My husband saw an article about this last week and has now declared that he will not return to an IKEA until they get a Manland. Oh my.

I cannot for the life of me figure out why a grown adult, male or female, would allow themselves to be dragged off to some shopping place that they didn't want to go. For heavens, sakes, grow a pair and stay at home. Surely your significant other can shop alone.

MAN NO WANT SHOP. MAN WANT VIDEO GAME. *pounds chest*

Eye rollllllllllllll. I can think of probably a thousand things this area could be named other than MANLAND. Great job, Ikea.

best. idea. ever! but how would you get them out?

Great idea but in the end I'm totally with lolagirl. Can't stand it when couples think they have to do everything together even when one isn't interested. Grow a pair, indeed, LOL!

@lolagirl - I used to go all the time when I lived 10 min from an IKEA (or when we visit family who still live that close), but if we need to go to the IKEA 2 hours away (and we would be getting heavy things that would be hard for me to get in the car alone), it would be really difficult to leave the husband at home. Not a problem when he can swing by to help me load once I'm done shopping, but hard if we're far away. [ We haven't actually made a two hour drive to the IKEA, but I'm considering it for a loveseat in the near future...]

@ lolagirl: you took the words right out of my head. I refuse to accept this supposedly normal idea that men are just giant buffoons who lack the mental capacity to form an opinion or clean up after themselves. I swear it's all one giant secret plot to make that the reality so guys don't have to do anything around the house.

Wouldn't work for mine... too noisy. Now if there was a quite spot he could read his magazine - that might work.

As for shopping as a couple - he wants to come shopping but his tolerance is low.

Now who's going to hold my big blue bag? hahaha.

I don't see why a grown up needs a "day care".

This is ridiculous. When will we move beyond gender stereotyping? Stop depicting men as idiots and stop depicting women as only interested in shopping. And this is from egalitarian Sweden?

My question - would anyone be angry if it were just an adult hang out area? If it weren't directed toward men?

I always thought that the cafeteria at Ikea was a good enough place to hang out, but I guess it wasn't good enough for Australia...

This kind of seems insulting to adult men. I mean, are they really that mentally stunted that they have to be treated like 5 year olds? I think not.

Wow. That's incredibly sexist and insulting, to myself and to my husband. I'm not a shopaholic and I didn't marry a man-child.

I'm not a shopaholic and I didn't marry a man-child either, and my husband certainly has a "pair" and we are both secure enough in ourselves and our relationship to do things as individuals... but, there is a reason why we walk into Target and my husband says, "I'll be in Electronics..." as he heads off in one direction.
We live an hour from the closest Ikea and because of the distance we usually make a day of it together and visit friends or parks/zoo's etc in the area. I have been there many times without my husband (with my toddler who is too young for "Smalland") and I can say it is much easier to pick up furniture with someone else who can a.)lift heavy things and/or b.)wait with our stuff while I go get the car. The toddler is useless in both those instances ;)
Frankly, I would love it if I could drop off my "boys", and go get what I need... I only wish they had a longer time limit on both "lands"!

SO incredibly sexist and insulting!! I'm extremely disappointed in IKEA for this.

Lola - I think it's more a factor of time than men not wanting to go at all.

My husband would love to go to IKEA... IF it only took 30 minutes and we were only looking at one or two things. The problem is that I suddenly remember 2 million things I need to buy and the trip lasts 3 hours.

He would TOTALLY love Man Land. Bring it to the US, IKEA.

I do think lots of men are taken to carry stuff at the end - and the cafe can be noisy & unless you have something to read or the like what is there to do? Also, is the coffee there that good? We're tending to get rather picky here in Oz...
& Sweden is no more egalitarian than other places - sometimes less so.

When will this end. This myth that men are big dumb clods who need to be entertained while women shop. Frankly in my house, it's my DW that would rather be sitting somewhere reading while I'm exploring every nook and cranny of stores looking for bargains and inspecting quality of construction. C'mon people. Let's not pass our parents' sexism to our children.

Gross.

Not only does this make sexist assumptions about which pastimes appeal to men and women, but it emphasizes the importance of catering to men in areas where women would not similarly be pampered. When is the last time there was a "ladies lounge" at a Home Depot where I could relax and get my nails done? (In the world where men don't buy furniture, women don't buy power tools.)

You could have called this anything but MANLAND and I'd be thrilled, since I love video games and hate being dragged along to IKEA. Instead, I have one more reason not to go.

oh gawd do i have to worry now because my guy doesn't need/want the MANLAND?! ;-)

If memory serves this was a short term set up to celebrate Fathers Day...maybe its a cultural thing but lighten up people it was abit of fun!

I thought the whole point of shopping in stores like IKEA is that it's a "couple" thing. Think back to the last time you tried to get through IKEA in a hurry - the aisles are inevitably cluttered with lingering couples going, "Ooh, what about the Flurgen for the dining nook?" I swear there's a whole demographic of people who regard a visit to IKEA as a relationship activity as potent as a candlelit dinner.

ohh dear - this is my local Ikea.

It is part of a shopping centre so if the guy (or gal) does not want to go around ikea, there are plenty of other shops to go to.

I am planning on being there in next few days, so I will see if it is still there, but I doubt it as I think it is just a publicity stunt.

I don't see anything about this that suggests that men are stupid or childish simply that the majority of men enjoy sports and video games.

True enough. Why be upset? This is no more sexist than a local pub putting in a pool table or a pinball machine to attract customers, fully aware that men are more likely to play than women.

Other than the fact that they actually called it Manland. Maybe their PR could use a little work.

@HeritageWoodworks: if you think bar owners put in pinball machines and pool tables to attract more men you need to get out more.

My husband would rather be water-boarded than go to IKEA. I don't even think Manland would help.

But just like Manland at IKEA, I'd love to have a spot with a comfortable chair and a magazine rack while my husband puruses Best Buy and Home Depot. I wouldn't even care if they called it "Chickspace".

@HeritageWoodworks: I'm upset because this "manland" makes assumptions about what I like to do and what my husband likes to do based on our gender. If it were an "adult hangout area", it wouldn't be insulting.

It's also insulting because it sets itself up as a "daycare" area for men, where the wives drop off their husbands and then need reminding to go pick them up. Yes, it sets up men as children who need games to stop from throwing tantrums in the store, like children.

It's insulting to me and to my husband.

Jesus Christ. People, not everything in the world is going to be politically correct. It's funny! Lighten up!

I think it's quite funny, but kind of weird that you have to come 'pick up' your husband with a pager! Can't he just leave after 30 minutes and since most of us have cell phones, text (or - brain wave - CALL!) his significant other to see where she's at? What a hassel to come back, then probably go finish your shopping.

At any rate, I don't find this offensive, just very tongue-in-cheek! I think it's okay to chuckle at these types of things every now and then. :)

Maybe not Manland.... sounds more to me like "grumpy, nagging kid who is too old for Smaland but who is too young to stay home alone" land.... That would make life SO much easier!!!

Also people like @Caralyn need to LIGHTEN UP. IKEA isn't personally knocking on your door, insulting you and your husband... you did that yourself. Take this with a grain of salt and accept it for what it is, a publicity stunt.

Seriously people. Lighten up.

i'm so surprised people are getting so upset...it's just for fun! it's just silly!

before declaring how awful this is, ask your men how they'd like it. bet you'd be surprised!

do they have a ball pit, too?