About a week ago I was picking up a few hygiene products at my local big-box store, some soap, a body sponge and shampoo. It was time to replenish these items and I was able to find them with absolutely no difficulty. I was in for a humorous treat though, just as I was about to leave the body care aisle. I saw what looked to be a cleaning scrubber meant for the kitchen or perhaps a tire, but it actually turned out to be a body sponge — for guys!
Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the label called it a “shower tool” and not a body sponge. However, although it looked slightly different from what I’m typically used to, this tool is essentially a loofa on one side and a body sponge on the other.
I chuckled at the obvious gender insecurities being catered to and thought that perhaps Dove came up with this snazzy name in an effort to promote their new line of for men products. Then, I looked down at the lower shelves and saw a shower tool from Axe as well!
This one actually looks like a tire with the sponge as a hubcap or expensive rim. The laughs continued as I realized that many guys probably purchase these products as a way to protect their manhood. While they do look kinda cool, I’m certain that they perform rather poorly when compared with a traditional body sponges. This is probably due to the fact that they are pointlessly surrounded with useless rubber!
I’ve been using body sponges for ages, even when I wasn’t so confident or accepting of my femme side. I’ll spare you the rant as I’ve done that in the past and feel no need to do it again. After all, I really tend to find these things as comedic props rather than anything offensive.
I will say this though: I’m very disappointed in these companies for not taking it all the way. Why not make “shower tools” that look like this –
photo credit: GollyGforce is slipping on learning curve…:(
photo credit: Philippe Guillaume
What product or line of products do you think is next to receive the for men treatment? I’m sticking with my original guess — toothpaste. But perhaps we’ll see toilet paper for men or maybe even nail clippers for guys only.
JessicaWhoHD
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
LOL you know what’s funny? I would have made sure to buy this kind of thing instead of anything feminine before =)
Same here lol
Jess,
I always crack up when I see products like this that are marketed to men. They look ridiculous! Most times, it’s the exact same product that is marketed to women, but with a manly name added or the perfume taken out.
Reminds me of the time I was at a mall in upstate NY (don’t ask), and a guy driving a Dodge Magnum (google it for the pix) pulled up next to a group of teenage boys and one of the boys yelled at the driver, “Dude, you have the coolest car around! It’s AWESOME!”
Needless to say, that car WAS marketed specifically toward men and their egos for being ‘tough guys’. But all I have to say about that is, ‘Dude, call it a Dodge Magnum if you want, but it’s STILL a station wagon.’
LMAO!! I just googled the pix
Funny read to start my day. Thanks Jessica. I always get a kick out of your missives.
I in noticed an ad for Kohl’s weekend sale that a certain style of “shorts” for guys looked exactly like cargo style capri pants for ladies shown a couple pages earlier in the ad. I’m wondering if the ad-guy just photo-shopped the ladies capri pants onto the guy’s lower body and maybe added a little “junk” bulge to disguise their handywork. Hmmm – -
I’m also waiting, with anchovies on my lips (baited breath), for the resurgence of guy make-up that has been somewhat of a fringe market for some time now. I could really use some lightly tinted foundation or coverup to hide the spider veins on my cheeks and nose that a few too many snorts of Jameson’s and Captain Morgans Tattoo have left me to deal with. They go away nicely when Kathy puts her face on but galumping around as drab Bob leaves me looking like a gps map with a nose and eyes. Anyway – - – -
Kathy
I’d love to see a picture of that ad you speak of
Oh! By the way, I really enjoyed your month-long experiment in the fine are of wearing a bra. I’ve underdressed out-n-about for many years and I have worn pretty little, non-padded or lined, bra’s on many occasions. Makes a girl feel sooooo feminine. Really, there is nothing as feminine as a brassiere – - although slips rock my girly boat too. I’ve even worn them under guy stuff once in a while. Anywho, I’d love to wear a bra daily if I could.
Kathy
Thank you, I appreciate the feedback, it was a joy to experiment like that
fucking excellent
indubitably
Hahahaha, your “manly” body sponges, shower tools and station wagons are for posers! I’m so manly, I use Tabun as a body spray!
LMAO!!!
I gotta laugh Jess, as I’ve seen them too. Here’s where I come clean, I have bought, not one, but am on my second axe scrubber. Say what you will about all the rubber, but it’s easy to hold onto, keeps the soap going in one direction. As far as the red scrub on the top, makes a great facial exfoliator. I doubt anyone would notice how ridiculous this maket is if it were pink. Now so you know also, I got my first one before everyone else jumped on the bandwagon and statred making them. Sadly this market goes towards men that are so paranoid about admitting to anything feminine that they sell well. Like anything with the words “for men” in it they will sell. Much like that lovely gem of a bodygroom we paid for, probably would have been less expensive if we found the same thing in pink. Good to see you back up and about Jess, Sorry I haven’t said hi sooner, Missed ya!
“I doubt anyone would notice how ridiculous this maket is if it were pink.”
Actually, this reminds me of an equivalent lament I’ve often heard from women: that they hate manufacturers (of any kind of product) who seem to think that women will only buy their wares if they make a line of them in the most tooth-achingly bright shade of pink imaginable.
Like you, I’ve bought male versions of traditionally female products (a good example would be the two Utilikilts I own), and have often found them to have certain advantages over the original versions thereof. I can do without the ridiculous, testosterone-drenched (or simply lame*) marketing that often accompanies such products, however; I’m sufficiently secure in my own masculinity to know, for example, that attending to my personal hygiene isn’t going to cause my private parts to drop off.
“Much like that lovely gem of a bodygroom we paid for, probably would have been less expensive if we found the same thing in pink.”
Argh. This reminds me of when I first contemplated waxing as a form of hair removal, and shopped around a bit to get quotes from various salons. Some places I enquired at wanted to charge me twice (or even three times) the price for waxing my legs that they would’ve their female clients (a rip-off in more ways than one!). Needless to say, they didn’t get my business!
*I once heard, for example, of a beauty salon for men called Man What a Fuss. Blech!
@Zosimus the Heathen
Yes, the marketing is often lame although often the products are useful (as you say).
About the waxing situation, I totally agree with you. I’ve paid 3 and 4 dollars more for my eyebrows just because I was male! Ridiculous!!!
@Stephanie
Based on your review, I just might buy one of those shower tools next time and try it for myself
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