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?

[Gamer90 @ Sep 10th 2007 8:42PM]

I really don't know about patronizing. What I do know is many girls I know prefer Pink RAZRs and iPods.

[[e-mail] @ Sep 11th 2007 12:12AM]

worst.post.ever

[Paul @ Sep 11th 2007 2:18AM]

Just to be on the safe side, I think we should go back to making all computers in IBM Tan with an orange peel finish

[nikster @ Sep 11th 2007 2:23AM]

Uhmmm... RTFA - it's a real piece of work:
----------------------------------------------------
Women are put off spending money in electronics shops because of the way they are treated, a survey suggests.

Contrary to popular myth, female consumers are interested in technology, the study found - but they do not feel confident asking questions in stores.

In the poll by Saatchi and Saatchi, a third of women internet users said they would spend more on gadgets if retailers learned how to approach them.

One respondent said electrics shops reeked of a "strong scent of men".

However, only 9% of those questioned felt it was important that gadgets looked feminine.

In addition, many said that they felt patronised by pink digital radios and diamante-encrusted mobile phones.
------------------------

Everything about this article is wrong. The initial assumption - women are uninterested in technology - is strange, I mean how did they come up with that? Then the "survey" - apparently an internet poll. Haha. OK, I'll bear with you there. Finds that "women would spend more if stores learned how to approach them". Duh!

And finally, the woman to represent all women world-wide: "One respondent said electrics shops reeked of a "strong scent of men"." Wow, really? She said that?! It must be true then! OMG!!!

And then "only" 9% say that gadgets need not look feminine. That's just dumb. If you asked me whether gadgets need to look masculine, I'd say no too. If anything, 9% is pretty high, but then again an internet poll is not exactly trustworthy.

"...many said that they felt patronised by pink digital radios..."

Many... why not continue with the straight-up % numbers in stead of saying many? Because maybe it was only 1?

This would be a straight F in Journalism 101. The article is amazing in how many fallacies it can pack in just four short paragraphs though.

[Ken @ Sep 11th 2007 9:58AM]

Geeks make gadgets.

and many times...

Geeks sell gadgets.

Geeks don't get teh ladies.

S0o0o0o...

Geeks don't know how to make gadgets nor sell them to women

[Melissa @ Sep 15th 2007 11:39PM]

I like my hot pink cell phone! I think anybody who is getting their panties in a wad over the color pink really has some issues they need examined. If you don't like pink, don't buy the merchandise in pink. Simple enough? Geezzz...

[Sarah @ Sep 16th 2007 5:10AM]

What's so patronizing about a pink gadget? I mean, honestly! It's a freaking colour! If you don't like the product in pink, then — and this is obviously a shocking concept to some folks — get it in another colour. Come on, people!

[Andrew Hansen @ Sep 10th 2007 8:45PM]

i think it may be patronizing, but it is ok, cuz there is a market for pink gadgets, if you are a woman and you dont like the pink, buy the regular color

[Heather @ Sep 20th 2007 9:17AM]

pink OR regular? sheesh.

[Andrew Hansen @ Sep 20th 2007 11:13AM]

well i believe pink is normally added after all the first colors are, so, therefore, it is not one of the"regular" (starting) colors, c'mon

[Delores @ Sep 20th 2007 9:23PM]

No, I'm with Heather on that one. Bad choice of wording.

[Andrew Hansen @ Sep 20th 2007 10:36PM]

are you like offended because i pretty much said pink is not a regular color?, if so, i frankly couldnt care less. Because if you are offended by some making a comment (not even a derogatory one) about a color, you kinda have a problem

[Dave @ Sep 10th 2007 8:46PM]

Not patronizing at all. Just at tad sexist to assume all women like pink, though.

But it ain't at all sexist (or otherwise bad) to sell anything you want in whatever color you want. Especially if sales turn out to be good, as in the RAZRs and iPods that Gamer90 mentions.

[katie @ Sep 15th 2007 10:22PM]

i think ur right...it is a bit sexist.
personaily..i hate pink
my guy friends like it more than me
but its nice for thoughs that love pink

[Brad @ Sep 10th 2007 8:47PM]

I like seeing my girlfriend in pink :)

[GalaXy @ Sep 10th 2007 8:48PM]

I, as a girl, don't find it patronizing, mainly because it seemed a lot of this pink stuff started because of breast cancer, however, it has gotten a little crazy. There is no reason for three different shades of pink for the RAZR. Personally, I prefer white electronics, but I'm not a big Apple fan.

[Madelime @ Sep 10th 2007 11:31PM]

Some of those pinks were hideous, so it's for the best that they had more than one.

[mentalsticks @ Sep 11th 2007 6:12AM]

Nope, pink was popular long before the breast cancer. Here in continental Europe the connection pinkbreast cancer doesn't even exist AFAIK. What does exist is the connection between light blue for baby boys and pink for baby girls, which is at least 60 years old and probably older.

