Posted on 03/21/2007 12:56:18 PM PDT by WesternCulture
The Swedish Consumers Association (Sveriges Konsumentråd) has reacted angrily to one of the ice pops in GB's new line. 'Girlie', a star-shaped, pink ice-cream with glitter make-up stored inside the stick, is entirely inappropriate, according to the association.
"I question whether there is a demand," said secretary general Jan Bertoft.
The raspberry-flavoured novelty ice cream was just one of a new range presented by GB at the beginning of March.
According to GB, the 'Girlie' ice pop signals a "sense of summer", "star status" and "a disco feeling".
The Swedish Consumers Association however uses an entirely different word: "gender-profiling".
"Girlie, GB's new ice pop, is pink and has make-up inside the stick. It says a lot about what GB thinks about girls and how they should be," said the association in a statement.
According to the consumer watchdog, Sweden does not need more products that reinforce existing prejudices surrounding young boys and girls.
"Especially with a product as neutral as ice cream," said Jan Bertoft.
He would like to see alterations made to the product to make it less gender specific.
"They can call an ice pop 'Girlie' if they want, but it doesn't have to be so clearly aimed at young girls and telling them how they should be," said Bertoft.
GB's marketing manager, Christoffer Schreil, considers it unfortunate that some people have viewed the ice cream as being directed solely at girls.
"It is not out intention to exclude either boys or girls as consumers of our ice cream. We target everybody.
"We think Girlie is a fun ice cream with a retro feel," he said.
Schreil hopes that plenty of boys will buy the product but admits there have been a few complaints.
"We reply to everybody who gets in touch and tell that we certainly did not mean to reinforce or cement gender roles in any way," he said.
GB has no plans to withdraw the product or make any alterations.
"It's not something we have considered yet, no," said Schreil.
It is not the first time that GB has landed in the spotlight. Two years ago its marketing campaign for liquorice ice cream Nogger Black was deemed racist by the Centre against Racism (Centrum mot Rasism).
Is it possible that GB is making a conscious attempt to get free advertising by stirring up controversy?
Absolutely not. We work with ice cream and just want it to be lots of fun. We like arouse feelings, but we absolutely do not want to aggravate anybody," said Schreil.
Liberalism is indeed Mental Disorder.
That would take a half-gallon of ice cream to hide inside!......much less put it on a stick!.............
"Sweden is whacked. Maybe their brains freeze from the cold?"
- I don't know what part of the world you're from, but in any case, our standard of living most likely is superior to yours and our nine year olds probably tower above scholars from your dwellings in the area of mastering the english language.
No, silly... it's designed to suggest that girls are for oral sex. A popsicle is rather phallic, but like bananas and frankfurters it lacks any sexual context. Make it pink (near skin tone), and market it under gender roles, however, and the incidental phallic nature becomes more unavoidable
If you read the REST of the post, (and if you're not an entirely p****whipped girlie-man) you'd know why I asked the question.
A movement to make men SIT to pee?
Sit, Ingvar. Sit.
ROFL!
Its ice cream for goddness sake. Is that all they can worry about while Malmo is burning?
Everybody knows ice cream must be unhealthy and therefore it should be banned by the food PC police anyway. Girlie or not.
Geez, why don't these Swedes just let the market decide if girls are 'like that' or not.
Why, I find that to be completely ... err ... completely ... (what's the word?)
"ROFL!"
- That's the eighties.
You need a sit down, clown.
ROTFLMAOWPABSFATH!
(Rolling on the floor laughing my a** off while playing a bass solo for all to hear)
Greetings!
Guideline:
I wasn't all that serious, but anyhow, Swedish nine year olds probably...now, what's the.. I've forgotten the..
Anyhow, Skål!
"Geez, why don't these Swedes just let the market decide if girls are 'like that' or not"
- This kind of attitude is the foremost reason why I love the US Americans.
Clear sighted you are.
Greetings from Europe!
"Schreil hopes that plenty of boys will buy the product ..."
The boys are still reeling from being slandered for standing up to pee. It may be a little early to expect them start eating girlie cones...
Just make an ice cream called "Boys," put lizards and icky things in the stick and call it even.
"Schreil hopes that plenty of boys will buy the product but admits there have been a few complaints"
- I suspect Schreil to have a little girlie inside of him. (Not saying there's anything wrong with being female, I admire females who dare to be female today).
Mr Schreil, why not seriously consider launching a product bearing a REAL product name?
I suggest something along the lines of "Intruder", "Commander" or "Six Shooter".
It will sell for sure, your employer will reward you, your wife will forgive you and you're bound to wear a confident smile whenever you visit your local bank.
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