[Phpwomen] PHPWomen Merchandise: Good Idea?

[Melissa Draper]

On Fri, 2009-03-06 at 13:13 -0800, cereal girl wrote:
> Elizabeth Naramore wrote:
> >
> > I think Johanna hit the nail on the head - it's just that it requires 
> > such a huge investment upfront that it's cost-prohibitive. We'd also 
> > kicked around the idea of doing the blue one but with nail polish and 
> > earrings and maybe lipstick or something like that. I think either 
> > would be great... we just need to get a little cash reserves to get 
> > that going first.
> >
> >
> What about blue elephpants with phpwomen sweaters? Or girly accessories 
> for your elephpant?

Just a few comments about reinforcing 'girly' stereotypes in a group's
emblem.

* Pink: This has been the stereotyped 'girl colour' since around
WWII[0]. Not all girls like pink, and some girls and women will get
quite offended if it's suggested they wear it, let alone be represented
by it.

* Make up, nail polish: Some girls and women do not wear make up or nail
polish as they not feeling comfortable about having to alter their
appearance to be accepted, or resent the idea that they are expected to
decorate themselves for the viewing pleasure of men.

* Bows: Without the lipstick, the bow on Ms Pacman would make her look
like a 5 year old. (With the lipstick, she looks like those 50 year old
women you see in the mall with caked-on makeup, wearing the latest tween
fashions)

* Jewellery: Of all the girly stereotypes, this is probably the least
girly one. Jewellery such as rings, chains and piercings are commonplace
for both genders.

The Gnome Women project had the dilemma where their members did not feel
like they'd be taken seriously if they used such stereotypes[1].
Unfortunately, there's not much you can do to make a footprint girly,
without resorting to nail polish, high-heels, flowers or jewellery, and
afaik they ended up not getting anywhere.

Personally, I would react unfavourably to a pink or made-up elePHPant.
It just would not speak to me at all.

Taking the above into account, what I would react well to would be a
chain or leather thread around the elePHPant's neck, with a little
female emblem pendant. You could even do this *separately*, for the
existing elePHPants! Just get the chain/thread size right, and voila!

> And please pursue the t-shirts!
> I can't help at all with retailers, but I agree that it is wise to go 
> with one that has friendly shipping costs outside the US.

Definitely. As an Aussie, I get quite annoyed when I have to pay $30 to
get a $20 t-shirt. It usually means I don't bother.

--
[0] Previously, it was the 'baby boy' colour since it is a diluted red
(a passionate, warrior colour), and blue (calm blue oceans/sky, etc) was
the colour for girls.
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=238733

[1]
http://mail.gnome.org/archives/gnome-women-list/2005-August/msg00024.html

-- 
Melissa Draper

w: http://meldraweb.com & http://geekosophical.net
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