors like bright greens and blues to give a wider variety to our females.

[julie @ Sep 20th 2007 12:50PM]

I was in a Verizon store recently, and yeah, the guy "suggested" a pink RAZR, but i said "anything BUT pink". having a hot-pink cell-phone is ridiculous. I dont really have anything against the color, but i feel its best for under-18 age group. I have never wore pink myself, so me being 19 has nothing to do with it personally, but i find it funny when old ladies wear hot-pink dresses or whatever. i would love to see cell-phones in dark red and blue though. just to have the options i guess... for now i'm being a real new yorker: my KRZR is black, my laptop is black, my ipod is black, all my accessories are silver, my handbag is black, and so is my wallet. i always wear black shoes and sneakers too. thats just me

[Robin @ Sep 20th 2007 1:05PM]

This article was obviously created to piss of women. Wouldn't it then. in turn, be patronizing to men to make gagets in 'traditionally' male colors (i.e. blue)?? I think that there has been a demand for the color pink, therefore causing the companies to color the gizmos according to what people like. It's a matter of taste. Why do they make gizmos in colors like green, blue, purple, black, white? Because being like to customize and accessorize. What is so wrong with maufacturing pink products if there is clearly a solid reason: the consumers want it so they buy it. We don't all want a blue phone or a white ipod. Maybe I want mine polka dotted, who is to say that is patronizing to anyone? It's taste. And in my opinion, this article is patronizing to try to fluff up an issue that really has no concrete relevance to any matters whatsoever. Get off it. It's a clever marketing tool. I hope they come out with tie-dye 'just for hippies' now.

[Naithan @ Sep 20th 2007 1:17PM]

Love everyones comments.

[ilana @ Sep 20th 2007 1:18PM]

Not patronizing at all. i love colors and if someone likes hot pink we'll then that's great. when i got my razor they only had the silver color, so i went and got myself a pink case, just because i didn't want the generic color. bright colors definatelly do atract more women.

[Laila @ Sep 20th 2007 1:50PM]

As a person that prefers her gadgets pink with as many rhinestones as possible, I definitely do not find these items patronizing.. even to those whom do not share my same preference. If someone does not want a specific color for a phone, they buy another without any thought of it. Part of the smart marketing game is catoring to your clientelle, women have electronic needs too and many women like pink. Look at the Victoria's Secret "Pink" line that has been rediculously popular for years. This discussion is a waste of space.

[Rina @ Sep 20th 2007 2:56PM]

I believe that this is apsolutely rediculous that eevryone is making a big fuss about an item being pink. Has it ever occured to anyone that some people don't like everything strictly black and white. That maybe some people like to throw a little color in their life? Pink is not the only color that certain gadgets have been made in and there is a reason for that! If someones favorite color is pink, then they are going to be more inclined to buy a gadget that the have the option to get it in pink just like if we were talking about green or blue or red or any other color of the rainbow!

[bridget @ Sep 20th 2007 4:25PM]

i personally hate the color pink, but it isnt patronizing to sell phones and other technilogical gadgets in a color that people like. im a teenager, actually find this article patronizing and hypocritical. notice how a man wrote it and didnt even try to find a WOMANS point of view, which is what this entire article is about. hes also in a way trying to show his point of view, and close markets for things women like. this guy needs to stop writing articles, he clearly doesnt know what hes doing. btw johnny5, ur last two lines are more that just sexist.