The Pampers People Add Fuel to the Fire
Posted on 12. May, 2010 by Brian Reid.
When I checked the mail today, there was a packet of coupons waiting for me from Proctor & Gamble, the folks who make Pampers. “This is great,” I thought. “This is a peace offering to atone for their repeated Mother’s Day stupidity.”
But — of course — it was not. Just another mailing designed to get me to buy LashBlast mascara and Venus Embrace razors.
Then I turned over the envelop to see the cover image (at left). It shows a happy family. Two kids on the floor, coloring. One kid is joyfully sitting atop mom, who is prone, smiling at the other kid. And dad?
Dad is in the background, out of focus, on the couch.
Which — given P&G’s track record — is exactly where the company evidently believes dad is, most of the time.
Not cool, Pampers people. And don’t think that the 50-cent coupon for Secret deodorant is going to buy me off: I’m continuing my Pampers boycott until the company acknowledges that dads are a vital part of the parenting (and diapering) equation.
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Burger King Doesn’t Get It
Posted on 10. May, 2010 by Brian Reid.
One of the battles that I’ve utterly given up on is the idea that fast food restaurants should do away with “girl” toys and “boy” toys. I think it’s silly, and I’m on record as believing that — 9 times out of 10 — the “boy” toy is far superior to the “girl” toy, especially for the intended audience.
But I don’t think that we’ll ever do away with the gendered toys. All I can ask is that the restaurants try to be subtle about the gender roles they are imposing. If you order a “boy” toy at the McDonald’s drive-thru, the little confirm-your-order display lists it as a “truck toy” (no mater what the item is). It’s an acknowledgment that — maybe — that’s a toy that a boy *or* a girl might want.
Burger King, on the other hand, makes clear that the cool toys are “FOR BOYS,” and the jewelry is “FOR GIRLS,” right on the bag that contains the kid’s food. Nice work, BK. Way to stamp gender roles in big font.
For the record, we got the 7″ Ironman figure. It hasn’t left my daughter’s sight since she took it out of the bag. “FOR BOYS,” my ass.
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Happy Mother’s Day, RebelMom!
Posted on 09. May, 2010 by Brian Reid.
My eldest daughter is now at the age where I can say, with some confidence, that she is on track to blossom into a strong, thoughtful woman who chafes at injustice and who is committed to changing the world. She is growing into that kind of woman as a direct result of her mother. Both of my daughters have a wonderful mom, and I couldn’t have a better wife.
Happy Mother’s Day, RebelMom!
Love,
Brian