Now, the parent company’s site does a good job of being gender, and even event, agnostic. A gift registry is exactly what it is – a gift registry for a special occasion. They have something for everyone – although it’s real shame they got rid of their electronics department, but I digress.
So I’m looking at registering with this housewares site because there are a few things Scott and I could use especially as we go through a kitchen renovation starting soon. Every picture on this site that’s related to the gift registry service is almost all women. Now, you’re probably saying, “Iain, you shouldn’t be surprised because, after all it’s her day.” Oh come on! I have two issues:
- It’s OUR day together, not just ‘her’ day. You’re celebrating the union of two people who are in love, who want to share the rest of their lives together, and both need to live with the gifts they are given.
- There’s more than just hetero-normative weddings out there! It would be nice to see more representation of visible and invisible minorities.
- Roles have change significantly between men and women – if you’re going to use the argument around stay-at-home mum, what about the stay-at-home dad?
Diving deeper into the site, I see the “Gift Guide, Women’s” link and decide to see what it includes, and I’m expecting something for women… Admittedly i’m not sure what that is when it comes to housewares, but you know it when you see it.
Firstly, what about “Gift Gide, Men’s”? I would say most guys would want more than an electric shaver that happens to be on the site.
What I saw under “Gift Guide, Women’s” was what any man or woman would want. I see lovely espresso makers, a Cuisinart Brew Central coffee maker, a mini retro popcorn maker, etc… Maybe I’m skewed, but while those are things we don’t need – we already have a Tassimo, and we don’t need a popcorn maker – I could see these items appealing to more than one gender. Do we have a misnaming in the category?
Guys have to have their fun too, and there are many guys out there who do like to cook in the kitchen, who like good kitchenware, home décor, and appreciate good stemware. On the flip side, I think guys should feel comfortable enough to build up and add to the registry and not be chastised for it, so let’s stop it with wedding registries being sexist. Men, if you want that pair of 3D glasses for your man cave, a set of crystal beer mugs from Tiffany’s (we actually have these) – add them to your registry!
Given my ideology on relationships and such, I will never understand why something like a gift registry has to be so skewed towards women these days. Yes, it made sense many years ago, however, welcome to the 21st Century.
Maybe that’s a great idea – a central registry place where anyone can go to create their own registry that allows the user to track various links to webstores, for items they are adding. I trademark this idea. 🙂