Survey says women patronized by pink tech
By Conrad Quilty-Harper 
posted September 10th 2007 8:36PM
posted September 10th 2007 8:36PM
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?
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!
It seems to come down to the fact that "If pink is not my favorite color, or my significant other's favorite color, I feel patronized by its presence amidst other colors." This, I think, is not rational belief that one is being patronized, but merely peevishness disguised as emotional injury.
This is more of a "OMG, look at geeks and how they don't understand teh ladies" moment. My sister is also not a fan of pink, and is quite the tech-savvy lady, but she has tech-savvy friends who go into conniptions whenever they see a pink something. So apparently, "pink it and shrink it" is a legitimate tactic, especially for "girly girls."
As long as there are ladies who say "OMG it's pink, it's so cute!" or men who say "Yeah, Black/Grey/Red, that's a guy's color" there will always be typecasting in coloration. And, for the record, I don't feel patronized by the Ford seller trying to push the cherry-red mustang on me. Maybe we're just a bit more sensitive, or hostile, because electronics is a "guys' club," and anything vaguely stereotypical must be patronizing.
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.
I'm a woman. I don't need feminine-looking products. Actually, I'm quite the opposite; pink has been so overrated in electronics, that I'm actually AVOIDING the pink products.
People just say this stuff because that's what they think people want to hear. I say, be honest, unless you're getting $1,000,000+ if you answer like "the crowd."
It's not the color itself that's problematic, it's how it's marketed, or the accompanying issues. For instance, American Airlines created a special "women's page," which basically meant turning it pink and removing a lot of the features and buttons. That's patronizing; it's the associations of women with pink, and pink as "dumb" or "ditzy" that's a problem.
hmmm patronizing eh? seriously? okay how the fxck is it sexist?
uhmm its not; their offering a new color. is it so fxckin wrong to put up a line of pink gadgets? no, i dont like the color pink nor will i EVER but its not sexist.
its just a new color; geezus they have gold for goodness sake! so uhmmm no its not sexist, its just a color. i see boys with pink razor phones/iPods as well. no their not "gay" they like the color.
its a line that will get more people to buy it. yes it would probably appeal to women more than men but is it bad? NO!
i really dont get the "sexist" things that people are saying. odd to me.
i love my pink ipod and could not imagine having it in any other color. i think this is stupid...
i think pink is fine.. it's not really my thing, but whatever floats your boat, right?! however, i have noticed that companies will gauge the female buyer who goes for the 'pink' merchandise. take for example this hair iron/curler, for the small pink iron it's like $200, however for the black model- same exact iron, just black- it's only $170! i mean, come on! i know paint isn't that expensive. they're just taking advantage of those stupid to not compare the price and/or just want something pink. which is wrong.
i don't mind all the 'pink' out there, but i don't want companies to take advantage of the female customer just based on their favoritism of pink. it's like a auto sales rep. gauging the female, on the assumption that women don't know a thing about vehicles.
i think saying that its patronizing to have electronics in pink is rediculous. most of the really popular electronics come in many other colors as well. (e.g. ipods, razrs, lg chocolates, and there is a new notebook out that comes in pretty much every color of the rainbow) I mean, is it patronizing to men to make blue electronics?
I dont know why everything has to be a problem. I may not have worded that correctly ut It seems alsmot EVERYTHING someone does is offensive or demening. I as a female dot care of something is pink, orange or blue. It is all about customizing your superficial toys these days. If I were to buy a phone that had options of color, I would be more amped to buy that item. Just like whe we are brought into this world.
Pink= Girls
Blue=Boys
It's a natural instinct.
Why dont we fix bigger problems like war and poverty instead of worrying about a female gossiping on her pink razor, or a guy jamming out on his blue ipod?
who cares its j/ a freaken color its not like they didnt make green razrs or blue ones too
Pink is girly, and shouldn't a girl want to be girly? I saw my teenage girls go through that boyish browns and black phase which lasted about one year, but since they filled out they have gone totally girly. I really like to see pink on the girls. It is a soft pretty color, but I also like to see them in light or bright colors, such as white, yellow, and orange, those along with pink are all cheerful colors. Pink makes a great statement of femininity, a color vote for the softer gender if you will. Patronizing, no way, it is usually available by popular demand.
I LUV THE COLOR PINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i as a woman do not find this patronizing AT ALL! In fact as i said b4 i luv the color pink but if the cell phone or whatever didn't come in pink i wud choose some other color- like my ipod they didn't have the one i wanted in pink so i got silver! to those people who think pink is patronizing to women i say GET OVER IT!!!! if u don't like it than get a different color its as easy as that- some of us actually like the color pink and some guys even like it haven't u ever heard the saying it takes a real man to wear pink? the truth is most women do like the color pink it could just be something that most girls and women have that God gave us. we rn't brainwashed into liking pink most women just do
Why would pink be patronizing???? Pink is a color. To patronize means to to behave in an offensively condescending manner. How can a color of something do that??? Someone please explain.
Pink Gadget Patronizing? Never really thought about it, but I guess if you're SO into looking for injustices against women that you find it in mere color choices, you're probably not that into pink anyway.
What's REALLY patronizing is commercials for feminine products. I mean, c'mon! When its that time of the month, the last thing any woman wants to do is try on clothes or get in a frilly skirt and dance around. LOL!
I'm not a fan of pink but I don't find it patronizing either. I mean why not offer lots of different choices? And there are a lot of friends I have who love pink and would definitely buy cell phones, iPods, etc. in pink.
someone please tell me, seriously, why pink is patronizing? if it's supposed to sell, companies are going to sell it. do we REALLY need more grey in the world? take a look at a major city and let me know whether pink is such a bad thing...
