A firestorm set off in a pair of men's trousers has left a British apparel company deflecting allegations of sexism and denying that it thinks laundry is strictly a woman's job.
It's not every day that clothing care instructions spark controversy. But that's what happened after British journalist Emma Barnett picked up her boyfriend's pants over the weekend while tidying the house.
Underneath the usually customary "machine wash warm" instructions, the tag offered a less appropriate option: “OR – GIVE IT TO YOUR WOMAN, IT’S HER JOB.”
Barnett tweeted an image of the tag on Monday, prompting an immediate outcry on social media and demands to out the company, Madhouse. The ensuing controversy has divided the citizenry into two camps: those who thought it was hilarious, with some asking how they can buy a pair, and those who found it offensive.
"Now normally I am the type of person who can stomach, and often smile along, with a touch of what has just become known as casual sexist 'banter,’ " Barnett, digital media editor for the the Daily Telegraph, wrote in a column.
"Usually sexist jibes, statements, or even t-shirt logos, have some kind of juvenile or puerile humour to them. There’s more often than not a slight hint of tongue-in-cheek that allows most women to just pass off the remark or slogan as ‘stupid banter’ – even if they are seething inside," she said.
"There was no attempt at wit, and unlike the Topman t-shirts, which offended so many with their brazen slogans to be worn across young men’s chests – this was a hidden message – or rather an order, intended to encourage women to reassume their once their ‘proper place’ (in the home) and young men to maintain the expectations of their grandfathers.
Many who took up the issue on social media agreed with her.
"Way to alienate a substantial part of your potential customer base :O," Mfy Nixon said, echoing the sentiments of many who would later join the discussion on Twitter.
Others, including women, saw humor in the situation, from the label itself to the ensuing controversy.
"Wash labels in these chinos say "Give it to your woman" #SexistHeros …although women all over will riot. #BigMistake," Joe Richardson said.
"Can't take the joke, don't buy them. Now go fix my dinner," Ms. Melisa Kim said.
Others criticized Madhouse for taking a day to respond with the claim that the trousers were manufactured by a brand they stock and that they did not proof the care instructions.
"There was never any intention to offend it is obvious that we need to be a lot more careful when proofing sold goods," Madhouse said on its Twitter feed. "If we had noticed the label the items would never of been put in our stores. A mistake was made and we apologise for this."
The company has not issued a statement and did not respond to phone and e-mail requests for comment. But it has been responding to tweets, including those showing support.
"Glad to see that someone has found it funny. We did not instigate this and the labels on supplied jeans will be proofed better," the company said in response to a comment that the label was "brilliant."
What do you think about the tag? Weigh in and let us know in the comments below.
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I saw the same instruction on my box of condoms.
lol
lol x2
where you located at baby
at the LAAAUUNDRY MAAAT. :'(
Candi – who's at the Laundromat? The ladies!!
My Dad operated a laundromat, and in addition to fixing the washers; he provided washing and drying service. A reason: people, both men and women, cram their washers where nothing gets clean AND damage the machines.
Is this a CANDI I know????
Dear Illiterate -
There are so many things wrong with this reply. "Where you located" and "at"...seriously?!!! Did you go to school and get a diploma? You might want to revisit grammar 101. This label isn't funny or a "mistake" or "oversight" and I'm sure the PR people and the company are loving the publicity.
If we start asking readers here to go back to grammar school then we will have to address anchormen and women who perennially repeat it had to be done all "over again", where is it at, etc. They do it every day.
lol. I especially like to hear allegedly intelligent people say or write..."how come?"
It's like a big red R on your forehead so people can see it and know you're a retrad without having to listen to you any more than necessary.
You are absolutely correct.
Why you be givin a black guy a hard time about his language..LOL
Why is his grammer so important to you? Weirdo.....You must have nothing better to do than sit on blogs and correct people's spelling and grammer.
...or "grammar"....
Aren't you ashamed of yourself if i tell you that I speak better English and I was not raised in USA or UK? I'm much better at YOUR language than you, who undoubtedly consider yourself patriotic. LOL.
Vee – It's 'grammar'.
You know you misspelled grammar right?
Really???? Did you not see his user name?????
he was just axing a question.
Lighten up, he was just axing a question.
your about to forget that there going to be mad at you criticizing there grammar.
This is the first intelligent comment I have read thus far! lol
I disagree- the entire purpose of grammar is to convey a though to another person. If the other person can understand what is being said even with grammar and spelling errors than the ENTIRE purpose of grammar is accomplished. So long as the reader knows what is being said it does not make any diff if I write there, or their bc a normal human knows the which one is being referred to, now a computer would be confused if you didn't follow strict grammar rules but this little 3.5 brain of ours is capable of understanding grammar and spelling mistakes, so I find grammar and spelling comment for the most part meaningless and made by people who want to make a point about nothing. Also I find this tag extremely funny and am looking online to order a pair of them.
You forgot to put a comma before the conjunction "and." So apparently you need to take a refresher class yourself:) And it is funny.
You are so NOT funny....... also grammatically challenged.
... and of course "You are so not funny" is grammatically correct.
"There was never any intention to offend.. " Baloney. There was a CLEAR intention to offend. Saying that there wasn't after you've been outed doesn't change the facts of the matter.
I doubt there was any intention to offend. They just thought people would find it funny. They didn't count on people like you who enjoy being miserable.
Its funny, laugh and move on with your lives people.
This label is totally degrading to women. It is sad how many women think this is a joke and it funny. They would not think it was so funny if they had their voting rights taken away from them, or they were not allowed to drive a car, own property etc, etc like was the case not too long ago in this country.
Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
Quick call the whambulance!
It's sad to see so many uptight people with no sense of humor threatened by a little laundry tag. I don't think you have to worry about being the little housewifey stuck doing your man's laundry, because no man will be able to stand you.
The tag is juvenile at best. The company is lame for trying to deny they knew what was going on. So lame.
Great way to alienate your potential female clientele. Insignificant, sarcastic piece of inconvenience. I, for one, have better things to do without being mandated to wash "my man's" jeans. If it's MY idea, that's one thing. If I'm being told it's my
job, buy a washer or get a new lady. Whatever.
I'm with you, but I think men are even beyond that by now (souther states excluded) most men are self-sufficient- unlike my grandparents; stereotypes are usually ignored these days.
Or you could just get a sense of humor and not be threatened by a harmless little laundry tag.
My husband would have to put those pants back; he does the laundry... I'm too busy.
heheheh....awesome.
Women are overreacting for no reason, man just being man. One way joke, which is unfair. Everybody knows their jobs, but would be nicer if we could keep some dignity.
Oh come on...It WAS funny! It's not offensive to me and I am a woman...guess the difference is in the confidence one has...or doesn't. Lighten up people!!
Exactly, thank you for having a sense of humor
I might find this a bit funnier if it wasn't still true in SO many countries. You didn't know the label was there? Right. Someone knew. Fire them.
Its on a pair of mens Jeans and men find it funny, Women , well of course they dont, Thats life, But its funny!!!
Absolutely brilliant.
What do you say to a woman with two black eyes? Nothing... you already told her twice!
What do you say to a man who says, "What do you say to a woman with two black eyes? Nothing... you already told her twice!"? PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK. YOU ARE UNDER ARREST.