Following a complaint from The ManKind Initiative (link), Superdrug have withdrawn from their stores an inflatable punch-bag that encouraged women to hit men. They have also pledged to donate any profits to the charity that helps male domestic violence victims.
The box and the punch bag encouraged the owner to insert a photograph of a man where the face is. In addition, the box and punch bag has an arrow pointing to the head stating ‘hit him here’ and an arrow pointing to the groin stating ‘kick him here’.
Mark Brooks, Chairman of The ManKind Initiative, said: “As a charity that receives hundreds of calls a year from distressed men suffering from domestic violence, it is disgraceful that a national retailer like Superdrug should be openly selling products encouraging such acts. We are demanding that they remove these offensive ‘Christmas gifts’ immediately.
“The fact that Superdrug rightly does not sell a similar product encouraging domestic violence against women or violence against animals suggests violence against a man is more acceptable. This is characteristic of the brick wall that male victims face in terms of lack of support, understanding and acceptance.”
Thankfully Superdrug acted responsibly in removing the offedning items from their stores.
The story was covered in The Guardian (link), The Times (link) and elsewhere (link), (link) and (link).
There is disturbing evidence that this is a symptom of the general rubbishing of cooperative relationships. The obvious misandry here is less frequently challenged but there is evidence that both sexes seem to be encouraged to see relationships as arenas for conflict and revenge. shhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/5092100.stmows
Posted by: Nigel | Monday, 10 December 2007 at 14:45