Business

Sexist Jeans? Clothing Label Tells Wearers Washing Clothes Is ‘Job’ of ‘Your Woman’

The British retailer “Madhouse” has caused a firestorm across the pond, and on Twitter, for the “sexist” trousers they sell.

The jeans, first brought to the public‘s attention by Emma Barnett of London’s Daily Telegraph, have the care instructions you’ve probably become accustomed to seeing.  The label begins “Machine Wash Warm.  Inside Out With Like Colors…Tumble Dry Medium,” but after that comes, “-OR- Give It To Your Woman.  It’s Her Job.”

Sexist...Jeans? Wait Until You See the Label

Photo: Emma Barnett

It seems as though this label is not part of the “brand” or image of the jeans, but was simply stumbled upon by unsuspecting customers.  According to Ms. Barnett:

Sexist...Jeans? Wait Until You See the Label

An example of a "Topman" T-Shirt (Photo: Mail Online)

There was no attempt at wit, and unlike the Topman t-shirts, which offended so many with their brazen slogans to be worn across young men’s chests – this was a hidden message – or rather an order, intended to encourage women to reassume their once their ‘proper place’ (in the home) and young men to maintain the expectations of their grandfathers.

Even the language – ‘Your Woman’ – presupposed some kind of Neanderthal mentality from my boyfriend, an unwilling shopper after some affordable chinos – preferably not lined with sexist imperatives.

And after she posted the image of the label on Twitter, Barnett said:

…tweeters were soon expressing their own shock at the washing instruction and letting me know that they would boycott Madhouse – even though the majority of them had never heard of this discounts men’s clothing shop. The subject even started trending on Twitter.

But then, cue the predictable minority chorus of men telling me to “lighten up” and “learn how to take a joke”…One man told me not to “get my knickers in a twist” – which albeit patronising, was at least an attempt at humour.

And what does the retailer, Madhouse, have to say about all this?  Their representative, Mikk Tesseras, insists that they are not responsible for the tag, rather, the pants are commissioned and manufactured abroad, and the care tag is added after manufacturing.  An investigation is currently underway as to how this particular tag got on the jeans.

So what do you think? Is it wildly inappropriate to sneak this sort of comment into someone’s clothing, or is it just a practical joke gone wrong?

Comments (142)

1 2 3 4
  • Shotgun_Melee
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:40pm

    Hilarious and totally acceptable. Occasionally, a man needs to have the brute coaxed out of him.

    Report Post » Shotgun_Melee  
    • galderan
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 5:51pm

      I want one! Where can I get them? They HAVE to have the tag tho..

      Report Post »  
    • Candertwin
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 6:34pm

      I laughed. I think that I would have to wash those myself if I wanted one. I guess if you are offended, then don’t buy them.

      Report Post »  
    • Melvin Spittle
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 8:04pm

      So if I am climbing power towers all day and my spouse is home raising our children, I fully expect that she will do the laundry. There is no doubt that I accept my responsibility to provide for my family and my spouse accepts her equally important responsibility to raise our children and support me as I support her. OMG! I must be a sexist neanderthal throw back!

      Young children need mothers, not nannies to raise them. Our society has been duped by the feminist movement that has now classified the role of a housewife as modern day slavery. There is a reason it takes tow incomes these days to maintain an existence. The flood of women in the workplace and federal laws have effectively depressed the value of a dollar as the tow income model is now the rule and our economy has adjusted to this rule, taking mom’s out of the house and compelling them to work in order to make ends meet. Yes, in many cases women are now making more than their husbands in a small percentage of cases that grows each year.

      In today’s secular society there is no difference between men and women and if you attempt to point out the obvious differences, you are labeled a sexist.

      Report Post » Melvin Spittle  
    • txbigfoot
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 10:39pm

      Those offended need to get a life.

      Report Post » txbigfoot  
    • spikebu
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 12:02am

      As an college educated woman who gave up her career to stay home and raise the kids, the career would have been a much easier and less fulfilling life. I would love to see a label like this while doing laundry! I can‘t believe this company said they didn’t do it!! What dopes.

