Clarkes "don't do walking shoes for girls"

[PuffingPanda]

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.

what is the issue. Get the 'boys' walking boots and be done with it. Why did you even ask where the girls ones were if you saw 5 boys ones anyway. I am not sure what you expected girls walking boots to be seeing as you complained about the girls shoes being pink.

so you went into a shop wanting walking boots. the shop has labelled them boys. it doesnt really matter because the minute they arent in the shop they are just walking boots. She likes dinosaurs...fine get the dinosaur ones. Again it doesnt matter what section the catagorise them in.

Well said minimisschief

In our day there wasn't a "choice" my mum put me in what was known as "tuffs" black or brown. Loved em! kicked ass on the football pitch an all!

I got dd1 walking boots from aldi. They are great :)

minim - but unfortunately, it evidently did matter to the OPs DD:

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.

Its a pity she felt this way, but not her fault - if they are obviously segregated into 'girls' and 'boys' (and if you use their website, you'll find them clearly designated For Boys ) then a girl may easily feel that they aren't meant for her. Girls are supposed to have Bugglies

Many thanks again for all the new helpful suggestions. I'm overwhelmed by the response! I feel I should add one last point to clarify my concern about this issue.

The main issue is not about shoes (although all the suggestions have been very helpful). The issue is that this is another example of the drip drip drip of messages coming from the media and marketing which affect children, their self-esteem, aspirations and body image.

In this case, by separating the shoes into boys and girls, with obvious differences in appearance (eg: pink vs blues) and functionalities (eg: delicate vs hardy), children are being taught at a very early age what their roles should be. As parents, we work hard to counter this, and in my case I buy what is right for my child, not what the advertisers are telling me to give her. But its very difficult in the face of mass consumer advertising. Children pick up these gender biased messages at an early age, and they are re-enforced everywhere. I encourage anyone interested to see www.pinkstinks.co.uk website which makes these points far better than I do.

Thanks again for all the kind suggestions...

I don't think it is true that Clarks simply sell what people want to buy.

If Clarks can make more money by not selling what people want to buy, rather than by catering to them, they will presumably do so.

Eg it is probably better business for them to sell 'girls' and 'boys' shoes than to have a good selection of gender-neutral shoes, because it means that families have only half the scope for 'hand-me-down' shoes. Little kids shoes rarely wear out before they are grown out of, and if they can be passed onto little brothers or sisters regardless of gender that reduces the need for new shoes by 50%.

There aren't that many other shoe shop chains that focus on kids shoes like Clarks do, so they don't have to worry too much about other suppliers stepping in and filling the gap.

I always buy my dd 'boys' shoes, as the girls shoes are often a bit flimsy and open. there is no difference apart from the colour but I wish for some more 'neutral' sensible shoes.

It doesn't get any better as you grow up. In outdoor/biking clothing if you're female you're more limited in choice and that choice is almost invariably pink, lilac or baby blue. All great practical colours for covering in mud!

It does seem to be a bit of a British thing, on the continent you get some great colours in women's outdoor stuff.

At least when you're a kid you can just go for boys stuff instead.

Someone may have already linked to these but Here are some nice raincoats for boys :)

I hate clarks' girls shoes. All the boys ones cover their whole foot and have good chunky soles. The girls ones are stupid ballet pump style ones with straps which are too skimpy for winter and mean their socks get wet really easily. Dreadful.