I'll Be Back...

A work associate of DH forwarded me this article from the Washington Post thinking I might like to post about it. He was right, but maybe not for the reasons he had in mind (trendspotting-wise). I like cute things like puppies and bunnies as much as anyone; I use the word to describe things around me occasionally and I buy lots of cute clothes... for my six-year-old daughter. I've never, ever, ever desired a cute utensil, tool or barbeque grill.

I don't need a t-shirt with TinkerBell on it, a key that tells everyone I'm a Libra or a screwdriver that no one will mistake for DH's, because it's pink. Believe me, every tool in our house belongs to me, even the Black and Decker circular saw. DH is a whizz when it comes to mobile technology and all, but if you ever see him holding a circular saw, run—as fast as you can—your life may be in danger.

I think it's fine for women to acquire things that make them happy and while cute may not be my style, I see nothing wrong with grown-ups dressing in Winnie-the-Pooh embroidered denim shirts—well, ok, bad example, but I expect some people think wearing black nail polish at my age is a little inappropriate too. To each her own. I do have to wonder why some women just don't feel comfortable using products that haven't been feminized in some way. (I wonder if Pandagon or Feministing have ever posted on this issue?) I don't really think a cheese grater that looks like a doll really makes all that much sense to anyone, unless you have a doll-themed kitchen of course and then, well, have your Madame Alexander way with your parmesan.

The WP calls this trend cutility (does that make the items themselves cuticles... ) and while the article does not explicitly specify that these items are marketed primarily to women, it does use "fanciful," "whimsy," "cutsey" and "sassy" to describe the products. I think most males would shy away from buying something described as being "whimsical,"  so I'm calling the Cuterminator to put an end to all this nonsense.