      Report Post »  
    • charleyrocks
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 7:19am

      so indeed while black men cry foul about being discriminated, well males of all colors, who cleans your toilet? Oh and by the way the man who says that is his wifes duty huh did you ever think that she does it because she wants to not because she has to? the laundry

      Report Post » charleyrocks  
    • Jinglebob
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:07pm

      Great. Smile, take a deep breath and enjoy.

      Report Post » Jinglebob  
    • LCrabb04
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 1:03pm

      That is so funny. I remember though at one point in my life, I was maybe 8, my grandfather told me that as a girl I didn’t need to learn how to do laundry cause I knew how to do it instinctively. He said it in such a way that I took it as a HUGE compliment, and still do. Love you Grandpa!!

      Report Post »  
  • ShyLow
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:38pm

    Arizona jeans AZ and Levi 501…God sent me to serve as Launders soap

    Report Post » ShyLow  
    • ShyLow
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 1:11pm

      I threw a bottle of strawberry wine near an officer reading magazines on March 20 2000…Revelations 3:20…Behold I stand at the door and knock… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zHqI3KVWE4&feature=relmfu My court date came on May 1st or 501…May 1st was the day Penny and I split up…The stone which was rejected…The first high priest was named Aaron and given the tribe of Levi…My name is Aaron…God is in me as he was in The First High Priest…The blue-jean thing is a play on words and is my geanealogy Lincoln me to Aaron The First High Priest…as is my Linc to Abraham being on a Penny…Gas prices were $1.44 a gallon the day I threw the wine…No one knows the day or the hour The Wine will be ready for tasting

      Report Post » ShyLow  
    • AZRACISTBIGOT
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 1:37pm

      Does Deluth put this tag in their “Ball Room” jeans?

      Report Post »  
    • flyoverbob
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 7:33pm

      @ShyLow
      you’ll like be ok dude,like just like wear your like tin foil hat and like take your meds

      Report Post »  
    • ShyLow
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 7:59pm

      @bob You don‘t have to like God giving me a rise in the Levi’s…

      Report Post » ShyLow  
    • spikebu
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 12:16am

      You couldn‘t pay me to wear another pair of Levi’s.

      Report Post »  
  • Republic for the people
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:36pm

    Its racist too “wash with like colors”

    Report Post »  
  • Kankokage
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:24pm

    PC humorless nits. I think it’s freaking hilarious – and so does my wife.

    Report Post » Kankokage  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 2:35pm

      This is a hoot! And if you don’t have a wife, mother, sister, etc., wash them yourself. Ya gotta love a company with a sense of humor.

      Report Post »  
    • pamela kay
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 3:04pm

      KANKOKAGE; Maybe it meant if you wash them the wrong way they will shrink and then fit your woman? Either way it is still funny. I have no problem washing my mans jeans. I do all of the laundry that way I know two things…..He looks good when he goes out the door………& I know that it is done right………………….!

      Report Post » pamela kay  
    • MadeintheUSA2
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 3:14pm

      I think this is soooo funny and I want to buy something with that label in it! I am a wife and mother—it is part of my job to care for my family. The stupid feminists act like to care for your family is a bad thing. Not all women think like the “twisted freaks on the left”. I love caring for my husband, my 17 year old son and my now grown daughter (if she lets me). Everybody, please, lighten up and enjoy the clever marketing of that label! It is sassy and has all of our attention. Ain’t that the point of selling a product–to grab the attention of a customer? Love it. Now off to find this so I can buy something.

      Report Post »  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 3:15pm

      PAMELA, learned in my first year of marriage (41 yrs ago), when my husband turned my favorite maternity dress into a top, that I would always be the one to do the wash. Rather do the wash than clean house anyday!

      Report Post »  
    • OklahomaBound
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 4:35pm

      If a guy is single can he give his laundry to ‘A woman’ for cleaning since he doesn‘t have someone to call ’His woman’?

      Looks like qu eer “men” will have to figure out which one is the woman in their “relationships”, both probably want that title.

      Report Post » OklahomaBound  
    • TumbleBumble
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 10:49pm

      I found it funny! I proudly wash my family’s clothes. The only thing I wish my husband could do (as far as the household duties go) is make a good pot of coffee. :)

      Report Post » TumbleBumble  
  • TheVOR
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:22pm

    Prior to this article, who had heard of the British retailer “Madhouse”?

