Girly Christmas presents

Sadly the generic "girly" gifts (often smellies) are really dull. Interesting stuff isn't just for men, but it sometimes feels like it.

Well girly gifts are probably perfume/make-up/jewellery/scented candles/ornaments/cute stationery. They're decorative

I wouldn't regard say a chopping board or a good cooking knife as 'girly' even if women sometimes do a lot of the family cooking.

I'd think of an interesting gift as an active/useful/functional one. Something that corresponds with a person's interests.

So if you're not terribly interested in interior decorating or decorating your own body 'girly' gifts are likely to seem boring...

I think maybe that's why I quite like soap. It's a bit girly but it is also useful!

I agree with lass.

At the risk of sounding tremendously ungrateful, DH's lovely family have once again for me girly things for Christmas while he's got interesting things

It is a pity you got a present you didn't like. However it is a bit of a reinforcement of stereotypes to divide gifts in to the categories of "girly" and "interesting" as if one is the opposite of the other.

I suppose there is a question about how girly is girly? I prefer to receive books and/or things that relate to my particular interests. On the other hand I can cope with stuff like Lush soap. (Perfume or fussy 'feminine' jewellery would feel a bit of a waste. Perhaps if the gifts are really expensive but utterly unusuable it is worth a heavy hint next year, 'I still haven't used all that lovely perfume - because it's not something I put on that much. But if you're looking for ideas some thermal underwear for my next ski-ing holiday would be a fantastic present.'

I think it's worth priming DH with some ideas - people do default to what they would like themselves in the absence of any other ideas. A lot of people don't have very much imagination.

That said, I asked my SIL what I could get small niece for her birthday and she specifically directed me to the pink girls' Lego, grrrr. So I didn't ask for Christmas and got some lovely gender neutral emergency services Playmobile stuff, which is basically doing the same thing as happened to you but in reverses. Bad auntie.

They probably gave you something they'd consider as a nice present for themselves, they want you to have the same. Don't think it can be changed.