It's easy to see how some gadgets might be biased towards those who are right-handed versus left, and certainly some gadgets are completely unfriendly toward those with disabilities. But can a gadget be sexist? According to an article published in the Los Angeles Times, that's the claim being made by many women who believe the iPhone is unfairly designed to be completely unusable by those of the fairer sex with long fingernails.
Every application within the iPhone was specifically designed to be accessible with your fingertip. The touchscreen detects your body's electrical charge when it comes in contact with the device, enabling it to determine where you pressed. As a result, fingernails (especially of the glued-on variety) tend to get in the way while using the iPhone, which is irritating some women profusely. (Tim Stevens, Switched.com, posted Jun 18th 2008 at 1:04PM)
"Considering ergonomics and user studies indicating men and women use their fingers and nails differently, why does Apple persist in this misogyny?" says Erica Watson-Currie, 39, a consultant and lecturer, who says her fingernails are typically between one-eighth and one-quarter of an inch long. (Michelle Quinn, LA Times, June 16, 2008)
This is not the woman quoted, but gee, isn't she lovely?
Okay, they have got to be kidding.
First off, it's your choice to have those nasty-ass long fingernails, despite the majority of people--at least everyone I've ever talked to about it--thinking that they look ridiculous. I think most of us get to the point where we realize it's much easier to go about our day-to-day activities if we don't have a paw full of long claws getting in our way. For those of us who used a keyboard a lot at work, or use it now at home, long nails are just plain annoying. And there's not a much more irritating sound than the click-click-click of long nails on a keyboard, or tapping on a countertop.
Coming from a healthcare perspective, long nails are nothing but a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, essentially a hand-held incubator you carry around with you. I have short nails, and even then, I scrub under my fingernails when I wash my hands. If you've got a healthcare worker that comes at you with claws, whether real or fake, make them wash their hands before they touch you, and watch them do it.
I mean really...not to go into details, but don't you wonder how people with such long fingernails...function? Think about it. I'm just sayin'.
Long fingernails get in the way of the business of living, and the moment mine start getting too long, I chop them down. Not all the way--I like about an 1/8 of an inch, and that works for me. I think we all like having a little bit of fingernails, but some of these things are just downright nasty.
As for that woman saying that she can't use an iPhone with her 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch nails, what is she, an idiot? That's about how long mine are, and I've never had a problem using touch screens. Sounds to me like she's not doing it right. For her to accuse Apple of misogyny is completely ridiculous. Again, your choice. What right does she have to throw out the word misogyny because she can't do something due to nothing more than her own vanity? Is this the first step in her lawsuit against Apple for creating a device that is discriminatory? Give me a break.
Those of you who know me may have noticed that I'm short. Not quite 5 feet tall (4'11 1/2", to be precise). I don't go around to various stores and businesses complaining that they are discriminating against those of us who are vertically challenged because they happen to have shelves that are out of my reach. I didn't file a lawsuit against my former employer because I had to use a step stool to get things down from high cabinets. Being short is beyond my control. Keeping my nails short is well WITHIN my control. Accusing a company of misogyny because of a choice that you have made results in you appearing exceptionally foolish and gives the rest of us women a bad rap due to guilt-by-gender-association. Quit complaining and go trim your nails, or keep your complaints--and your nasty claws--to yourself.
Finally, here's a picture to clear my palate and yours. Nicely trimmed, clean fingernails. Ahh. I feel better now.
10 comments:
... I disagree ... I think that misogyny is over stating it a bit, but I do think that it is something that have women trapped unfairly ... it IS femine to have nice, long and neat nails, and the engineering for things often don't take simple things like that into account ...
... perhaps a female designer WOULD HAVE thought of that ...
... but to call it sexist is an over statement ... just an engineering bug that the user should overcome ... it isn't a disablity but a choice to manage life with long nails ...
I have long nails and love them, but then that's my "girly thing" but the lady you pictured Erica she was over hear last year thats just ridiculous, I mean how can you do anything at all, a trip to the loo must be and event in itself....lol.
It took me ages to learn how to pick stuff up and can be funnt at times I always have short thumbnails as I had a problem with small buttons. But I don't think a gadget can be sexist afterall you have to have long nails.
Yasmin
xx
Da-dummmm.....Yeah, I'm back. Have to say computer tech hell wasn't worth the dough I dished out to fix it...Ugh...At least I'm back online. Missed you kiddo. As for the long nails. Never understood the irony of them. Then again I'm a tomboy. I keep my nails short simply because it's easier digging in the garden and dealing with rescuing the strays. Not to mention the time and money some woman put into it...eh...I got better things to do. Like figure out how the hell they managed to make my computer completely disregard my wireless mouse and keyboard. I've tried everything...Yes, I did re-install the program with no luck. I have a feeling I'm looking for a new set soon. I hate my old keyboard, makes it harder to type with the Carpal. Ok, I'm outta here before I leave you a mini novella. I sent a letter off to you today hon. (Hugs) Indigo
I don't have that phone but I do have long nails I can't operate with out them .. not as long as the lady pictured but a good 1/4 inch from the tip. I haven't found a device yet I couldn't use I guess I will have to check that out ..curiosity is killing me ...
hugs
Sherry
You found some crazy nails!
Traci
Drat, just when I was going to grow mine out :o)
Yes we live in a country where we can make choices and not be persecuted(?), yet why do the rest of us have to pay for your choices? I agree that long nails look ridiculous, and they are a health hazard especially if you are in the health care field. Some hospitals around here do not allow any type of fake nail. My DIL had to have hers removed when she started at the University Medical Center, and she says its easier to work without them...ya' think? The lady with the extremely long nails, thats just gross!!
xoxo ~myra
Just when you think you have heard and seen it all along comes another one of those boo hoo feel sorry for me stories. Sorry, this one is not doing it for me. First of all, claws like this belong in a circus, not worn by a professoinal on the job and I am not particulary fussy about what your job might be. Then to want to sue someone cause they don't feel the same way that you do, or certain products do not work for you ----well get a life people. Did you try it out before you bought it cause if you did, you might have realized that things were just not going to work. Health care professoinals of any kind should not have fake nails. I would hate to be a patient stabbed by one of these unhygenic babies --- would I be able to sue the worker with the nails for the injury, stress, trauma and possible infection that could result. I think this shows that society is sorely lacking in common sense these days.
That chick is full of poo. Give me a break. Kids are dying and starving and being abused and she wants to bitch about her ugly nails? Jeez.
XO
I have seen the woman with the longest fingernails before. My thought (being a health care worker) was who wipes her butt??? The long fingernails remind me of monster claws. They are indeed a cessool of who knws what growing, and finally a moment of saneness was exhibited when it was decided that health care workers could not have fake nails........way to many microbes there; probably some we have never heard of before....LOL
Claudia
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