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Original poster

Clarkes "don't do walking shoes for girls"

85 replies

PuffingPanda · 26/09/2011 15:33

Yesterday I went into Clarkes shoes in Broughton, near Chester, to get my 5 year old daughter some walking shoes. On the demarcated ?boys side? (all blue and black, of course) I counted over 5 different styles of hiking/walking shoes.

On the girls side (all pink of course) ....nothing! Not a single walking shoe.

I asked the shop attendant to please show me walking shoes for girls. She said that they don?t seem to make any!

I asked if she felt girls don?t go walking. She giggled nervously and shrugged her shoulders.

Eventually they found a single pair in a catalogue, which would take a week to order.

I left with some perfect blue ?boys? shoes for my 5 year old.

I was flabbergasted.... already so many limits being placed on my daughter.

PS: My daughter loves dinosaurs. Al the dinosaur shoes were on the ?boys? side, so she felt she couldn?t take them. It really makes me sad.

OP posts:
CardyMow · 26/09/2011 17:06

YY to the distinct lack of boys shoes in a size 5 or 6. DS1 is, erm, particular with his trainers, only likes airwalk trainers in black and red - he has worn the same style since he was 4yo, through choice. He is currently wearing a size 4 at 9yo. He will soon be going into a size 5. Can I get them in a size 5? Can I buggery. The only Airwalks available in a size 5 are purple or pink. I can hardly see a 9 / 10yo boy agreeing to wear them - and it's the shape of the airwalks that he likes, he doesn't like Reebok etc - and they are wide enough for his 'H' fitting feet too, the Airwalks.

Even Clarks don't do trainers in those sizes for boys. Yet they do for girls.

Oh - OP - Mountain Warehouse do nice walking boots for children (rather than 'girls' and 'boys', usually in a fairly 'neutral' colour like stone and black. HTH.

Original poster
PuffingPanda · 26/09/2011 17:10

Thanks for all the responses...and overwhelming support and advice.

To answer the couple comments which asked why was I bothered by this...

The question about differences between boys and girls shoes is not really the point. I think the girls and boys actual physical requirements are exactly the same.

The issue is that there is this overt gender stereotyping going on in the store, which implies limitations on girls abilities and activities (in this case, running about or walking), which is just nuts. Surely there should be no separation in the store if both boys and girls are equal. And even if there is this separation for marketing reasons, surely both girls and boys should be offered the same functionality. Not having walking shoes available in-store for girls is crazy.

This gender stereotyping pressure is everywhere (though seldom so extreme as this), so when faced with a 'girls' section and a 'boys' section, its tough for her to choose a boys option.

I'll take the advice given and definitely pop the management a letter...thanks again.

OP posts:
MrsArchchancellorRidcully · 26/09/2011 17:15

I live near Broughton and I hate Clarks (actually the two aren't linked). I just hate Clarks full stop.

If you need proper walking shoes, then go to a good specialist shop like Millets (as has been said). Otherwise, we love shoebedo in Heswall on the Wirral. Link here

Not linked to them in anyway, but they are a fab independent charging approx £2 a pair more than Clarks but I've been there with DD on a Saturday afternoon and they never have queues and provided tailored advice and stock great shoes from independent brands. Worth a look?

UsAndTwo · 26/09/2011 17:29

Before start of term had to buy yr7 DD plain white trainers for school. She found a pair she absolutely loved in a sports shop and wears them all the time. Only when I came to write her name in them for school did I realise this inside labels says boys trainers. Still as long as she never sees this they will go on being her favourites :)

alison222 · 26/09/2011 17:43

Blacks have also just started selling children's walking boots if that is any help?

SardineQueen · 26/09/2011 17:51

I'm with you on this Smile

LikeACandleButNotQuite · 26/09/2011 17:55

I think if you want appropriate walking footwear, go to a more specialist store (Blacks, Berghaus, North Face etc)

killercat · 26/09/2011 17:56

Clarks refused point blank to even let my daughter try on a pair of blue 'boys' trainers because they claimed girls and boys shoes were fitted differently (even though I suspected it at the time to be bollocks). After glancing over at their hideous selection of fashion trainers for girls which frankly I didn't think were up for doing PE in, we took our (extensive) business elsewhere.

I bought both dd's blue boys trainers from another shop instead Grin

SardineQueen · 26/09/2011 18:07

killercat we got a pair of clarks "boys" trainers for DD2 recently and when we asked the assistant for them she said "but those are for boys" and I said "It's OK i don't think it'll do any harm!" and she kept asking if we were sure. I think she found it really shocking. DD2 wasn't even 2 yet Confused

It's ridiculous!

Lemonsole · 26/09/2011 18:08

I'm with you on this, OP. Have a look in the Politics and Feminism sections, where I've posted in the past on Clarks and their gender stereotyping in sandals. (Girls' sandals = strappy, pretty - best for standing around in; Boys' sandals = rugged; good for having fun in)

Posters saying that you should "just buy the boys' ones" are missing the point here. Girls get two messages, very clearly. One: that the girls' colours are pink, white and lilac, and Two, that they shouldn't move around too much or too fast, or their shoes will be ruined. We can do all we can to counter stereotyping in how we bring our children up, but they still have to go into a playground and face the gauntlet of Other Kids who have swallowed the gender message hook, line and sinker and who will be happy to give hell to any kid who dares (or whose DM is making a point) to be different. I don't care if my daughter wants to be mucking around, walking or charging down hills in pink sandals. I just want to be able to buy sandals that are suitable for that purpose.