I think the article's got some validity to it... it's absolutely ludicrous to assume that most women find rhinestone covered gadgets visually pleasing. Personally, I think it's ridiculous- if I wanted diamonds, I'd go buy jewelry. No unnecessary frills needed here, thanks- if it's a cell phone, make it look like a cellphone. Personalization is fine, but it's just that- personal. While I'm not sure it's an intentional patronization, I think it's a bit stereotypically blind to assume the female masses are crazy for hot pink. It's a nice option, but we like other things too.
Actually I find the pink color quite nice. For those of us girls who like to buy pink things, it's because it makes us feel good to be a girl. I don't see anything wrong with it unless there are men out there snickering over our "girlie" choice in colors. If they are purposely trying to be derogatory by offering technology gadgets in pink, then the problem isn't the girls who buy them, it's the men intend for the ad campaign to be patriarchal and patronizing. (i.e. "Look girls, we smart boys made something cute for you to buy for $200 and look, you can even use it to talk to your friends with it!")
My first color choice for anything is black 99% of the time. However, pink and black together is awesome. My RAZR is pink and I have face-plates that I use just the same as I could with a black RAZR. I waited for the pink RAZR to become available before I signed my cell service contract. The "Pretty in Pink" Valentine's Day phone was just too damn cute to pass up. :-)
Old issue of creating gender roles from birth. Boys like blue, girls like pink.
OMG. It's a COLOUR.
Honestly. I adore hot pink, it's my third favourite colour after sky blue and gold, but electronics don't come in those colours, so I get the pink shit.
I'm a FEMINIST and I don't find it patronizing. Get a life if you do. =]
I once heard this rule on how to eliminate items from a womans wardrobe; "Hot pink is worn by hookers and 16 year olds, if you are neither, ditch it" I believe the same should apply to cell phones.
I don't think it's patronizing.
It's the same as how a guy generally likes "masculine" things. Sure, not all guys do, but marketing to them is not considered patronizing.
Geez, people need to stop hyping about random sexist things unless they truly affect their lives... I mean, seriously, what does the color of a cell phone change in the scheme of things?
You're over thinking this. Just because they make it in pink doesnt mean they assume all women like pink. They also make a lime green ipod, which is more of a feminine color, and that's just one example.
I have a pink ipod and a phone w/ pink crystals on it. Thats the way I like it!
Gadgets + pink = perfectly ok, or totally patronizing?
I personally think that its perfectly ok. In fact I think coming out with pink gadgets is a good idea. Not because its for girls, but simply because its my favorite color. Wouldn't you want to buy something thats your favorite color? Like blue phones my female cousin owns one. My MALE best friend has a pink Ravor Cell phone. I think its all based on the persons favorite color and should be marketed as such. It should not be assumed all woman like pink. Its a proven fact thats not true.
If you think its based on "oh woman only by pink." Well then thats on you, woman like pink. So what I know men who do to. Its All on personal likings. So i don't think any one should complain about its. Its like sueing a fastfood place because you ate it three times a day for a month and got fat. It just doesn't work.
I would only find color patronizing if it was pushed on me, or assumed that as a female, I should not be given a choice in what style I would prefer my phone. This happened to me when I complained about my phone and was sent a razr. to my surprise, i had received a pink one. I would have been just as confused if they sent me a green or blue one, as i had not specified this color. you have to admit, this is kind of frustrating. perhaps men can relate (maybe homosexuals over heterosexuals, but i dont want to stereotype) in that they are often assumed to prefer one color to the next.
let me reiterate: its not the color that matters, frankly i dont care if i have an iridescent rainbow colored phone.its the fact that I dont have a choice. an by God, I live in a country where i want to have the full capacity and freedom to make choices, no matter how seemingly insignificant it is.
its the principle. always.
cheers
say what? i LOVE pink gadgets.. its feminine, sexy and hey.. if your offended by it, dont buy it. thats that. that being said, i hope they keep making girly pink gadgets and ill keep buying them
OR
it's just a color, a popular one, and this is the dumbest article ever.
i know boys who have pink phones
and i want one
pink is cute kthx
and phones also come in lots of other colors
it would be horrible if they didn't have pink things D:
i actually don't think there's enough pink electronics in the world...
Totally with you on the pink=patronizing thing. Pink is fine as a color option, if products come in a variety of colors like green, blue, whatever. But yeah. Pink energy drinks. Pink razors. Pink hammers with floral-patterned handles for use in scrapbooking. Totally demeaning.
The idea of whether or not pink is pretty, or why anyone likes it or doesn't like it is not the issue here. In that sense, yes, it is just a color.
Making pink electronics/technological gadgets is patronizing because that is the only thing the marketers to do attract women. Instead of surveying female technology/gadget users about what features they like/don't like, new ones they need, old ones they never use, etc, the companies simply change the items casing to pink from silver, red, or black.
That is why this is patronizing to women, because the color pink is not the only change I need if a tech company wants to update one of its products to attract me as a female. In other words, pink doesn't cut it. And, ultimately, they are underestimating women's intelligence.
A company that asks me what I like and don't like about existing products and then uses that information to update those products--now that's what I'd like to see. Of course, this is what market research is for and what companies have been doing forever. They just don't find the effort necessary when dealing with their female customers. Again, this is why it's patronizing, it's not the merit of the color pink (which, has, as mentioned before, been hijacked by gender conditioning--the fact that guys will or not will not buy something pink for certain reasons should highlight this).