How did Ikea's Blajah became the symbol of the trans community ?
How did Ikea's Blajah became the symbol of the trans community ?
I feel stupid for asking, but how did the trans community decided that the giant shark Blajah will become their favourite plushie ?
I mean it looks awesome... but why that one ?
It's just cute, easy to cuddle, and in the colours of the trans flag
I think it also helps that it wasn't intentional. Nobody likes the obvious corp whoring for a quick cash grab.
I never noticed that its actually the flag colors! It's also available in every country with an Ikea, which is all of europe, north america, oceania and large parts of asia.
I certainly see the blue, but where's the pink exactly? The mouth maybe? Feels like a bit of a stretch
they also make a pink one i think!
Oh! That's where the lemmy.blahaj.zone instance gets its name from? The more you know 🌠
It's actually one of thing which made my brain connect the dots and realize how widespread it was.
You know the funny thing is "blahaj" directly translates to "blue shark" in Swedish.
How efficient
Well, "blåhaj" to be precise
Blåhaj ;)
A couple shitheads in this thread. 😂
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In addition the colours matching the trans pride flag, I’ve heard people suggest that it’s because trans people (like sharks) are significantly less dangerous than the media portrays
I don't know about the trans stuff, but Blåhaj has this neat little feature: https://twitter.com/FatherMcGruder/status/1429470778412699652?t=BcBVKBA4DIPtVIif__2c5w&s=19
You dare sending a link to twitter on the free fediverse?! You shall perishhh!
Sorry, pal. I just like hyperlinks.
@FatherMcGruder In a pinch, you can turn the Ikea Blåhaj's dorsal fin outside-in.
I think it's a Marge Simpson "they just think it's neat" situation
This is exactly the reason, it became a meme (like Fallout New Vegas becoming a thing in the trans community before it) and people ran with it. People have retroactively said that it's because blåhaj is trans pride colors but it wasn't the initial reason.
Just sorta happened. It's cute. Sharks are cool.
It is very soft and cute and may also help you hide medication from parents
I didn't even know this was a thing! Is it a pretty universal symbol now?
I've seen it quite often. Both on Reddit and twitch at least.
Its soft and cuddly and, to some extent, the same colors as the trans flag. It’s a much bigger thing among transfems than transmascs, and I’ve heard that part of its popularity is that it lets transfems feel soft and cuddly, when previously they’ve spent their whole lives under male social expectations where that’s less encouraged. It being a meme is a fun way to celebrate the expressing of a buried part of yourself.
Also, IKEA ran an advertisement in support of gay marriage, using the shark. I forget, though, if that came before or after it becoming a trans symbol.