A Melbourne woman is outraged after discovering a Borders book store was selling a ‘control a woman’ remote.

The toy product, similar to a TV remote control, is being sold as a novelty gift for $14.99.

Katie Robertson saw the remote in a Borders book store last week, after attending a lunch celebrating International Women’s Day.

“There are certain buttons on there. For example, the male may decide that he wants beer, sex or food. He may press a button in which he requires the woman to remove her clothes, cook, clean, leave, [or] say yes,” she told ABC Radio’s Jon Faine.

“There’s also a button in which you can increase her breast size.”

Ms Robertson says she has no doubt it was intended to be a joke, but that argument does not wash with her.

“I think it’s actually about respect and what’s appropriate to sell,” she said.

“I’m troubled by this item, mainly because it encourages a stereotype of women as submissive, who are to be controlled.”

Lauren Thompson of Borders says the product is intended as a joke and says they are also selling a ‘control a man’ remote, which has sold out.

“All I can say in its defence is that it is base level humour,” she said.

“But it’s meant to be a bit funny, a bit of a gimmick, something you might buy for your best mate before a stag night or a hens night.”

Ms Robertson has complained in writing to the store, but Ms Thompson says they will not take it off the shelves on the basis of one complaint.

“We’ve probably got a number of products, books and literature which could fall into that category… so we need to be quite careful,” Ms Thompson said.