Personally I'm happy that my g/f would NEVER buy a pink gadget because I, as a guy, do find it patronizing, because the very reason that those gadgets are pink is that the marketing departments behind them work from the assumption that women are either a) scared of technical stuff or b) not interested. The gadgets are then painted pink so as to make them a) less threatening, and b) a fashion item (Because girls do like fashion, don't they? I've never seen them happier when they are just shopping, shopping shopping...)
So the idea behind pink gadgets, their very 'raison de pinktre', is condescending and stereotyping.

[Delores @ Sep 20th 2007 9:24PM]

"There is no reason for three different shades of pink for the RAZR."
Are you kidding me? That's like saying there's no need for more than three different types of shoes. Sheesh...

[E71 @ Sep 10th 2007 8:48PM]

Tell those limeys to shup up.

[Tom @ Sep 10th 2007 10:30PM]

Please keep racist remarks to a minimum! As an Englishman, the term "limey" used in that sense is not appreciated, and to be frank I could call you a lot worse depending on what country you're from, but I think it's best if we all just agree to get along! ;-) No offense BTW, just giving you a heads up

[prioret @ Sep 11th 2007 2:08AM]

English is not a race.

[ilh @ Sep 11th 2007 5:56AM]

As an Englishman, stfu. There's something wrong with the world when you take offense to limey. It's no different to kraut, frog, yank, tommy, kiwi or any other nickname like that and has nothing to do with race. Do you even know where limey came from?

[Ken @ Sep 11th 2007 9:59AM]

"English is not a race"

It is if you're Welsh

[Paige @ Sep 15th 2007 9:50PM]

The British are called Limey because when they would go out to sea, they would bring lots of limes to fight off scurvy.

To be honest, it's not that offensive. Calling Native Americans indian is VERY offensive. The reason the settlers called them that was because they thought Native American's skin color was the same as the actual Indians (from India).

[Not Enclosed @ Sep 20th 2007 9:40AM]

They were call Indians because christopher columbus was such a douche bag that he thought he landed in India therefore calling the Native Americans, Indians.

FYI-- He landed in the Caribbean.

Anyway, I thought this was about the "pink gadgets". I personally am not a fan, but about the pink gadgets out there so what! How about you write and article on something that is important! If you have a problem with pink gadgets, why not have a problem with the black, white, blue, silver, green, purple, yellow, orange, etc... ones? That's right because it doesn't matter! They make the pink gadgets the same reason they make pink clothes, people actually like that color, douche bag!!!

[Delores @ Sep 20th 2007 9:25PM]

Actually being called a "kraut", a "mick" or a "yank" would offend me. If the word came from a Brit, I would know that isn't wasn't supposed to be an endearing term.

[Chris @ Sep 10th 2007 8:49PM]

would blue gadgets be patronizing to males? I certainly rather have a blue phone than a gray one, but when the options are black, silver, or pink then I could see how women would find that patronizing, and yet they'd still probably buy the pink one.

I'd like to see cellphones return to the full replaceable face plate type, some phones still offer this, but few to none with features I want/need.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Sep 10th 2007 9:18PM]

What about males who are metrosexuals and/or prefer the color pink too? I know of a few male friends who actually have pink RAZRs.

[Tom @ Sep 10th 2007 10:30PM]

Like I said before, I personally just give the colour options and let the customer decide which one they'd like, I haven't yet sold a pink phone to a bloke but if a guy comes in and wants to buy one, I'd be perfectly happy to sell him one!

[Kathy @ Sep 16th 2007 3:14AM]

I'm a woman and if the choices are black, silver, or pink it would never be pink... my phone is silver, our computer is black/silver. Our old tv/stereo/components were black, which faded nicely into the background in our cabinet, but our replacement tv had to fit in it and we wanted hd and the best one was silver. Same with the new vcr, and they were getting hard to find. I can live with silver (except in the kitchen, all that stainless is already looking dated and fingerprints do so show). I had to laugh when I saw a whole line of pink kitchen items, just amazing... but probably a great way to sell new ones later.

[ACG @ Sep 25th 2007 8:34PM]

Well, that's kind of the point. Nobody ever says, "Look! It's blue! It's made for a guy!" They just make a product and it's assumed that's it's made for a guy. Then, after a few months, they come out with a pink version, and that's when they say, "Look! It's for women! It's pink!"

It's like going to a car dealership and getting shown the vanity mirrors and the grocery bag holders in the trunk. Is it offensive that the car has those? No. Is it offensive that those are the features automatically associated with female drivers? Um, yeah, a lot.

[Tom @ Sep 10th 2007 10:30PM]

In my mind, half and half really. I work at a Carphone Warehouse store so I'm probably in a better position to answer that question than most. Personally, I'm gobsmacked at the amount of accessories and handsets that are offered in pink, and it's so popular for accessories that we pretty much have a whole pink section!