I buy a lot of outdoor gear from my kids from Lands End. Their walking boots/ snowboots are good.

GrimmaTheNome · 26/09/2011 18:14

I've just realised, its not just kids.... I used to have a brilliant pair of Clarks walking sandals. After 10 years hard wear they broke - I went to replace them and found that they don't do proper ladies walking sandals any more.

Ephiny · 26/09/2011 18:21

Were the 'boys' ones actually labelled as being for boys, or did you just assume that because they weren't pink?

If they were, I think a letter to the management is definitely in order. Don't see any need for these kinds of shoes to be segregated by gender at that age.

I wrote a letter to Millets back in the day, after being informed by the assistant that they 'don't do' waterproof women's shoes - presumably women don't go out in the rain! This has changed now fortunately but it's always worth challenging these weird assumptions. Now if only they could stop making almost all the women's shoes in narrow fit only!

bangcrash · 26/09/2011 18:26

ynbu it starts early:(

Mammonite · 26/09/2011 18:36

Gender stereotyping winds me up so much and I don't even have a daughter.

We were looking for walking boots recently and there are plenty in Blacks, Yeoman's, Decathlon etc (maybe not for the tiny sizes?) that are neutral or nearly-neutral. Given that walking boots are expensive and get outgrown quickly it's better to go neutral so you can sell on/exchange I'd think. Nothing to stop you getting some colourful laces from ebay.

I do a lot of outdoor shopping activities and there is some brilliant kids and ladies gear out there now in quite a decent selection of colours. For the deep of pocket

killercat · 26/09/2011 20:03

Sardinequeen wow, it must be in the training! (unless you were coincidentally in the same store as me and coincidentally got the same assistant.
I got basic M&S ones in the end as I had to faff around buying astro shoes and 'outdoor' trainers too (which are also boys one Wink)
I'm not just in it to buck gender stereotypes - my daughter has a pink hockey stick for example!! But the first consideration is the item has to be fit for purpose and most girls shoes and clothes just frankly are not suited to a happy outdoorsy active girl.

snailoon · 26/09/2011 20:16

malificence
I said: my kids weren't like this (still aren't) because we weren't.
It helps to not watch much TV when they are young.
Our daughter is now 10, still wears quite a few of her brother's hand-me-downs, though she is also very feminine and likes plenty of girly things. I'm just saying that people bring this on themselves to a large extent, or so it seems to me.

GrimmaTheNome · 26/09/2011 20:35

Or if they do watch TV - if there are ads, try to watch with them and laugh like a drain at products you don't want to buy Grin

letmehelp · 26/09/2011 20:46

Could be worse, she could be my 10yo DS who had to have Ladies' walking boots for his size 6 feet. Boys finish at 5, mens start at 7..... Confused

nolembit · 26/09/2011 20:51

Yes Clarks do gender stereotype - if you need evidence of this look at the soles on the girls school shoes and then look at the soles on the boys school shoes. You will find that there is next to no grip on the girls shoes whilst the boys are very practical.

WidowWadman · 26/09/2011 20:52

I usually let my daughter choose, and she has gone for dinosaur trainers from the boys' side before (but also loves pretty pink ones) I'm glad we have made it to almost 3 and she's still not buying into the whole gender stereotyping thing.

ZhenXiang · 26/09/2011 20:57

These Clarks boots are girls and look like walking boots to me, I am getting DD a pair for winter.

Sounds as if the store didn't stock them and the assistant didn't know the stock very well, but you can order either online or instore and they deliver them to your local store for fitting within 5 days.

mummytime · 26/09/2011 21:51

Go to sports Direct or Mountain warehouse, for proper walking shoes. I wouldn't go to Clarks, too expensive and not proper walking shoes/boots.

mythical · 26/09/2011 21:58

"I asked if she felt girls don?t go walking"

It's not the shop assistant's fault they don't make walking shoes for girls. She was nice to giggle nervously, i would have been quite irritated with the question.

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 26/09/2011 21:59

Just get her boys ones.

Dp moaned the other say because I buy the boy ladies black socks, I pointed out his willy won't drop off and mens are too baggy. Gawd knows why he noticed tbh, the boy child has always had a strong feminine side, he loves wearing make up and tells everybody who'll listen that he wants to be a bride when he grows up !

Beamur · 26/09/2011 22:06

I got an absolute bargain in Millets last week - girls walking boots (size 11) dark grey with some pink piping for £15. They are clearing out last seasons stuff ahead of new stock coming in.
DD is only 4, we've not done the pink/princess thing with her and yet she is solidly on side with colour and gender stereotyping - and has been for some time, she rejected a black fleece her Dad bought her a year or so ago and recently trying on coats, I got her to try on a tan and black one - and she was miserably telling me she didn't like it because it was a boys coat...she had exactly the same style coat last year in red/pink and loved it.