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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Clarks are outrageously sexist?

80 replies

BakingEating · 15/02/2015 13:32

So my dd is nearly one and just starting to walk. I decided to have a quick look online at shoes so that I'd have a good idea of prices and styles before I go shopping.

I'm now seething with rage at the ridiculously sexist way Clarks are categorising their shoes. Shoes for baby girls are either pink or purple, or they're covered in hearts or flowers. A plain green pair of canvas shoes are "for boys". A yellow pair with giraffes on are "for boys". Why?

www.clarks.co.uk/c/babies-walking

I know most baby and children's clothes shops do this to some extent, but Clarks is the worst I've encountered so far. You'd normally expect some overlap between what they market at girls and boys.

Normally I just buy what's nice and get on with life. With Clarks though it's too bad to ignore.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Original poster
BakingEating · 15/02/2015 14:08

Yes, seething with rage. Over shoes.

I've come to expect the "pink is for girls, blue is for boys" in shops, but I didn't realise that according to Clarks, green and yellow are also for boys.

As I've already said, I normally just buy what I like and get on with it, but they just seem over the top.

OP posts:
Nomama · 15/02/2015 14:10

Outrageously sexist... seething with rage....

Mmmmm! I'd just take my business elsewhere, they are shoes!

Miggsie · 15/02/2015 14:10

All shoe shops are terrible - Geox used to be better but have gone pretty much the same way.

I buy DD shoes from the "boys" range particularly sandals.

projecting · 15/02/2015 14:10

I'd love Dd to wear bright funky shoes with giraffe et al on them. However last time we went shopping I was hungover decided to let her choose her own.

So she currently plays out in bright pink Peppa trainers with sparkles.

I am ashamed Hmm

Gunpowder · 15/02/2015 14:11

DD had boys brown or navy shoes when she was 1 because her feet were too wide for any of the girls' styles. (even in H, they were like cubes) I didn't care about them being boys ones though. Sometimes I buy her t shirts from the boy section too.

gallicgirl · 15/02/2015 14:11

Meh.

yeah. There's loads of shit stuff like this. Not worth getting too worked up over and you'll find your way.

Check out

livieandluca.co.uk
let clothes be clothes
sewing circus
happy little soles

Gunpowder · 15/02/2015 14:11

Sorry for missing apostrophes. Tired. Smile

BeakyMinder · 15/02/2015 14:17

YANBU - they are sexist.

And why the hell shouldn't you get angry about this? Reactions like these piss me off. Listen to yourselves, you lot might as well be telling her to "calm down dear" or to not be so "hysterical".

If someone came on here with a similar complaint about racism would you tell them they shouldn't be angry?

LMLytton · 15/02/2015 14:18

It is shit.

School shoes are worse. DD rips through school shoes and has to have "boys" dino ones. And she does get comments about her boys shoes, but she is still just about able to do it.

I complained in Clraks about their rubbish girl shoes and the sales assistant said "loads of people tell us that". So it's great to know they're listening Hmm

Floggingmolly · 15/02/2015 14:18

That first link just lists them all without reference to who they're suitable for?? It doesn't actually matter though, does it?
I remember getting Dd's first shoes; I browsed through all the lovely pastel shades in the t-bars and picked out a lovely sunny yellow colour, only to be told when they'd measured her feet that they were too wide for all the girl's styles and she'd have to have some from the boy's range. Confused
I ended up with a clunky pair of red and navy lace ups; I was so gutted you wouldn't believe it (pfb!)
But they didn't actually refuse to sell them to me on the grounds that she was a girl...

toomuchtooold · 15/02/2015 14:21

Wait till you try and buy the bloody things OP. My incredibly picky 2 year old girl took a fancy to a "boys' pair" with aeroplanes on them only for the shop assistant, sorry fitting expert, to talk her out of them by saying "but those are BOYS' shoes? Are you SURE" 15 times despite me telling her repeatedly that we were perfectly happy with them thanks. I wouldn't even have minded but it was the only pair she liked"

Gileswithachainsaw · 15/02/2015 14:25

I've bought bits shoes before for both Dds. can't say I've ever had a problem. It's certainly not common practice in all shops.

However I do find Clarke shit despite this.

Gileswithachainsaw · 15/02/2015 14:26

Boys

ImBatDog · 15/02/2015 14:26

my issue with clarks is that their girls shoes aren't scuff proof either.. no way i'm wasting £40 on a pair of shoes that wont last a month.

i ended up buying dd's shoes from M&S and they've lasted better than anything else i've seen.. they wore out from the inside before the toe even looked scratched!

WilburIsSomePig · 15/02/2015 14:28

Well it pissed me off a bit but I just bought what I liked regardless of whether it was for boys or girls. Can't say I ever seethed with rage about it though.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 15/02/2015 14:31

Nothing stopping you using green shoes for a girl

CalleighDoodle · 15/02/2015 14:34

It's outrageous and doesnt just stop with children. Imagine how difficult it is for men to get a nice pair of 2inch heel court shoes on a wide size 12!!!

projecting · 15/02/2015 14:34

Am I the only person who goes to Clarks to get measured for free and then goes across the way to buy cheaper shoes from Brantano?

"Poor" dd has never had a new pair of Clarks....

TheHobbit · 15/02/2015 14:41

I don't think they are that bad. The selection looks fine for both.

phoenixrose314 · 15/02/2015 14:41

They are INCREDIBLY sexist. I find it difficult to buy colourful, interesting shoes for my DS (that is just the style I like for children) in Clarks and am always looking enviously over at the girl's section that seems an absolute riot of colour. So far I have contented myself (somewhat) with little red and blue aeroplane shoes that light up when DS walks, but still... some bright red or green shoes would be lovely! Screw all those boring, endless pale and dull blues and browns... ugh...

fishybits · 15/02/2015 14:44

I've only ever bought boy's shoes from Clarks for DD. The girl's shoes wouldn't last a week on her.

MuddhaOfSuburbia · 15/02/2015 14:52

Yanbu

Clarks clearly think that girls don't run around, paddle in mud, climb etc etc

So glad my dds are big enough to buy bargainous trainers in sports flipping direct

Gileswithachainsaw · 15/02/2015 15:46

Am I the only person who goes to Clarks to get measured for free and then goes across the way to buy cheaper shoes from Brantano?

nope Grin

I get Dds measured in Clarks and then order online from ecco for sturdy ankle boots that actually last. school shoes we get from JL usually start rite but tbh the last couple of pairs I've not been impressed with as look a right state and leather appears to be thinner than it used to be.

so now I'm trying to search online for alternatives however dd is sick of the same shoe over and over as that's the only one that fits and the only other one I like on the kickers site stops at a 13. women's style starts at 3 so what do you do with kickers between 13.5 and 3 Hmm

Hygellig · 15/02/2015 15:49

I filled in an online survey for Clarks once and mentioned this. All the girls' shoes I've seen are very pink, whereas the boys' ones tend to be dinosaurs or pilots. But there are plenty of online shoe shops (for example Happy Little Soles) that have more choice.