The unfortunate truth is that some women are that easily appeased, and want nothing more than a lovely LG Chocolate phone in pink, that does almost bugger all but looks very very pretty :-P

However, a lot of women come in to the store and find the whole pink thing a little patronizing, and will be a little more discerning. They may come to the conclusion that, for example, a Samsung U600 in pink is the right phone for them, and I can't argue with that, the U600 is a very good handset and if the like the colour, then why not!

Overall, I reckon the split at the moment is about 50/50 with regards to women who buy pink phones and accessories, and women who buy "regular" colours.

[Mehdi Cheddadi @ Sep 10th 2007 8:52PM]

Girls buy tech?

color be surprised!

[Tereasa @ Sep 10th 2007 8:54PM]

Ugh, I - as a woman - avoid the pink ones. There is a market for pink/diamond encrusted gadgets for teens and tweans - so there will always be pink gadgets. I can honestly say that I've never had a salesperson push pink on me - so no, I don't feel patronized.

[allaina @ Sep 10th 2007 8:59PM]

you know, i'd think if women found them that patronizing then they wouldn't sell nearly as well as they do. i used to work in electronics in a department store, and our most popular cameras were the polaroid i533p (even though the silver was 20 dollars less, exact same model) and the kodax v803, in pink. hand down, our best selling cameras, despite that they are both crap when it comes to cameras.

so, apparently, patronizing your customers doesn't do too badly around here.

[MR @ Sep 10th 2007 8:56PM]

My daughter wants everything in pink. Patronizing what?

[paul34 @ Sep 10th 2007 8:57PM]

Does it really matter? My opinion is that "I don't care."

Buy whatever color you want. End of story.

[Josh @ Sep 10th 2007 9:23PM]

Definitely agree with you. Get whatever color you like.

[Porfuse @ Sep 10th 2007 9:10PM]

does it matter ?

[KENLEY @ Sep 20th 2007 3:44PM]

WHO CARES

THIS SUBJECT IS A WASTE OF EVERYONES TIME

[Tom @ Sep 10th 2007 10:30PM]

Added comment: As a sales consultant, I try never to push a particular colour of handset on to a customer, I give them the colour options and ask them which one they are interested in. I find the best policy is just to try not to assume anything!

[Ryan B @ Sep 10th 2007 9:08PM]

It starts before pink cell phones, iPods, and computers. It starts with Barbies and baby diapers. Girls are trained to like the color pink from age zero when their parents pick out paint for their room and the blanket in their crib.

[Twitchy @ Sep 10th 2007 11:44PM]

That's why I'm painting my kids room black. As Robin Williams put it "life is shit, you will get to know this".

[Mike @ Sep 11th 2007 10:41AM]

That may be your way of looking at things, but it's not entirely true. Both of my daughters were raised with gender neutral colours in their bedrooms (and clothing). Both of them now want pink everything. There's an article in The Independant ( http://news.independent.co.uk/sci_tech/article2881412.ece ) about a research study that suggests it's all in our genes: both sexes like the colour blue, but women were drawn towards the red end of the spectrum so they could recognize health in their babies and find edible fruit and berries. While there is certainly a large percentage of parents that divide boys and girls into blue and pink, it's not the only factor.

[greatslack @ Sep 11th 2007 12:45PM]

@Mike,

I'm sure you did your best to keep your daughters away from the evils of gender stereotypes, but peer pressure wins out against years of careful protection in a heartbeat.

[Andrew Stone @ Sep 10th 2007 9:11PM]

Patronizing? Hah. The only color companies really care about is GREEN. Its selling, so they'll continue to make stuff in pink.

Now the brown zune... I think we should ALL find that offensive, right?

[Swade @ Sep 20th 2007 5:18PM]

How so?

[Tora @ Sep 10th 2007 9:12PM]

I don't think that this patronizes women in any way. Coming from a non-hetero I do have to say that I have been going pink crazy ever since retailers started targeting "female" customers. To tell you the truth, I don't think they need to even try to attract female customers and just release a rainbow of colors to satisfy all customers. Hey...some heterosexual men might like a pink DS also, color has nothing to do with sexuality or gender, I don't think a lot of companies have realized that.

[zeromecha @ Sep 10th 2007 9:15PM]

I don't find it patronizing at all. It's been said a few times in the comments already that the consumer, male or female, can choose what color they want their products to be. Personally I'd love a flaming pink device. Then I wouldn't have to try so hard to get people to notice it when I'm in brag mode. Seriously though, if one isn't happy with the choice of colors that manufacturers place on the market then it is up to said party to call, email, post on forums, or walk in to these places of business and demand more variety. Otherwise, you're stuck with a color that old fashioned thinkers still deem "hip and cool".