The geek wizards and the tech enthusiasts were in for a huge surprise as the celebrated smart phone cum computer appliances mogul Apple launched the new models of their iPhone XS Max series, which are 6.5 inches long in size, have a faster processor as well as a sleek, impressive camera etc., opening to a positive response from the immediate users.
However, no sooner had the series officially hit the market, when it faced criticism from an unusual section, and on a rather bizarre parameter. As reported by the English daily ‘The Telegraph’, Caroline Criado Perez, a feminist who campaigned for having the Millicent Fawcett statue installed at the Parliament square and issuing a ten pound note commemorating the works of famous author Jane Austen, criticized the IPhone as being ‘too big for her hand’, causing an RSI, which subsided only after she switched to iPhone SE.
To quote her interview with The Telegraph, Caroline said, “I genuinely have RSI from having an iPhone 6, and it went as soon as I switched to an iPhone SE………..It genuinely does affect women’s hand health, women do buy more iPhones than men, and it just baffles me that Apple doesn’t design with our bodies in mind………..We should be furious about this, we are paying just as much money for it as men for a product that doesn’t work as well for us.”
Yes, you just heard that right. A new smart phone is not being criticized on whether it’s tech savvy or not, not whether it has a longer durability or not, not even if it has better features as compared to the previous model, but because this smartphone doesn’t subscribe to the feminist principles, and is therefore, not woman friendly.
If this was enough, observe these nuggets of wisdom as well:-
"We want to reach as many customers as we can with this incredible technology," Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller said, without irony, while Apple phased out the *only* phone I can hold without risking dropping. Stuck with Apple for security reasons. 🤬 https://t.co/jVOPiSjrDr
— zeynep tufekci (@zeynep) September 13, 2018
Even a sitting MP from Labor Party, Jess Phillips, supported this bizarre criticism, saying, “…..In so much design and technology development the default standard is always that which suits a man. Companies have got to get better at recognising that their idea of normal should account for all their customers.”
To be fair enough, this criticism is not only outrageous, it is completely pointless, since it is neither connected with women empowerment, nor can this be associated with feminism in any way. Unfortunately, today’s feminism, also roasted as Pheminism / Feminazism by most of the social media users, is concerned more about promoting misandry and gender identity politics rather than addressing the real problems a woman around the world face.
Now if a woman is facing persecution for merely stating her opinion, in countries like Iran or Afghanistan, will a stringent measure bring her out of her mess or will a reduction of the iPhone size would do the same? Associating the size of a smartphone with patriarchy is as logical as justifying the atrocities of Timur throughout the central and southern Asia, or even justifying the hooliganism of Serena Williams as shown in the US Open finals.
The current criticism of Apple’s iPhone for being ‘anti women’ is not only biased, it is also depriving the so called feminists from further support. We only hope that the common folk don’t get disillusioned the way the villagers got disillusioned with the shepherd boy who cried ‘Wolf!’ even when there was none, or else even genuine victims will be doubted and left to fend for themselves, for which only these ‘keyboard feminists’ will be responsible.