Not coming across #Pinkygate online was almost impossible in the last weeks. The German media knew no other topic. The male founders of the German company “Pinky Gloves” made their appearance in a TV show focused on connecting investors and start-ups. From the moment the two founders stepped on stage, it quite literally only went downhill from there. Their pitch: pink gloves to help women handle their pads or tampons more sanitarily.
Well, let’s just say that no woman really appreciated this new product. After all, activists have been fighting for less secrecy about menstruation for years. Women should not be made to feel ashamed for their bodily functions by insinuating that period blood is something that should only be handled with gloves. Menstruation is a natural cycle that we should be able to talk openly about.
By now, many people have voiced their opinion on the clishee-pink gloves. Of course, I could also go on and on about why this product is problematic, to say the least. However, let’s rather take a step back and look at the lessons that can be drawn from #Pinkygate.
Do Your Research
If you want to establish a new product on the market, you need to know your customer. Who are the people you are planning on selling this product to? What issues are important to them? What are they concerned with? And, very importantly, make sure to research the Zeitgeist! This is especially important if you want to address the general public with your product. If it’s not just a niche, you will need to take into account how your idea will be received. This can be the making or breaking point of your product.
Take a Step Out of Your Bubble
Whenever you come up with a new product or think of a new idea, make sure to step out of your bubble. Most likely, you will be surrounded by people who think like you. This is not necessarily a bad thing but in a diverse society, you will also need opinions from people out of different groups. If you do not have the resources to afford p.ex. a polling institute, make sure to use the world wide web and social media to your advantage. Talking to people with other opinions or backgrounds can help you modify your product and can help you create a better version.
Sustainability Is Key
Please always have sustainability in mind when coming up with new ideas. Don’t forget, time is running out on stopping climate change. And we definitely don’t need more plastic in the oceans. The world does not need another product which is used only once and then thrown out. Think ahead and be innovative!
Pinkygate is a topic that all the big media outlets talked about in the last week. And while it is necessary to criticize ideas or products, let’s not forget that we can do this without bashing people.
Instead let’s learn from other people’s mistakes and be smarter when it comes to future endeavors.
If you want to find out about a product that is actually useful, I recommend this post. And of course, make sure to check out our other posts!
What did you think about #Pinkygate? Let me know down below!
Be right back,
Ally
Hello Ally,
thank you for this LESSON.
I have read so many articles and posts about #Pinkygate and it is so frustrating that I just didn’t want to hear anything about this topic anymore. But I am happily surprised, how you are processing this topic. Only complaining about these two men may be exhausting. But learning a lesson out of it and sharing it will have a positive impact!
At least it did for me. I was for example thinking that I have a lot of variety in my life (speaking of people I am in touch with), but I might still be in a bubble… So I think you are right that it is important to step out of the bubble from time to time to see more clear.
Thank you, I am looking forward to you next post 🙂
Julia
Hi Julia! Thank you so much for your comment! You made my day. I think it’s always important to learn from your own or other people’s mistakes. I feel like a lot of people were too busy hating on the two guys and totally forgot about what this viral moment can teach you for your own future. I wanted to open up a new perspective and I am glad you appreciated it.
Lots of love
Ally