to be really irritated by this?

[Mimstar]

Planning my DD's birthday at a venue which offers really great themed parties. We've been to a party there before, and it was fantastic.

My DD is not into 'traditionally' girly things. She loves pirates (captain hook etc), toy story and superheroes. All fantastic

So I saw on the website that they do a kids pirate party, with a treasure hunt and a make your own pirate hat activity etc. I emailed to enquire and this morning I got a response which said -

'Thank you for your enquiry. We are delighted that you are considering us for your daughter's party, and we thank you for your email regarding our pirate party package!

I just wanted to let you know that we do actually have a princess party package if that would be something your daughter might like?'

She then sent me all of the details of the princess party but not the pirate party I did email back saying I wasn't interested and she then sent me the pirate party information which does look fab.

I just feel a bit cross that she would assume just because DD is a girl, she would prefer the princess package when I specifically asked for a different one! I'm not even somebody who dislikes the princess stuff, I loved that stuff myself when I was little - but it's just not what DD likes at all.

So, it's not a big deal, but AIBU to be a little irritated by this bloody stereotyping?!

Well, at an early age my sister was into pink fairy dresses, read Princess annuals and liked ballet dancing, while I preferred to scruff around in jeans before they were fashionable, digging up creepy crawlies in the garden, and despised pink. Guess which one of us grew up to be the determinedly single paintballer and which one got married and had babies? Uh-huh.

Well it infuriates me that all some people think about this is that it's not an issue, no point raising your blood pressure, blah blah blah.

I don't think that OP is planning to have a massive go at the person who suggested the Princess party, they probably were only trying to be helpful after all.

But this pinkification, princessification of girls is an issue!

It's suggesting and encouraging this as the norm for all girls - so girls shouldn't really want to be pirates, they must instead conform to a pretty passive stereotype. After all you are either born a princess or become one via marriage to a prince. It is not achieved through your own power or prowess.

For what it's worth I have two boys and I also hate how at the tender age of 2 and 4 they are being encouraged by their peers and marketing to aspire to be and play with recognisable superheros such as superman and batman.

This rigid stereotyping is so stifling to children's imagination and creativity imo.

I would be annoyed that they hadn´t sent the info I asked for by return-& pointed out other options as an aside rather than the other way round.

Would make me very tempted not to use them tbh.

YANBU, it wouldn't have bothered me if they'd sent stuff about the princess party as well as the pirate stuff (because yes it might have been something your daughter would have liked, and you might not have known about it).

Sending it instead of what you'd actually asked for though? . That is very odd and I can see why it's irritating!