ladies, don't you find this offensive?
 

while i was out yesterday, i noticed this truck. it was avertising a business called 'rent a wife'. it is a personal assistance company. i was very offended. of course, my boyfriend didn't understand why:rolleyes:
companies like that set women back 50 years.

i hear you big time
and yet...
cbs has a regular feature segment called rent a husband, purpose home repairs. he's kind of a dorky looking dude.

isn't that just another way to advertise a housekeeper/maid/cleaning service? if so, i see nothing wrong with it.

The name of a business is setting you back 50 years?

I think you are assigning this business owner more credit than he or she is due. Really, it's just the name of a business, no big deal.

There are far more important things in the world to worry about than a company called "Rent-a-Wife".

i am just looking behind the name. it is like they are saying a wife's sole purpose is doing the cleaning. a 'wife' and a 'husband' is more than that.
maybe they weren't taking it that seriously, but really- couldn't they have come up with a better name?

If they got your attention, then the name sounds pretty effective.

Like another poster said, there's a company called "Rent A Husband", for the sole purpose of helping you fix things. Isn't that basically the same thing?

You said that's what they were saying, they didn't.

I think you're searching here for something to be offended by. Seriously, there are so many things out there that deserve our attention. This is not one of them.

I'm not offended. I wish that I had thought of it first.

yeah it is the same thing. i stated that earlier.

they got my attention, but what does that matter? i am not interested in using them if i need something.

but anyway, I don't like it. i just wanted to know what everyone else thought. apparently i am sensitive.

I think the concept of rent-a-wife (or husband for that matter) is offensive for the same reasons you do -- the implication that a woman's job is to clean (or that a man's job is to fix stuff around the house) is annoying. That said, there are a lot of other things in the world that offend me more -- but I certainly wouldn't hire any of these people.

As a marketing professional, I see it as a catchy moniker that gets their point across quickly. But, I agree that they should have put more thought into the selection of such a name and considered that it could alienate a rather large market segment.

I find it to be a bit tacky, but it doesn't really offend me or anything.

I guess I'm kind of old-fashioned, but I see nothing wrong with a "wife" being placed in the role of cooking/cleaning and the "husband" being placed in the role of Mr. Fix-It, as long as it is also understood that both may have a career and/or his/her own social life.

Good marketing plays upon stereotypes.

This isn't bad marketing at all. If someone is offended, they are digging purdy deep to be offended by something.

Ditto. This is the type of thing that I would roll my eyes at and think, "Hi. It's 2004, thanks." I also wanted to add that I think "Rent-A-Husband" is equally stupid. If I wanted a handyman (lol won't go so far as to say handyperson), I'd find one without such an idiotic name.

I agree. It's tacky. Instead of worrying about it, just don't ever give them your business. If you call and complain about their name, they'll likely hang up and laugh. But if you make sure that you and your friends/family never patronize them, then you've done your part.

It's a silly name..but doesn't really offend me. I think most people that see that sign (and even those that use the business) don't actually think a wife's sole job is to do housework. It's just a clever name.
There's a little company in SC that's called "Rent-a-Man" that does yardwork/landscaping/repairs/etc. I always laughed at the sign and thought they were catchy. "rent a wife"'s not really different though I can see how it could bother people.

I don't think it is the best name ever. Also, considering how many busy working women there are out there, who may need these same services but be put off by the name makes it not the bast choice to me. Not the end of the world or the undoing of the equality movement, though.

Similarly, at one of the law firms where I previously worked, one of the female senior associates once quipped to me that she needed a wife. Her point being she needed someone to go fetch her dry cleaning, clean her house and prepare her meals, etc like the guys had.

It's a poor choice of name. Yes, it's catchy and memorable, but it plays into an outdated stereotype that many professional women, myself included, would like to keep in the past. I wouldn't give them my business. Nor would I use a company called "Rent-a-Husband" - I have my own, and one is quite enough! :p

I'm not at my own house (still at my mama's while she recuperates), but I have a wonderful article on "Why I Want a Wife" at home. I'll be sure to dig it out when I go get my mail - it talks about how much a woman does for her husband, and how the woman writer wouldn't mind having someone do the same for her!

That said (*hikes up belt*) I got me my own power tools, and I know how to use 'em! :) I helped build my kitchen and bath, and have recently started a mudroom-like entry in the basement.

Hey, this gives me an idea for a new company: "Rent-A-Jewish-Wife". She doesn't cook, clean, and run your errands -- she nags you until you give in and do it yourself!

Who's with me??

:p :D

I say this ALL the time! As a matter of fact, I say this to my husband: we both need a stay at home wife. I'm not offended by the title.

I cringe when I see things like this... not beacause it's annoying to be seen as someone who cleans the house or what have you but because there are still girls in this country and on earth who are not allowed to do things outsude their role, and do not have the independence, financial or otherwise to lead the life they chose to lead. It's sad how quickly we forget how much our mothers and grandmothers worked for us to be able to do whatever we want to do.