[Phpwomen] PHPWomen Merchandise: Good Idea?

[Lorna Mitchell]

I think the elephpant is pretty much out of our price league anyway,
as Johanna points out, the seutp costs are quite large.  Perhaps we
could take a look at the suppliers others have mentioned, and think
about starting off with getting some ideas for t-shirt designs?  I
love all the ideas I've seen but I think we need to just start
somewhere!

Lorna

On 07/03/2009, Elizabeth Naramore <elizabeth at naramore.net> wrote:
> On Sat, Mar 7, 2009 at 10:54 AM, Elizabeth M Smith <
> auroraeosrose at shitennou.com> wrote:
>
>> > 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 quite frankly I would find THIS offensive - to each their own I
>> guess.  I find it silly to walk on eggshells all over the place to not
>> offend this group or that group.  You won't find something that makes
>> everyone happy.
>
>
> I tend to agree with this, and while I understand where Melissa is also
> coming from, I think that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being
> feminine and a geek at the same time.  Yes, I wear makeup and nail polish ..
> but it's not for the viewing pleasure of men (hell, I've been married for 11
> years and I work at home - I have no one to impress ;) ) , I do it because
> it makes me feel good and the makeup covers up my blemishes :). Does that
> make me less of a geek? Does that make people not take me seriously? I'd
> like to think not.
>
> I think putting the elephpant in a big frilly dress with a parasol might be
> a bit over the top, but I also think it's okay to give her a little bit of a
> feminine bling. :)
>
> I also think that there's nothing wrong with breaking the "typical female
> geek" stereotype either :)  Xeni Jardin seems to be doing okay.
>
> Just my 2 cents.. if this is something we feel strongly about, maybe we
> could open up discussion on the forums. I think there are some deeper issues
> here that are interesting to discuss besides *just* the color of the
> elephpant- for me, at least, it's interesting to talk about what being a
> geek girl means to each one of us.
>
> Cheers!
> E.
>