Tesco School Shoes

I think this problem is also fed by school uniform requirements. As many have already said, when we choose non-school footwear for our girls, many of us choose hardier/comfy options of trainers/flip-flops/boots etc and we choose them to roughly fit in with the kind of clothes (colour/style etc) that we know our own DDs wear. However, when it comes to school shoes, the schools often have very narrow parameters for what is allowed (no trainers - no boots - which, incidentally, does also hamper comfort/practicality/weather-proofing for boys, too, to an extent) and they have to look OK with the other narrow elements of the uniform, too (summer/winter/socks/tights/trousers/skirts etc). So I think it's another issue that could be solved if we got rid of school uniform altogether - or at least had a campaign for more flexible/comfortable school uniform policies.

Men's shoes ARE different. To get decent and fairly priced steel toe caps ( women's are available but are less durable and £££) I have men's. I'm a size 7- but the men's 7 is too big, wide and long. I wear extra socks to get around this.

I need steel toe caps too and luckily a men's 7 is perfect for me. The shop I went to recently had only one 'ladies' style which had pink bits on. The assistant insisted I try them on. I did, and they were really uncomfortable. I kept saying it's ok, I don't need my work shoes to have pink on, or look decorative... came away with some nice brown leather boots, and shop assistant looking baffled.

Surely it wouldn't be hard for them to make the sensible and affordable 'mens' brown/black safety boots in some smaller sizes.

Men's shoes ARE different

I love Reef flip-flops. They're beautifully contoured for comfort, robust, thick soled, and come in neutral, but smart, colours. But only the men's. At least in the UK.

The women's are strappy, thinner and downright uncomfortable in comparison.

I have to wear one size up from my regular size, so I can buy the men's, because they start at size 7, and I'm a 6.

The company's and shops should care. But then so should the public. And, at the minute , they don't .

Men's shoes ARE different. To get decent and fairly priced steel toe caps ( women's are available but are less durable and £££) I have men's. I'm a size 7- but the men's 7 is too big, wide and long. I wear extra socks to get around this.

Mens shoes start at a bigger size?
I can get away with youth trainer sizes which are generally unisex but mens shoes would drown my size 5 feet.

I don't understand why people don't just buy the 'boys' shoes for their girls. I only have boys myself but that's what my Dsis does. They're just shoes -nothing overtly masculine about them.

I researched this, as I am fed up with women's shoes, and read that men's shoes are shaped differently. Since my feet are very typically "female-shaped", this may not be an option for me.

Haven't dared try on men shoes in a shop, yet.

Would absolutely recommend that one tries it, but it might not work for everyone.

I've been really surprised since having DD (I had a son first) with regards to the gendering of clothes. It's been a real eye opener, especially when trying to buy her first shoes. I have struggled to find anything that matches the practical trainers my son had, without, as PP mentioned, paying over the odds for imported brands.

What's more worrying is all the women, including those who have young daughters of their own, who don't see it as a problem, and think that people should just shop elsewhere. For some of us outside of major cities that isn't really an option for a start, and it misses the point entirely!

One thing I've noticed recently which I don't remember them doing when I was at school are Mary-jane style pe pumps. I don't see how that style is suitable for sports at all

My school shoes in primary school in the 60s were Mary Jane style
For sports everyone wore black canvas slip on gym shoes in primary. In secondary , if it was one of the days I couldn't avoid PE I had white canvas lace up shoes. Trainers didn't exist as a shoe for everyone.

Clarks in sexism row for Dolly Babe shoe - BBC News
apple.news/AC-QetyhfSY2LeOA1VDxTZA

don't understand why people don't just buy the 'boys' shoes for their girls. I only have boys myself but that's what my Dsis does. They're just shoes -nothing overtly masculine about them.

I do as often as I can but when Clarks will actually say 'no they're for boys' to children it's hard to fight the sexism. More importantly I shouldn't have to make my 6 year old constantly battle every day sexism when it would be far easier for companies to be held accountable for lazy sexism. It's 2017 they know people get wound up about it and no one refuses to buy girl shoes because there aren't enough sexist phrases in the advertising.

how would you feel about blatantly racist advertising? Would that be OK?