    I now think we know how, and why this happened.

    Mission Accomplished…More free advertising, than they possibly could have paid for.

    Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:22pm

    I think it’s funny. I always washed the clothes and the only rule I had was if my husband or son left money in their pockets I got to keep it.

    Report Post »  
    • thekuligs
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:57pm

      This is our rule too. I wash all the laundry–the husband tries to help but I am tired of having things dyed blue or pink XD

      Report Post » thekuligs  
    • texasoysterman
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 2:51pm

      @THEKULIGS

      Hey sweetie, your husband is playing you…Many years ago when I washed a few loads of colors and whites in hot water, my wife banned me from washing any more clothes.

      Report Post » texasoysterman  
    • thekuligs
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 3:54pm

      That‘s what I though too but last time he washed a ball point pen with his Air Force ABU’s the night before he was going TDY.

      Report Post » thekuligs  
  • simplygilly
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:19pm

    Cut a little slack. Maybe they were intended for sale in Muslim countries were it would be perfectly acceptable and not offensive.

    Report Post » simplygilly  
    • TheArbiter
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 1:23pm

      Agreed! However, this article has nothing to do with Muslims. Onward! Let us march to one that does so we can make fun of the pedophile prophet on the correct article!

      Report Post » TheArbiter  
    • BellTollsForThee
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 2:00pm

      so much LOL @ THEARBITER

      Report Post » BellTollsForThee  
  • THX-1138
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:19pm

    Gonna go clothes shopping now…

    Report Post » THX-1138  
  • xoke
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:17pm

    Oh come on people. TAKE A JOKE. Good God, what have we become? That’s funny, get over it.

    Report Post » xoke  
    • iahp_mom
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:28pm

      I think it’s funny. Women these days use any excuse to get into a tizzy. How about, instead of getting mad, we just put a label on doors that direct men to open them, or on lawnmowers….

      Report Post »  
    • SolanumVexus
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 1:03pm

      @iahp_mom

      I detect sarcasm in your reply but I guarantee I’d be laughing my butt off if I came to a door with instructions to open it for your wife/girlfriend.

      Besides, a tag telling a man to give his jeans to his woman to clean also implies he’s too stupid to take care of himself!

      Report Post »  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:13pm

    I wash my husbands clothes…if laundry was his job at home we would have a $1500 a month dry cleaning bill haha. people need to lighten up it is quite entertaining to see what the liberal pc police will complain about next

    Report Post »  
    • DR.POP
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:26pm

      If he did not have you, he would really just wear dirty clothes and spend the $1500 of beer and strip clubs.

      Report Post »  
    • NICHOLAS.STL
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 2:41pm

      100% true.

      Man its tough being a atheist republican. oh well, i am who i am.

      Report Post » NICHOLAS.STL  
  • jingoistic.patriot
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:08pm

    The tag was probably put on the jeans in a Muslim country. There. That should pacify the liberals in the U.K. who have handed their country over to the Muslim fanatics.

    Report Post »  
  • cookcountypatriot
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:07pm

    oh hell no….problem is..most women tdy cant do a simple load of clothes…or cook.or clean…..useless except for one thing…that they are good at……

    Report Post » cookcountypatriot  
    • chips1
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:20pm

      Hey!!!! My wife reads this blog. March is going to be a lonely month. Glad I stocked up on Soup!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • TheArbiter
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 1:29pm

      sounds like someone needs to step out of their cave and meet a real woman. but then again, you are in crook county. or hey! gay civil unions are legal in illinois now! and since you don’t seem to prefer women…..

      Report Post » TheArbiter  
  • RebelBroker
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:04pm

    Where can I buy a pair of these!

    Report Post » RebelBroker  
  • Ducky 1
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:56am

    ROFL………Love this story. As a woman I know I will get it washed correctly!!

    Report Post » Ducky 1  
    • copatriots
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:01pm

      Thought the same thing, DUCKY. I wouldn’t want my man anywhere near doing the laundry. And I wouldn’t want to have to chop firewood. Hallelujah for the differences between men and women!

