Blantant Misogyny Brought to You by Nestle and the Blind Pig

Around 9:15pm on Monday night, September 25th, I went to the Blind Pig as part of a birthday celebration for a friend and saw ads prominently displaying the following candy wrapper on the tables.

If you can’t read the label, it says, “IT’S NOT FOR GIRLS!” And also “NOT AVAILABLE IN PINK”

I was a bit taken aback and asked my friends what they thought of the candy wrapper. I thought it was blatantly misogynistic, and that any attempt at “humor” the wrapper was trying to convey was poorly conceived, as would a wrapper that said “Not for Homosexuals” or “Not for Brown People.” My friends, male graduate student philosophers, seemed not to mind the wrapper, but agreed that it was slightly misogynistic, though perhaps that was somehow the “point.” One friend said maybe I should give Nestle credit for being openly misogynistic instead of trying to hide their misogyny behind clever jokes.

I decided to ask the bartender why the Blind Pig was advertising this misogynistic candy. There was a list of eight different candy bars, so why did they choose this particular wrapper to display? As I approached the bar, I saw a bartender, number 022, straightening chairs, apparently not too busy, so I asked him, “Why do you have this misogynistic display on your tables?” He immediately straightened up and looked at me like I was a lunatic. I should add here that I had had nothing alcoholic to drink and was not being antagonistic in demeanor or tone. He asked me why not. I said the wrapper was misogynistic and I wanted to know why they choose to use it as a display. He said that was the company’s fault, not Blind Pig’s. I said, I’m sorry, did the company send you these promotional materials? I’d assumed you made them yourselves. Well, yes, they’d made the materials, but the company made the wrapper. But, I said, you chose to use this particular wrapper and I’m wondering why: it’s clearly misogynistic. No, it’s not. It’s not? I said. Not to anyone but you. You think I’m the only person who finds this wrapper and display misogynistic? Yes, you are the single only person who would. Everyone else has a sense of humor. He was quite angry with me at this time, puffing out his chest and speaking in a sneering tone. I said, “So misogyny is funny? Ok.” And walked away before he could become any more visibly upset with me. I thought about asking the female bartender about the display, but by then I was upset and didn’t want that to color the reasonable discourse I wanted to have about the bar’s decision to:

1. Sell this particular candy bar
2. Use this particular candy bar as the advertisement for the rest

I don’t think misogyny is funny. I don’t think making it so obvious that it’s supposed to be a joke makes it a joke. I think misogyny is a very real problem that all women face on practically a daily basis. I left the bar, unwilling to line 022’s pockets with my money.