Ellen Meets the iPad
April 6th 2011 16:55
When Apple’s iPad first came on the market, there was an immediate outcry from certain people denouncing the “sexism” of the name. This outcry was led perhaps most notably in the US by newspaper columnist Ellen Goodman.
Why was this an issue to Ellen and so many others? Well, for those who don’t know or who perhaps live in places where other terms are used, the word “pad” is often used to refer to a certain item of feminine hygiene. I will not describe this item further here. You can look it up if you’re curious. It’s enough to say it’s a common term.
And why was Ellen so offended? It seems that the feminine hygiene use is so common that she and other critics completely forgot that the word has any other use. That’s right, they co-opted the word “pad.” (See my post about the word “green” for more talk about co-opting.)
By her logic, then, ANY use of the word pad refers to this and no other meaning. And what does this mean? Let’s see — any phrase or compound word ending in “...pad” must refer to this particular item. So if Ellen’s logic is correct, then...
Thinkpad — means you think about it a lot.
Notepad — means you write on it.
Shoulder pad — means you’re built kind of funny, I guess.
Mouse pad — really, really tiny.
Launch pad? — Wow! I don’t want to think about that one.
And there are more: touch pad, key pad, brake pad, ink pad, lily pad... Make up your own jokes.
Are these jokes sexist? I suppose, if you follow Ellen’s logic. But remember, she’s the one who implied that the word can have only one connotation, isn’t she?
No, the word pad has many alternate, innocent, completely non-sexist meanings. Really, it does. Now, I don’t know if the folks at Apple were having a little sexist joke. Maybe they were, maybe they weren’t.
But Ellen — lighten up. If you’re so mad about them calling it an iPad, maybe we should call that other thing a “shePad.”
Would that make you feel better?
Why was this an issue to Ellen and so many others? Well, for those who don’t know or who perhaps live in places where other terms are used, the word “pad” is often used to refer to a certain item of feminine hygiene. I will not describe this item further here. You can look it up if you’re curious. It’s enough to say it’s a common term.
And why was Ellen so offended? It seems that the feminine hygiene use is so common that she and other critics completely forgot that the word has any other use. That’s right, they co-opted the word “pad.” (See my post about the word “green” for more talk about co-opting.)
By her logic, then, ANY use of the word pad refers to this and no other meaning. And what does this mean? Let’s see — any phrase or compound word ending in “...pad” must refer to this particular item. So if Ellen’s logic is correct, then...
Thinkpad — means you think about it a lot.
Notepad — means you write on it.
Shoulder pad — means you’re built kind of funny, I guess.
Mouse pad — really, really tiny.
Launch pad? — Wow! I don’t want to think about that one.
And there are more: touch pad, key pad, brake pad, ink pad, lily pad... Make up your own jokes.
Are these jokes sexist? I suppose, if you follow Ellen’s logic. But remember, she’s the one who implied that the word can have only one connotation, isn’t she?
No, the word pad has many alternate, innocent, completely non-sexist meanings. Really, it does. Now, I don’t know if the folks at Apple were having a little sexist joke. Maybe they were, maybe they weren’t.
But Ellen — lighten up. If you’re so mad about them calling it an iPad, maybe we should call that other thing a “shePad.”
Would that make you feel better?
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