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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think sports shop websites shouldn't have 'Boys' and 'Girls' sections?

85 replies

feudebois · 15/03/2016 10:08

Looking for some trackpants for my 10 year old dd. I'm finding it increasingly depressing that every sports shop website I have looked at so far divide the junior clothing by gender. Click on the Junior Clothing section on JD Sports and you get the profoundly depressing message:
Boys (753) (items of clothing)
Girls (21)

My dd does not need polka dots and florals on her sportswear, she needs good, practical, technical clothing as she trains 5 x a week.

I would say she would wear 99% of the stuff in the boys section. It's plain, navy, black, blue, green, grey, yellow.

Sports Direct and Nike have roughly the same amount of stuff, but I fail to see why the two genders can't be combined? Why can't girls wear plain navy sportswear? Why can't boys wear pink?

OP posts:
Original poster
feudebois · 15/03/2016 10:36

I would agree if they were actually cut differently

But they aren't

I have just checked my dds Canterbury trackpants - she has one pair with pink on it which was marketed as girls and one pair of boys same style. They are identical in cut.

OP posts:
curren · 15/03/2016 10:36

I 'can' wear some men's t shirts. But for them to fit me in the boobs the are to big on the waist and are uncomfortable.

If you and your dd can wear the boys ones.....but the boys ones.

Just because something fits you or your dd doesn't mean they fit everyone else.

curren · 15/03/2016 10:37

And of course sports clothes that are for women at cut to accomdate breasts.

ctjoy103 · 15/03/2016 10:37

Again you are focusing on what you and your dd are built like. It's aimed at you know the majority of people not just the two of you.

Original poster
feudebois · 15/03/2016 10:40

I think at 4/5/6/7/8/9/10 there is very very little difference in body shape between boys and girls - there are broader boys and girls, skinny boys and girls. Both sexes could fit quite happily into everything. Girls sports clothes tend to be cut skimpier for fashion reasons not to fit body shape.

I do buy from the boys section but I resent them being described as 'boys' clothes when they really don't need to be!

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 15/03/2016 10:40

Well aren't you full of your own self importance OP Grin. I have breasts and need sports clothing to accommodate my breasts funnily enough.

WorraLiberty · 15/03/2016 10:40

Sports t shirts arent cut to accommodate breasts Confused

Yes some are. Less material in certain places and more in others.

I wear men's slim fit t.shirts from Primark.

I could wear men's t.shirts from JD Sports but they're baggy and the shoulders are too broadly cut.

I think as a PP said, this is only a problem in your mind because you appear to be trying to make it one.

It's literally just a click of a button on their websites and it makes a lot of people's lives easier, even if it doesn't do that for you.

Original poster
feudebois · 15/03/2016 10:41

just thinking of dd's mixed primary

they have school branded trackies which are unisex - one style

ditto the branded polo shirts

most kids wear them

they fit all of them, boys and girls Confused

OP posts:
AnnaMarlowe · 15/03/2016 10:43

Excellent - she can wear those then.

Original poster
feudebois · 15/03/2016 10:43

do be clear that I am talking about childrens clothing here, not women and teens

but do feel free to ignore that and talk about your own experiences as a grown woman!

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 15/03/2016 10:43

Well maybe the parents just ordered from the section that had the garment they required to buy in it then.

Original poster
feudebois · 15/03/2016 10:44

she does annamarlowe! Good advice though, thanks.

OP posts:
curren · 15/03/2016 10:45

Girls sports clothes tend to be cut skimpier for fashion reasons not to fit body shape.

Absolute rubbish. Girls sports clothes are not cut skimpier. There are sports clothes and then fashion sports clothes.

For both genders. Ds lives in fashion tracksuit bottoms. They aren't designed for actual sport. They are tighter than ones he would wear for sport.

Dd has always been bigger around the bum and hops than ds. Ds can't wear her old clothes because his shoulders are too broad, his bum and hips too narrow. He is five and is very different in shape to dd was at the same age.

AnnaMarlowe · 15/03/2016 10:46

Did you read my post feude?

8 year olds. One male, one female.

Same height, same weight.

Not the same shape.

squashtastic · 15/03/2016 10:47

YANBU and pre puberty there is more individual difference than gender difference.

Original poster
feudebois · 15/03/2016 10:47

Well that's about as relevant as my own experiences with dds body shape annamarlowe (ie not relevant apparently)

OP posts:
AnnaMarlowe · 15/03/2016 10:48

But if your DD has trousers in pink and black which are the same cut then I fail to see what your problem is?

Do the shops sell clothes which fit your DD's need, shape and your budget?

Yes? excellent - but those.

SoupDragon · 15/03/2016 10:49

I have two DSs and a DD. Whilst some of the boys clothes have been able to be used by DD, she is a different shape to how they were. I'm not talking just tall/short/thin/stocky either. She has a bottom for a start. And a waist.

curren · 15/03/2016 10:49

Your dd fits easily into both boys and girls clothes.

Many people here are saying that's not the case for us. You keep saying that because you and your dd can wear both that means sports clothes shouldn't be separate.

But your dd isn't the majority.

SoupDragon · 15/03/2016 10:51

that's about as relevant as my own experiences with dds body shape annamarlowe (ie not relevant apparently)

The whole point of your thread was that all girls can wear all boys clothing though and there is absolutely no differende whatsoever in the cut of any of them. You are wrong. And somewhat dismissive of other people's experiences and opinions.

AliciaMayEmory · 15/03/2016 10:52

Ahhh, it's one of those threads...
OP: AIBU?
Chorus of "yes!"
OP: stamps foot and shouts "no I'm not!"

OP, are you just angling for an argument? If your DD prefers the clothes market at boys then buy those for her. Other girls her age actually like the colours and patterns marketed at girls. Why should they go without just because you think that as the cut for young children doesn't need to be different they should all have the same things?

AnnaMarlowe · 15/03/2016 10:53

It is a relevant rebuttal to your comment that there is "very little difference in no's and girls body shape" though.

It's not about 'broad' or 'skinny' both of mine are skelfs.

It's about my DD having curved hips while my DS does not.

It's about my DS having broad shoulders and chest while my DD does not.

These are male/female differences.

Do you have a son? Because if so I'm very surprised at you saying boys and girls are the same shape.

They might look so dressed but unclothed the differences are obvious.

SpidersFromMars · 15/03/2016 10:55

I think most of the items in the boys section could legitimately be in a unisex section.
There are a few items (ie Sportsbras) which are logical to "genderise".

Original poster
feudebois · 15/03/2016 10:57

I've checked sizing charts on a couple of websites and according to that there is absolutely no difference in the sizing of boys and girls sports wear until they get to around 10. They use the same size charts. Perhaps they are just lazy and haven't put the right sizing in, but there is no difference.

OP posts:
curren · 15/03/2016 10:58

What's does that prove?

Is everyone else here lying then?