this prompted me to sign up

[SomewhereSoon]

this is my first post, i always read the boards and seeing this made me sign up.
www.primark.co.uk/page.aspx?pointerid=51c0f168dc2e4d58996e9f2dbd7191a6
look at the descriptions below the girlswear and boyswear sections. So girls need to always look their best no matter what the age, but boys need practicality and are young and fun.

[blackcurrants]

Welcome :)
It's funny how having kids brings it all into sharp relief, isn't it?

[msrisotto]

God that's irritating. They couldn't have made the message clearer could they?!!

[DontCallMeFrothyDragon]

Blardy annoying, isn't it?

Welcome to FSWR. :)

[SomewhereSoon]

i'm glad i am not the only one who sees there is something wrong with this. most people i know would think that sums up having children of different genders perfectly.

[Himalaya]

Yuk.

[BertieBotts]

Urgh, it's just all horribly worded! Boys are young and fun? And girls are what, old, dull and fashion obsessed?

[msrisotto]

This doesn't surprise me though, unfortunately. There's worse about, like the computer porn thread in AIBU.

[Hogmanayhoneyblossom]

Welcome, and yes it it shocking, but when you don the feminist gaze you start to see it everywhere.

[MMMarmite]

Grrr... I'd like to email them about it but can't find a contact address - does anyone know how I could find one?

Welcome somewheresoon.

[KRITIQ]

Here are the postal and email contact details for Primark HQ.

Primark Stores Limited
Primark House
41 West Street
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 1TT

[email protected]

I'd like to say I'm surprised to see something so blatantly sexist on the website of such a major retailer, but sadly, I'm not. However, unless consumers let them know they aren't happy to spend money with a firm intent on limiting children's choices and aspirations through their marketing, they'll not see anything wrong.

It might be worth referring to their Equal Opportunities Policy, which refers primarily to employment but should also relate to their supply of goods and services.

They also have a Corporate Social Responsibility Policy (in skeletal form on their website) which should also cover their responsibility to communities within which they operate.

Thanks OP for raising this. There have been many examples of companies that have withdrawn or re-thought advertising and products/services they carry because complaints were raised, so it's always worth at the very least an email to let them know you aren't happy.

[MMMarmite]

I have emailed them, I'll let you know if i hear anything

[yellowraincoat]

Grimbo.

It is awful that once you start looking at things in a feminist way, you realise how much sexism there is EVERYWHERE.

[BasilRathbone]

How blardy atrocious

Not even subtly sexist. Just out and out out there sexist.

Bleurgh

[Himalaya]

Although, if you look at most clothing companies they are clearly using these kind of criteria and 'brand values' internally to shape their children's clothing designs - boy's clothes must be practical and rugid, girls are meant to be cute and feminine, and are often scaled down versions of more adult fashions and designed more for looks than comfort.

Primark have just been dumb enough to spell it out in words.

...and then the clothing companies will say 'well, this is what sells'....so it comes back to the parents (.....us....)

[Melpomene]

I was looking at young girls' T shirts in Primark once - they were folded on a shelf and I spotted one which looked like it said "Future footballer". I picked it up and unfolded it and found that it actually said "Future footballer's wife".

[msrisotto]

groan!

[fuzzpig]

Ick. :(