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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that girl's school shoes should be enclosed?

126 replies

jwpetal · 02/09/2014 18:05

sorry this is long but My daughters are starting reception on Thursday and I took them to get new school shoes. I went to Clarks who did not have any enclosed shoes for girls. They did have a new shoe for older children but not for young children. Apparently, parents do ask for this but they do not supply them. I looked at numerous stores and could not find them except for Little Kickers that I might get away with but massively expensive.

Now, the boys have enclosed shoes but not girls. Winter is coming and the kids will spend a lot of time outside in rain, puddles and the cold. When I asked about this (I grew up in the desert), a young girl next to me said that her feet get wet and cold but they are also not allowed to wear boots. She was buying the new Clarks enclosed shoe for older kids. Her mother was surprised as she had not thought of it. Her brother said that his feet stayed dry....except when he jumps in a big puddle.

Am i being unreasonable, to find the policy of no boots rule unreasonable and also the lack of supply to girls for warm, comfortable, enclosed school shoes ridiculous?

OP posts:
HighwayDragon · 02/09/2014 19:42

I bought dd some hush puppies from brantano, 35 and a full shoe

whois · 02/09/2014 19:44

Just buy boys shoes then?

BittersweetSymphony · 02/09/2014 19:47

whois that isn't the point though is it. It IS ludicrous that girls shoes are never fully enclosed.

bananaleaf · 02/09/2014 19:49

YANBU this is a pet hate of mine. It's ridiculous seeing little girls (and even the senior school girls) walking along in slip on style ballet flats while the boys have proper lace up school shoes! When did this happen? Admittedly I grew up in another country where we either wore lace ups or Mary Jane type shoes the whole way through school. Even Mary Janes was pushing it as we were meant to have a covered foot in chemistry lessons. Has it always been the way here? Very interesting point about the sexism of it. I totally agree. Also the 'handbags' as school bags I find ridiculous too. Why aren't there regulation school bags or back packs?

Ericaequites · 02/09/2014 19:51

Buy boys' shoes. My old school uniform required brown tie shoes with low heels and flexible soles. We all wore Docksiders or bluchers. In Providence, it rains two days out of three.

HotPinkWeaselWearingLederhosen · 02/09/2014 19:52

Dd struggles with Mary Janes, they just don't fit right. T bar would've been fab but hard to get in her size and she won't touch them since a fitter in Clarks told her they are for babies not school girls (she's 4 FFS!)

I'd just like a little more choice.

ABlandAndDeadlyCourtesy · 02/09/2014 19:56

EatDessert, many schools don't have space for wellies, and changing in and out cuts down break time.

hyperhops · 02/09/2014 20:01

yes, it is totally ridiculous.
younger ones are allowed boots and always go into boots in about Oct - feb.
older girls though aren't allowed boots...BUT school policy is that shoes have to be fully enclosed. DD1 is now on her third year, and dd2 on her second year of the exact same style of shoe as that is the only one I can find that meets the requirements. Heaven help me if they stop making that style!!Hmm Some of the shoes sold for girls school shoes these days are absolutely ridiculous.

Bulbasaur · 02/09/2014 20:08

I went to a private school as a small child (America), and if I recall correctly, me and a few other girls just wore boy shoes. They were more comfy than the girl counter parts, and they were cheaper.

Girl shit is expensive. Hmm

For wallet's sake I hope DD is into spiderman and dinosaurs. Grin

Anja1Cam · 02/09/2014 20:11

My girls (7 and 10) usually wear what's considered boys shoes. We have some girly ones to 'go' with dresses, but the others definitely get more wear, even with school skirts etc.

littledrummergirl · 02/09/2014 20:12

Every year I go into clarks and every year I have complained about this.
This year Dd is finally wearing lace up shoes which are much more practical.
I didnt realise they were only in larger sizes.
Give them feedback.

Pyjamaramadrama · 02/09/2014 20:13

Not a problem for me as only have a ds, but yes it does seem ridiculous. Thinking about it at ds school girls aren't allowed to wear trousers.

Lots of 'girl' stuff just seems totally impractical.

addictedtosugar · 02/09/2014 20:14

Several pairs which are slightly better at brantano

I was Shock at the girls selection in clarks. BUT at least they start at a size 6. Try finding school shoes for a size 6.5, narrow footed, boy....

Purpleroxy · 02/09/2014 20:15

Every girl in my dd's year wears Mary Janes. They are not particularly practical and a few times dd has got her socks/tights wet.

However school are usually sensible about wearing wellies when it's pissing down and when it snowed they wore boots for a few days.

It's like everything else - fashion. Even if you buy your dd something else, she may want the Mary Janes like her friends so watch out for that.

merrymouse · 02/09/2014 20:16

I agree that boots are more practical outside in winter. However I think they need to change shoes to jump around in puddles otherwise the floors inside are going to be very unpleasant.

Michonne · 02/09/2014 20:49

I do think there should be a wider range for girls, however I didn't have any issue with my DDs mary janes last year and have bought another pair for this year. She loves them and they didn't have any negative impact on her play. If it was a wet day the school don't let them out at playtimes and they can always travel to/from school in wellies. I think it's a bit ridiculous to say that it encourages gender stereotypes.

Altinkum · 02/09/2014 20:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

namelessposter · 02/09/2014 20:59

Agreed

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 02/09/2014 20:59

We've never had a problem with Mary Janes, we walk to school in all weathers (admittedly less than 10 mins), wear wellies if it's really chucking it down and once at school they go inside if it's pouring with rain. They also seem sturdy enough for all the usual running, climbing, jumping etc, DD's usually last the entire school year, she wears them at weekends quite a bit too.

What I don't like seeing is slip on ballet shoe types or heels on young girls, those really are inappropriate and I can fully see why they put girls off running around, if I'm wearing them and the DCs want to run around the park after school I can't do it and I'm aware that sends a rubbish message.

simonthedog · 02/09/2014 21:01

I totally agree. Last year I emailed Clarks customer services to complain about the complete dominance in the girls section by flimsy Mary-Janes and colour options of only black or pink. I didn't even get a reply. There is a far better selection for boys. I don't think the Mary-Janes are suitable for running around in at all.

MaxineQuordlepleen · 02/09/2014 21:09

YANBU. This drives me mad. We've gone with Ricosta, Camper, Geox or Ecco. They're all much more expensive though. Clarks did do one last year but they're not doing it this year.

threepiecesuite · 02/09/2014 21:12

I have bought the ones linked in the second post, as the thick t-bar seemed the most enclosed and secure in Clarks.

Ididntseeitsoitdidnthappen · 02/09/2014 21:19

YANBU mine will be wearing these I used to get the clarkes ones but their soles are shit

Rosie55 · 02/09/2014 21:25

Exactly what WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes said.

I'd actually prefer shoes that were less enclosed for boys. DS always has sweaty feet when we take his shoes off. DD's feet seem to be able to 'breathe' better in Startrite Mary Janes, and they're sturdy enough for running and climbing and last a whole year, with wellies for walking to school on wet days.