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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think these posters in Clark's are sexist?

32 replies

LittleMissGerardButlerfan · 05/08/2013 13:51

Probably an overreaction on my part!

I went in to get my sons feet measured today and saw some posters up, the boys one basically said we know boys like rough and tumble so we check our shoes do to type thing. Then the girls one said about knowing that girls like comfort and style (or something like that) and had a picture of smiling girls with pretty pencil cases etc.

A lot of girls I know like rough and tumble too, and need sturdy shoes, and likewise boys still want comfort and style. Why not just have one poster that covers both?

So Aibu to think these posters are wrong?

OP posts:

lovecupboards · 05/08/2013 13:57

Probably not. But it probably isn't worthy of a full on riot.

Rooners · 05/08/2013 14:00

I would just put it down to the overall 'clarks is crap' thing and not go in there tbh

How they can claim that their shoes undego testing, or last longer, is beyond me as the ones we've had have gone through at the toes within a week.

Pozzled · 05/08/2013 14:02

Not an over-reaction. I get bloody annoyed by that type of thing. You only have to look at the shoe styles in Clarks to see that they think boys and girls are utterly different creatures.

Might have to see if my local store has the same posters- and complain if they do.

Dahlen · 05/08/2013 14:02

Yes they are sexist, and while a lot of people will think it's an over-reaction, these sorts of posters really annoy me. It's not just a pair of shoes. It's an attitude that means mothers of active little girls who like 'rough and tumble' just as much as any little boy end up spending far more on shoes - in terms of time and energy hunting them down, as well as financial cost.

Clarks are rubbish now though IMO. Cheap leather cut the wrong way and flimsy plastic parts that disintegrate under any sort of pressure.

tmae · 05/08/2013 14:04

Yeah YANBU, I find these casual generalisations really quite galling. It is just very lazy, and irresponsible to reinforce the whole male/active female/passive stereotype

NiceCupOfTeaAndASitDown · 05/08/2013 14:07

I think it just follows their idea that boys should wear blue rugged shoes and girls dainty little pink sandals - which niggles me too to be honest!

went in to look for sandals the other day and while the assistant was checking the stockroom he decided he wanted to try on some grey ballet pumps, I let him to keep him happy as I knew stopping him would mean a meltdown - my kids hate shopping, anyway the assistant comes back and starts laughing at him! I didn't think much of it at the time but when I got home I felt really cross that he'd been judged (at 2.6 ffs) for trying on 'girls' shoes. I know there are differences between the sexes but why does it have to be forced on them at such a young age?!

I was so cross I bought him some (much nicer and cheaper ones) online

PeanutButterMmm · 05/08/2013 14:09

I agree. My girl is very rough and tumble. When I went to get my sons shoes for starting school I was suprised at how much more sturdy they were compared to girls ones.

Unrelated to clarks it also annoys me that for some tv shows that I assume they think are for "boys" they only do clothes for boys with that tv show on and not girls. Again my dd loves shows like ben 10, scooby doo etc but they aim the clothes at boys.

NiceCupOfTeaAndASitDown · 05/08/2013 14:09

to find DS some sandals, the assistant was female and not trying on ballet pumps in the stockroom, really should learn how to proofread from my phone!

anklebitersmum · 05/08/2013 14:25

I'd like to see a return of the clod-hoppy shoes for girls in Clarks. Preferably the old Polyveldt..the modern version of which I sport post flip-flop season.

A good sturdy shoe for charging about in instead of the a-typical girls shoe which necessitates buying boots aswell post October at further expense

Quick, genuine question though..where are people buying shoes that are better quality than Clarks? Cheers

tobiasfunke · 05/08/2013 14:25

I saw those when I was in and was a bit Hmm. However the girls selection is about three times the boys and far more interestingso girls probably get a better deal even if it ladled out with a side order of sexism.

Clarks are a complete con now. Went in with DS to get school shoes- should've known better. He has inserts for his shoes. They had only 2 pairs of black shoes in his 'size'. In each case the left and right shoes in each pair were at least 2 cms different in width - I could tell because of the inserts. So they do all this measuring and then basically give you poorly manufactured shoes in random sizes. People pay over the odds because they think they fit perfectly.
I'm not surprised it's not the first time I've had ill-fitting shoes from there but I was getting desperate as DS inserts require the shoes to be a perfect fit. Got a perfect pair in Next of all places at half the price and twice the quality.

tobiasfunke · 05/08/2013 14:29

Big sensible shoes were all the rage when I was growing up in the 70's and 80's. We all wore Polyveldts and Nature Treks- even at secondary school. We then graduated to DM's. We would've been appalled at the pink glittery flimsy rubbish girls wear now.

anklebitersmum · 05/08/2013 14:32

tobiasfunke you just reminded me of Pods..and how the top of the d always wore off

Original poster

LittleMissGerardButlerfan · 05/08/2013 14:40

I agree the quality isn't good but I don't know where else to get school shoes from?

