Ali Condon
An outraged customer has slammed a company over its 'sexist' listing for a camping tent she discovered on Amazon.
Actress Sandra Meunier, 44, had been researching tents on Amazon ahead of a camping trip she had planned with her mum Claudine, 72, when she came across a HEWOLF pop-up dome tent.
Scanning through the details of the tent listing, Sandra was horrified when she read the company's 'sexist' claim, completely putting her off buying the product.
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Sandra, from Dagenham, London scrolled through the advert to eventually read the company's claim that the tent was so easy to assemble, 'even girls can operate [it] independently'.
Discussing the listing, Sandra said: "I thought it was kind of weird.
"It's just so odd that's okay for a description in 2022, when we've had so many movements recently to bring awareness to racism, everyday sexism, and being careful about what we say and how we say it.
"Then this is written online in black and white saying 'this is so easy even girls can do it'. I thought it was looking quite a good tent but I don't want to put money into that type of company.
"I've never gone camping but even if they said 'even beginners can put it up', I'd have understood it was very easy. But 'girls' can? I can do many things."
Amazon has claimed the reference to 'girls' had been removed from the tent listing spotted by Sandra, however as of 18 May, similar product descriptions of other HEWOLF camping equipment still featured it.
Sandra said: "I've never really gone camping but I'm going to go. I was looking at tents but I'm disabled, I don't have full use of my legs, and I'm going to be camping with my elderly mum.
"I was reading the reviews quite closely and the description, then I found that one that says 'even girls' can put it up.
"This is a clear example of everyday sexism. It's a really odd way to say it. Do they mean children? In which case why not say children?
"What do you mean 'girls'? It's such a weird concept that girls would not be able to go camping, because we're two women going camping and I know plenty of single ladies going. I know girls who have more strength than men. It's quite old fashioned.
"It's just a really odd way of saying what I assume means it's easy to set up. There are so many ways to simply say 'oh, a child can put it up without directions from an adult'."
Sandra decided to reach out to Amazon about the bizarre wording, but has not yet heard back from the company.
She said: "I'm kind of expecting Amazon to reply something, that they will have a look at it or ask for the ID of the product so they can check what's being written and to rewrite it if needed, but absolute silence from Amazon.
"Not even picking up on it, not replying, explaining or apologising. Usually, Amazon are quite fast but they completely ignored that one."
When approached for a comment, an Amazon spokesperson said: "This reference has been removed."