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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

The boys have predators on their clothes, the girls have prey.

80 replies

dinodora · 18/07/2018 07:49

sonshinemagazine.com/magazine/animals-aggression-and-entitlement

An interesting analysis of high st children's clothes.

My boy does love sharks buand he would say they're prey to humans - I must say I'd have struggled with many of the girls clothes these days as I'd have preferred the dinosaurs.

Regularish poster, I've nc.

OP posts:
LaSquirrel · 18/07/2018 08:09

The predator/prey motifs certainly are a reflection of the assigned gender roles. All part of the attraction of those motifs.

Slogans and pictures on clothing were not really a thing when I was a girl. However, the gender roles were very much there (pre 2nd wave). It was hard to imagine 'what I wanted to be', when there were bugger-all role models other than 'housewife' and maybe nurse. So I went through a number of years staring into the abyss of non-career choices (for females). Boys of course, could 'choose anything'.

The predator/prey dynamic was also why I chose not to have children. I knew that, whichever sex, they would fit into one of those two categories.

DrWhy · 18/07/2018 08:09

I’ve got a boy and I’ve absolutely noticed this - who wants a scary looking shark with teeth or a mouth open t-Rex on baby and toddler clothes. I’m trying to teach him not to bite people for God’s sake! Plus it’s all grey and blue.
At the moment he almost lives in Frugi, JoJo and Little Bird from mothercare with the odd bit from boots - it’s all primary colours and friendly looking animals. The JoJo stuff is somewhat gendered but more in the colours than the animals or designs. I’m pregnant with a girl now and reckon I’ll be able to use more than half his stuff without anyone raising an eyebrow - and quite a lot more because I’m not that fussed.
Sadly aged 2 he will be out of the toddler stuff and then even those brands get less good although still better than others. Plus they are blinking expensive. I wish the stuff you could grab in the high street or supermarket wasn’t so awful.

Pratchet · 18/07/2018 08:05

That's a great website. I also like this about boys wearing 'girls'' clothes.

dinodora · 18/07/2018 07:58

It's difficult as I love dinosaurs and wild animals too (prefer plain clothes really) but do pick out some of these types of clothes for him.

But it's not our responsibility, it's the manufacturers.

OP posts:
NotMeOhNo · 18/07/2018 07:52

Yes I've noticed this. I don't think a lot of otherwise gender stereotype aware mothers of boys I know have noticed.

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