# What The Gun Industry Thinks Women Want **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 23, 2016, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490 "2016-05-23T21:47:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/1 "2016-05-23T21:47:56Z")
The gun industry’s lobbying arm, also known as the NRA, recently had it’s annual meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. Among the many manufacturers’ displays, were offerings specifically designed for women. I’ll post some clips from the article, but you really need to see the pictures to get the full idea of just how much they understand and respect the fairer sex. Pink guns! Pink shirts! Pink, pink pink! [http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/05/23/3780897/nra-meeting-women/](http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/05/23/3780897/nra-meeting-women/) > [@](#): > > Pink rifles. Pink magazines. Pink t-shirts declaring “Girls just wanna have guns” and “Shoot like a girl.” > … > But gun manufacturers and the NRA have not put much thought into their appeals to women. Many of their products are marketed using sexist stereotypes, calling women “smoking hot” and handguns “sexy” and “sleek.” > > “I’m convinced that there are absolutely no women on the NRA’s marketing team,” Watts joked. “They simultaneously objectify and degrade women and yet also want them to be customers. Those two things don’t go together.” ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/2 "2016-05-23T21:56:39Z")
I’ll believe you when you also pit the tool industry, and the barbecue grill industry. [https://www.google.com/search?q=pink+tools&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-1Muol\_HMAhUeEFIKHRVxCgwQ\_AUICCgC&biw=1166&bih=589](https://www.google.com/search?q=pink+tools&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-1Muol_HMAhUeEFIKHRVxCgwQ_AUICCgC&biw=1166&bih=589) [https://www.google.com/search?q=pink+barbecue+grills&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiguv3Al\_HMAhUKElIKHXpBDl4Q\_AUICCgC&biw=1166&bih=589](https://www.google.com/search?q=pink+barbecue+grills&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiguv3Al_HMAhUKElIKHXpBDl4Q_AUICCgC&biw=1166&bih=589) ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/3 "2016-05-23T22:01:11Z")
I will happily pit anyone and everyone who thinks that cute, pink, & frilly is automatically what women want. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/4 "2016-05-23T22:08:43Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > I’ll believe you when you also pit the tool industry, and the barbecue grill industry. > > [pink tools - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=pink+tools&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-1Muol_HMAhUeEFIKHRVxCgwQ_AUICCgC&biw=1166&bih=589) > > [pink barbecue grills - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=pink+barbecue+grills&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiguv3Al_HMAhUKElIKHXpBDl4Q_AUICCgC&biw=1166&bih=589) You’ll believe me? You think I’m lying about the existence of this article, the gun industry’s marketing, or what? What don’t you believe? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/5 "2016-05-23T22:12:56Z")
But, but, [brightly-colored guns that look like toys are such a great idea!](http://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/girls-with-guns-women-pink/2015/03/08/id/627674/) > [@](#): > > Business Insider reported on a story in which a 7-year-old child thought an unsecured pink gun was a toy and shot, and killed her 3-year-old brother with it. […] > > According to Compton California school police officer Lorenzo Gray, custom color guns make “the job of the police officers really difficult: they might mistake a fake toy gun for a real one, and might shoot accidentally, in self-defense,” reports Mother Jones. But [it’s not just the color that’s a problem:](http://www.offthegridnews.com/self-defense/3-things-women-should-avoid-when-shopping-for-a-gun/) > [@](#): > > There’s a lot to be desired, however, in most handguns marketed towards women. […] we still feel that most dedicated lady guns are still a bad choice for most female shooters. Here’s why: […] > > .25 ACP and .32 ACP are calibers that were originally intended for “pocket pistols” and have been around for decades. They are the original caliber for both pocket guns – and purse guns. While there are still an innumerable amount of these little pistols out there, most small gun manufacturers have mostly switched to .380 for things like backup guns – as well as lady guns. Therefore, most women, when presented with a range of firearms chamberings, will usually be starting their selection process with a selection that is entirely composed of underpowered cartridges. […] > > We understand that the female hand needs a smaller and more compact form factor to safely and effectively grip the weapon, but this does not necessarily mean that the pistol needs to sport a 2” barrel. A 3” barrel is still very concealable and will result in a greater sight radius, more velocity, and essentially more accuracy. […] > > Many a lady gun has been painted (often by the manufacturer) with whimsical colors and motifs that are intended to appeal to the female sense of fashion and design, as if a defensive handgun is merely a fashion accessory. There is a danger