Here’s What’s Really Happening With That ‘Doritos For Women’ Idea

The Internet has been in a tizzy this week with the news that Doritos is making softer, less crunchy chips for women to snack on. The idea was first made public by PepsiCo’s global chief executive Indra Nooyi, who told an episode of Freakonomics Radio how men and women eat Doritos differently:

“Although women would love to crunch [chips] loudly, lick their fingers and pour crumbs from the bag into their mouth afterwards, they prefer not to do this in public. You watch a lot of the young guys eat the chips, they love their Doritos, and they lick their fingers with great glee, and when they reach the bottom of the bag they pour the little broken pieces into their mouth, because they don’t want to lose that taste of the flavor, and the broken chips in the bottom. Women would love to do the same, but they don’t. They don’t like to crunch too loudly in public. And they don’t lick their fingers.”

Apparently, in order for ladies to enjoy their chips in public without fear of shaming their family and losing their woman card, Nooyi said that Doritos is “getting ready to launch” a chip especially for women. These chips will have “low crunch, the full taste profile… not have so much of the flavor stick on the fingers” and also potable for women’s purses, because “women love to carry a snack in their purse.”

Social media blew up responding to the idea that they want softer chips in order to eat more quietly in public:

https://twitter.com/mozarellaastick/status/960744932825735168

One Twitter user made a cutting joke about the pay gap:

And:

Too funny:

LOL!

Even late night host Seth Meyers even got in on the fun:

Comedian Ricky Gervais quipped:

Alas, in reaction to all the social media fuss, PepsiCo backtracked on the CEO’s comments and denied ‘lady Doritos’ are planned. In a statement to the New York Times on Monday, PepsiCo said:

“The reporting on a specific Doritos product for female consumers is inaccurate. We already have Doritos for women — they’re called Doritos, and they’re enjoyed by millions of people every day. At the same time, we know needs and preferences continue to evolve, and we’re always looking for new ways to engage and delight our consumers.”

A spokesperson declined to elaborate to the Times on what Nooyi meant when she spoke about Doritos being made differently for women, but said “I will be able to in a few months.” Hmm, mysterious!

Listen, I don’t agree that women need softer chips so that they make less noise and fuss when they eat, but any new flavor of Doritos is alright by me. ‘Lady Doritos’ might not be the most wise marketing move, but at least it can keep us women fueled while we keep fighting for gender equality. ‘Cuz you know we love purse snacks!