I also find them really pushy now as well which I don't like. I used to work for them and know they have sales targets etc but the woman who served us today was very pushy. I walked out without buying anything today as I didn't like the fact she was pushing is to buy the next size when actually although the iPad (new measuring thing they do) said 11 in big letters when you looked closer he was between sizes still. They used to tell you they were between sizes and check their current shoes, now they just try anything to get a sale.

I wouldn't complain about the posters by the way, they just annoyed me!

OP posts:

tobiasfunke · 05/08/2013 14:48

After a few very expensice mistakes at Clarks and our independent (expensive) kids shoe shop I bought myself a sizing gauge from Startrite and measure Ds's feet myself and go hunting for shoes. I've found Skechers good as their sizes are consistent- but then we have a skechers outlet near us. I've also found good shoes in Next, Debenhams and even Sainsburys but again nowhere is consistent- you have to check for yourself. An 11 in one shoe isn't an 11 in another.

ComposHat · 05/08/2013 14:54

We all wore Polyveldts and Nature Trek

Clarks Polyveldts are damn nigh indestructible, I have a pair I've worn to death for four years and the sole hasn't worn down at all. Shame Clarks make most of their most stylish shoes with the crepe sole that wears down in no time and is lethal in the wet.

quoteunquote · 05/08/2013 15:35

www.everydaysexism.com/

put it on here.

PeanutButterMmm · 05/08/2013 15:39

I take it they one of their targets is to flog you the shoes with toy in the heel which cost £40!

Went in with my ds, he picked a couple of pairs he liked, the lady came back with one of the pairs of shoes he chose, said they did not have the other ones in stock and just happened to bring out the £40 pair with the crappy toy in the heal as an alternative. I guess this ploy is so my ds says he wants the shoes with the toy

Well I was one step a head of the sales woman and had already clocked the shoes with the toy, did not tell ds there was a toy in the heal and guided him towards the other shoes. As soon as I saw she had brought them out, I quickly said "he likes these and these shoes too" making sure there were other options for him to try and luckily they had the other shoes in stock so he did not try on the toy shoes (and I did not suggest he tried them either and distracted him with the other shoes) and he liked one of the others thankfully.

She then tried to flog me the shoe protector and black polish. I said I have a dd at school so already have it. As soon as I said that she backed off - I think they prey on first time parents who they can con into thinking they need all the polishes etc.

Lottapianos · 05/08/2013 15:43

YANBU OP. As other posters have said, it's not just about a pair of shoes - it's about filling people's heads with the nonsense that boys and girls are totally different from each other and that there is a way that boys and girls 'should' be. Yuck.

I was in Skechers last week and the little girl's section was utterly foul - there was nothing that wasn't covered in pink or purple sparkly crap. Some of the tiny little shoes even had heels!

Frenchvanilla · 05/08/2013 15:45

It's so silly. Children, irregardless of gender, need functional, hardwearing shoes that support the development of the foot.

I'm seeing a gap in the market here- some 'rough and tumble' shoes aimed at girls? Or a line of gender-neutral shoes from a Scandinavian type brand?

Davsmum · 05/08/2013 15:46

I think this is often targeted at the mothers.
I have friends who will only dress their little girls in 'pretty' shoes and then get upset if their little girl ruins the shoes!
I don't know how much little girls liking comfort and style is about them or their Mums!

IneedAyoniNickname · 05/08/2013 15:48

My children.must be really unusual, their Clark's shoes have always fitted nicely, and lastest at least a year. I even passed some on recently, and the lady gave them to said they looked practically brand new.

PrinceRogersNelson · 05/08/2013 15:51

I have seen these posters and hate them. I always get my son Clarks shoes for school, but won't for DD as they are so flimsy. Won't offer support or allow her to run. But hey she'll look pretty so what does it matter? :(

Lottapianos · 05/08/2013 15:52

I don't know how much little girls liking comfort and style is about them or their Mums!

Very good point Davsmum. How do little girls learn to be interested in style and colours and sparkles - from the adults around them!

Davsmum · 05/08/2013 16:01

I think certainly the adults encourage them and reinforce the sparkly girly shoes etc.
However, I also think some little girls just naturally love the style and glamorous stuff!

Miffytastic · 05/08/2013 16:14

YANBU I was grumbling loudly about the last time I went in, looking for something for my two girls. I came away empty handed as all options were too inadequate/pink for my requirements. I mean they do wear pink but it's not a neutral go with everything colour!
I wish I could get them decent rough about, running ,playing shoes. I ended up getting shoes from next that day- sparkly trainers and baseball boots but at least not pink. Their school shoes came from there looked ace and were comfy, but unfortunately the toes scuffed to buggery :(

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