      Report Post »  
    • flyoverbob
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:16pm

      Iwas in a laundramat one night and this young girl was there with her mother.She said to her mother,oh look mom a man that can fold clothes.
      I told her,stay away from any guy that can fold clothes.It usually means he has lived alone for most of his life.

      Report Post »  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:18pm

      exactly! the one time my husband touched the washer he ruined the entire load of clothes by using half a bottle of detergent washed on hot with the setting on heavily soiled with a pair of his jeans with nails in the pocket with my delicates. oh well we had a laugh and used what was lef of the clothes as rags!

      Report Post »  
    • red1
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 2:02pm

      Haha I found all the ladies comments about this story pretty funny. I am forced to wash my own clothes. Would any of you being willing to do it for me?

      Report Post »  
  • GetRight
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:56am

    I think it is funny! My husband calls me “woman” all the time. We really need to relax and learn how to take a joke. I certainly see why the company would not want that in their jeans, but boycotting? Come on people! Lighten up!

    Report Post » GetRight  
  • snowdrop
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:55am

    Great way to get everyone talking about your product!

    As Oscar Wilde said “The only thing worse than being talked about, is not being talked about”.

    Report Post »  
  • flyoverbob
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:55am

    I don’t get it,whats wrong with the tag.Oh I see they spelled womin wrong.
    That -just shows you what stupid jerks some men are.

    I‘m goinng to show this to my wife as soon as she finish’s ironing my underwear and cmes back from her beer run

    Report Post »  
    • flyoverbob
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:39pm

      Can you delete a post? I think my wife looks at this site

      Report Post »  
    • flyoverbob
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:40pm

      Maybe X now EEEEEEEEEEEEEK

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:48pm

      ROFL Somehow I think your wife knows and appreciates your humor.

      Just in case though…….you can Report your own Post and tell the Blaze that the reason is self-defense of being hit over head with rolling pin. hehehe

      Report Post »  
  • Kitkarr
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:53am

    Its not inappropriate or “gone wrong,” its just a funny joke. Lighten up, world.

    Report Post » Kitkarr  
    • kaydeebeau
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:59am

      I think it is funny…
      Lighten up for crying out loud. Are libs missing the humor gene? I know they are missing the “detect / recognize sarcasm” gene

      Report Post » kaydeebeau  
  • 65Mustang
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:53am

    Why is this newsworthy…damn.

    Report Post »  
  • skiz
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:52am

    I was OK with the “give it to you woman” part. Mainly because my wife is the master of the wash. I would screw it up. But when I read the “it’s her job” part, that would be incorrect and my wife would kick my a$$ if I even thought that.

    Report Post » skiz  
    • 3monkeysmomma
      Posted on March 7, 2012 at 12:25pm

      Actually washing the families clothes and cleaning the house etc etc is my job.

      Glad I spent 4 years in college. :(

      Report Post » 3monkeysmomma  
  • Marci
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:51am

    Inappropriate? Yes. So don’t buy their products if you disagree with it, and shine a light on the inappropriateness, but leave the free market to decide what happens to them. Not groups trying to be pc for the dumbed down masses. (e.g. Rush)

    Report Post » Marci  
  • CatB
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:51am

    LOL .. my son would love that … since his mom (me) made him start to do his own laundry as soon as he was old enough to say “I don’t have any clean school clothes” and could reach the knobs on the washer! I always told him I didn‘t want to ever hear him say he didn’t know how to do his own laundry .. he is now 35 and still does his own laundry — he is very picky about it now .. I am sure he would NEVER let any woman do it!

    Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:50am

    .
    WTF? “-OR- Give It To Your Woman. It’s Her Job.”

    LMAO……Fella’s I Dare you to hand those Jeans tag first to your better half……….

    I’ll be standing by ready to dail 911. Just Yell Out!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • USPATRIOT101
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:50am

    I laughed…next

    Report Post » USPATRIOT101  
  • Drum Man
    Posted on March 7, 2012 at 11:48am

    Lol!

    Report Post » Drum Man  
1 2 3 4

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love