Soft for black children who don't like to play!

These look better... have never seen any girls shoes like this before, maybe the message is getting through?

www.marksandspencer.com/kids-freshfeet-coated-leather-sporty-school-trainers-with-silver-technology-and-scuff-resistant/p/p22449798?image=SD_04_T72_8625B_Y0_X_EC_0&color=BLACK&prevPage=plp&pdpredirect

Daphnedown sadly I don't think my dd would accept the boys shoes, as they're so clearly marketed to boys. (And certainly any of the ones ds has had would look out of place with her school dress.) She really likes the girls ones, she's not the kind of kid who would wear 'boy' stuff by choice. With most other things there is at least a suitable option amongst the girls things. So for example she wears quite 'girly' clothes but they are leggings/tshirts etc. and practical for whatever we're doing.

We have to go into the shoe shop to have feet measured, so she'd definitely notice!
I might try though :)

I don't understand why people don't just buy the 'boys' shoes for their girls. I only have boys myself but that's what my Dsis does. They're just shoes -nothing overtly masculine about them.

Its so depressingly blatant. They aren't even trying to hide it.

What would they be? Trousers for all? That isn't unisex- it is just deciding the norm for boys is better.

I don't know, I didn't really have a particular answer in mind. I was just thinking about my dd's uniform overall - she is in primary school and always wears dresses - and how it wouldn't necessarily look right with more practical shoes, whereas ds's uniform looks fine with trainers.

I guess I don't see trousers as being just for boys, and in practical terms maybe the option of trousers or shorts is better.

Dd goes in the summer term in a dress, and then doesn't want to jump/climb/cartwheel as much as usual as it would show her underwear. Meanwhile ds is as active as ever in his shorts and tshirt and not giving a toss about what anyone thinks about him.

"Dolly Babe" and "Leader". That's so obvious it has got to be deliberate..somebody in Marketing won a bet with a friend over that by getting them out on sale called that. It would almost be funny, if it wasn't pathetic, and a drop in the ocean of sexist shite children get exposed to pretty much from birth.

The labelling of the 2 shoes is unjustifiable.

Maybe we need unisex uniforms, then the girls would probably wear more trainer-style shoes too?

What would they be? Trousers for all? That isn't unisex- it is just deciding the norm for boys is better.

Gender stereotyping of shoes seems to be a definite "thing" in modern marketing. I think the woman is right to point out in the linked article e.g. how descriptors "comfortable" for boys and "sensitive" for girls feed into this trend.

There seem to be numerous articles on gender stereotyping of shoes at the moment.

Here is an article about Clarks' "Dolly Babe" shoes for girls and "Leader’" shoes for boys:
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/clarks-embroiled-in-sexism-row-over-dolly-babe-school-shoes-for-girls-a3610541.html

Totally agree. I have a dd and ds. Outside of school they both have trainers, wellies, crocs, and practical Velcro sandals. Comfy and practical. Because they are children and they like to run around a lot, and climb, and jump, and ride bikes.

Then we go school shoe shopping and all the boy shoes are like comfy trainers and all the girl shoes are flimsy and open. I haven't come across any option for girls that is anywhere near as practical and comfy as the boys school shoes. I hate it. (Meanwhile dd is delighted with her pretty school shoes...) I would really like to see better options for girls.

I suppose the trouble with school shoes is related to the school uniform. Style-wise pinafores and summer dresses do call for those open, prettier shoes rather than trainers. Maybe we need unisex uniforms, then the girls would probably wear more trainer-style shoes too?

I think she has a point too. I've found it very hard over the yrs to get robust good quality girls school shoes. When they can't do laces and have brogues which occasionally give more options for something that is a bit more sturdy, it is virtually impossible to find full foot coverage. And don't get me started about the complete lack of grip on the bottom

Kickers dms are good.