We’re looking at you, Nordstrom.
Source: Please stop listing tech products as ‘men’s accessories’
I came across this article this morning, and I was glad I saw it. The article didn’t really yield any new information about how women use tech as much as men, yet everything is geared towards men, but it was refreshing to see someone publically call it out, especially towards a major department store chain that specializes more in fashion than technology.
Why is it that tech is usually thought of as masculine if the usage of tech is truly just about 50/50? Ironically, in my house, I’m the one who invests in a good portion of the tech accessories that the other two in my house usually end up borrowing. The other thing that annoys me is that almost all industries–including tech–seem to think that the way to make something “feminine” is to make it PINK. I HATE THE COLOR PINK. And I’m as much a girl as any female out there, but there are other colors of the rainbow, people! I usually end up getting the “masculine” version of something simply to avoid that damned color of pink. Why do you think Apple started making “rose gold” devices? Because it’s PINK. (Although I know plenty of men who like it. I would’ve gotten that if it was more copper-colored instead of pink.)
Coloring accessories pink and marketing to men is not going to help more women buy tech products and stay in tech fields. It alienates us. Or is that the idea?
This is where I tend to buck social expectations. Like I said, in my house, I’m the one with multiple Bluetooth keyboards, endless mobile device accessories, and USB hubs. I’m the one who has a KVM device so she can manage three laptops on one monitor (space limitations in my office prevent me from getting another monitor or two). I’m the one with the high-tech recording microphone and noise-cancelling headset. Not my husband the developer. ME. (My parents used to joke that it wasn’t Christmas for me unless I had some sort of battery-operated electronic device. Still somewhat true.)
Marketing tech and tech accessories shouldn’t be geared only towards men. Tech is for all, and by marginalizing women with pink items or not marketing simple products to them as well…well, it’s just bad marketing. Women should be encouraged to take on tech, like setting up a router or voice-activated devices just like anyone else. One of the speakers at the upcoming CONDUIT conference is going to be presenting and showing work she does developing virtual reality programs. I know several women who are experts on this–why aren’t we a bigger part of the conversation?
What do you think of this article? Include your comments below.
TechCommGeekMom 
Well said! Another pink hater here! 🙂
LOL — I learned to like pink when I married a man and had two boys — in a houseful of testosterone, the pink charging cable is always just where I left it — the black and white ones disappear. (Pink phone case to pick mine out of the lineup, etc.) My husband has more pink shirts, but all the pink tech gear is mine. That being said, I would certainly welcome more color options!