in this, however. Consider that presenting a pink handled gun with a Hello Kitty motif basically tells the world that you are less than serious about self-defense. Anyhoo, the “pinkification” of [tech marketed to women](http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/03/does-this-smartphone-make-me-look-stupid-meet-the-ladyphones/) is very widespread. > [@](#): > > Product pinkification does bother people (see the reasons given below). But personally, I’m more concerned about a nefarious type of lady gadget that companies now push routinely: a gadget that isn’t just “feminine” in color but is “feminine” in use. These are gadgets _for women_. If you suspect they are more patronizing than the pink versions of existing products could ever be, you would be correct. […] > > Corporate attempts to bring women into the technological fold, while sometimes insulting, aren’t bad in themselves. And they make sense. […] > > But that’s no reason to make ladyphones worse than regular handsets and then overcharging for them. By all means, gadget makers, reach out more to women—just realize that making your products pink, terrible, and accompanied by a blush compact is a ham-handed way to do it. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/6 "2016-05-23T22:13:17Z")
> [@saje](#): > > I will happily pit anyone and everyone who thinks that cute, pink, & frilly is automatically what women want. It may not be “automatically” true but let’s be honest here: women _are_ buying these things for themselves. Even if pink and frilly only appeals to 30% of women, that’s a market demographic you’d be an idiot to ignore. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/7 "2016-05-23T22:14:39Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > I’ll believe you when you also pit the tool industry, and the barbecue grill industry. But if pink screwdrivers or pink spatulas get mistaken for toys, the results are usually less lethal. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/8 "2016-05-23T22:24:47Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > But if pink screwdrivers or pink spatulas get mistaken for toys, the results are usually less lethal. Exactly. Being whimsical or whatever with tools and cookware is, while possibly insulting to some, at least physically harmless; but there’s no place for cutesy with firearms. If women are really drawn towards “feminized” firearms then the NRA should be educating them against that. I think that’s probably what the old, original, non-lobbyist NRA would have done. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/9 "2016-05-23T22:24:57Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > I’ll believe you when you also pit the tool industry, and the barbecue grill industry. > > [pink tools - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=pink+tools&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-1Muol_HMAhUeEFIKHRVxCgwQ_AUICCgC&biw=1166&bih=589) > > [pink barbecue grills - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=pink+barbecue+grills&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiguv3Al_HMAhUKElIKHXpBDl4Q_AUICCgC&biw=1166&bih=589) Pink barbecue grills are one thing. Pink tools might make some sense though. One company built toolkits made for women - smaller handles for smaller than average hands, lighter hammers, etc. It’s not unreasonable, if not wholly necessary, to color code them as it were. That said, making them available only in pink seems dubious to me. [http://www.reliableremodeler.com/blog/index.php/2011/09/21/in-the-pink-home-improvement-tools-for-women/](http://www.reliableremodeler.com/blog/index.php/2011/09/21/in-the-pink-home-improvement-tools-for-women/) ETA: I see that black and purple are also alternatives: [https://www.pinterest.com/pin/44965696253102580/](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/44965696253102580/) ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/10 "2016-05-23T23:06:20Z")
's what happens when guys try to figure out how to market to women. “Make it a bit smaller. And throw some pink on it.” I see plenty of hunting clothes for women where they have pink interspersed into the camouflage pattern. Though to be fair it’s not all like that. > [@Kimstu](#): > > Anyhoo, the “pinkification” of [tech marketed to women](http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/03/does-this-smartphone-make-me-look-stupid-meet-the-ladyphones/) is very widespread. this has been going on for some time. in 1955 Dodge released a car called the “La Femme” which had such appointments as pink flower-pattern seats (with matching raincoat and umbrella,) as well as cosmetics accessories: > **[Chrysler La Comtesse and Dodge La Femme, 1954-56](https://www.allpar.com/threads/chrysler-la-comtesse-and-dodge-la-femme-1954-56.228726/?post_id=1085222824&nested_view=1&sortby=oldest#post-1085222824)** The wikipedia entry notes that it was a “marketing flop.” > **[Dodge La Femme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_La_Femme)** > > The Dodge La Femme is a full-sized automobile that was produced by Dodge between 1955 and 1956. The automobile was specifically designed for women. The La Femme option was available on 1955 and 1956 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer models. > The La Femme stemmed from the observation of Chrysler's marketing department that more women were taking an interest in automobiles during the 1950s, and that women's opinions on which color car to buy was becoming part of the decision-making process for couples buyi... ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/11 "2016-05-23T23:19:47Z")
