So everyone's kind of blowing up about these pink and purple pens that are "for her". People get the idea that it's a condescending product that suggests that women can't use other pens, pens that they are now mockingly calling "man pens."
Okay, y'all, hold up.
Just because these pens are "women's pens" doesn't automatically make any other pens "man pens."
Nowhere does it say that women can only use these pens and women can only use these pens. These pens are just an option for if somebody wants a pretty pen. Lots of people don't want pretty pens, but some people do. It's kind of a niche market.
I will say that I don't 100% agree with labeling it "for her" because some of these people who want pretty pink and purple pens might be men. And that's not a big deal, that just means they like the colors and the designs, it doesn't necessarily imply anything else.
I don't think that these pens are an issue, besides the company's direct claim that they are for women.
On the other hand, lots of children's toys are getting lots of criticism because they are flowery and pink or (something stereotypically boyish?) and blue. But do these products actually SAY "for girls only" or "for boys only?" I don't think they do; at least, I haven't seen any that say that. People claim that the only toys manufactured for girls are all princesses and flowers and pink and purple, but who's stopping a boy from buying them? What if a boy likes a flowery purple toy? Nothing says he can't buy it. These boundaries are set by the consumers who imagine the line.
That's all I've got for now. I think that people are making too big a deal of "gendered products." For people who care so much about it, they're doing kind of a lousy job of just buying whichever product they want.
