Wednesday 6 August 2014

Hot Pink with Black Tiger Stripes

"Between your faith and my Glock nine millimeter, I'll take the Glock." 
Arnold Schwarzengger as Jericho Cane in End of Days (1999)



"That punk pulled a Glock 7 on me. You know what that is? I's a porcelain gun made in Germany. Doesn't show up on your airport X-ray machines, here, and it cost more than you make in a month."
Bruce Willis as John McClane in Die Hard 2 (1990)



Glock produces more than two dozen models of handguns which are used by law enforcement agencies and military organisations worldwide (via). Originally desigend for the Austrian Army (via), the Austrian weapons manufacturer produces "the" firearm brand which has become "America's gun". Two thirds of US-American police departments, the FBI (via) and a great many civilians use it. One author refers to it as "a pop-culture symbol"(via), slogans such as "In Glock we trust" are more or less widely known (via). A few weeks ago, the company sent out a survey and asked its customers which frame colour they would choose if they "were to purchase a pistol as a gift for a female family member or friend"; the collection included a Glock 19 Gen 3 in hot pink with black tiger stripes, in Tiffany Blue and Sniper Grey (via and via).
It is not the first time that weapons manufacturers apply gender marketing by offering pink guns for women. Since pink, yellow or orange guns could be mistaken for toys, in 1992, a law was passed to ensure that the line between toy weapons and real weapons was not blurred. Apart from concerns about weapons in general, there are concerns about gender stereotypes. Weapons marketed to women are presented as neat lifestyle products (via) and pretty accessories using the pink gender cliché ... pink Glock, pink Taser. The evening checklist? "(L)ipstick, wallet, keys. Taser." (via). And 50.000 volt.



photographs of Doris Day as Calamity Jane (1953) via and via and via

7 comments:

  1. Hahahahaha hahahahaha. This so creepy!

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  2. Abbie Winterburn6 August 2014 at 09:44

    Ha! Creepy in pink (not DD) :-)

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    Replies
    1. Such things like pink Glocks and Chanel gun holster bags creep the hell out of me.

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    2. Creepy in pink ;-) I had completely forgotten about the designer gun holster bags. Very strange, very disturbing.

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