My spouse and I at one point were contemplating a gun purchase. As I was browsing in one aisle I overheard my spouse telling the clerk behind the counter “whatever you do, don’t offer her anything in pink!” Clerk responded “So, she wants a serious firearm, then?” Which really, is another part of the problem - pink things aren’t taken seriously. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/12 "2016-05-23T23:40:17Z")
In defense of Pink. I grew up in a house with many brothers and male cousins. I love the color pink. What items I couldn’t buy pink (which in those days was a lot), I would spray paint pink or cover with pink nail polish designs (cute little roses were my specialty). Pink was guy kryptonite. Even now, pink keeps DH out of my things better than any serious conversation about personal space. I believe the man would seriously risk dehydration than carry around one of my pink water bottles and of course pink cans of TAB soda fill our refrigerator (so I never have to wonder if there is cold diet soda waiting for me). If they would only make high quality guns in pink I would happily buy them, if for no other reason than that pink would be more discouraging to any of the young males in my house than the strongest gun safe. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/13 "2016-05-24T00:20:02Z")
And yet, my coworker has a purple-framed Glock .380. And the NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB all sell pink jerseys/replica uniforms. That some are offended by stereotypes does not mean that they have no basis in reality or that they don’t appeal to the targeted subset of customers. If they didn’t sell you can be sure they wouldn’t waste money trying to sell them. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/14 "2016-05-24T01:22:48Z")
Daisy, along with its official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle WITHOUT a compass in the stock because they got cheap and those compasses sucked, has the same gun, sans the Red Ryder stamp, with pink furniture. I don’t know which one I should get for my adult daughter. Maybe the one with no commercial tie-in but with a scope and the ability to also use pellets. Nah, nobody would take the pink one seriously so she can plink targets and squirrels and the cops would just think it’s cute. That’s a plan! Marry her off to a cop! It would be so romantic: he’s called to the scene of somebody testing just how high squirrels can jump. His eyes lock on her amusingly girly gun, while she can only see his shiny Glock while visions of a lifetime of free range time pass through her head. _sniff_ Brings a tear to a father’s eye. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/15 "2016-05-24T01:55:00Z")
> [@saje](#): > > I will happily pit anyone and everyone who thinks that cute, pink, & frilly is automatically what women want. > [@dracoi](#): > > It may not be “automatically” true but let’s be honest here: women _are_ buying these things for themselves. Even if pink and frilly only appeals to 30% of women, that’s a market demographic you’d be an idiot to ignore. Indeed. Pink sells. It may be an unfortunate fact of life, but it seems to work. At least lately. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/16 "2016-05-24T01:58:47Z")
“Plink Pink”…? You can deposit that check into my PayPal, Madison Avenue… ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/17 "2016-05-24T01:58:56Z")
I respect the right of other people to choose pink, but what pisses me off is when it is the ONLY “option” given to me, or to women. We are not clones or copies. Some of us like pink, some of us prefer other colors. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/18 "2016-05-24T02:20:36Z")
Lavender? Cerise? How about walnut, as God intended? And the metal in dark blue, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/19 "2016-05-24T02:34:12Z")
After much debate, pink is ok for a very small demographic. But, inherently unsafe for those who are not gun owners proper. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490/20 "2016-05-24T03:01:58Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > Pink was guy kryptonite. Even now, pink keeps DH out of my things better than any serious conversation about personal space. That’s the #MasculinitySoFragile motif that pops up from time to time on the intarwebz, when marketers get mocked for thinking that they have to make special “manly-looking” versions of household cleaning and personal hygiene products because OF COURSE IT WILL DESTROY A GUY’S MANHOOD IF HE EVEN TOUCHES A PRODUCT THAT’S STYLED EVEN REMOTELY FEMININE. Of course, the marketers are laughing all the way to the bank, because “pinkifying” special versions of certain “men’s” products to market them to women, while “manlifying” special versions of certain “women’s” products to market them to men, means that couples have to have two of everything. Ka-ching! I’m surprised they haven’t got “His and Hers” kitchen spoons and wastebaskets by now. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gun-industry-thinks-women-want/755490.md?page=2)