To think the anti-pink brigade can be a bit OTT

[NeedACleverNN]

I have noticed on here there are some people who refuse to allow their girls wear anything pink/sparkly/overly feminine. A lot of the reasoning seems to be because it sets women back 100 years etc etc and gender neutral stuff.

However the same people are eager to point out they don't care if their son wears it and in fact actively encourage them to do so.

AIBU to think pink is just a colour and if girls want to enjoy pink and princesses and babies and pushchairs they should be able to just as much as a boy can?

[DinosaursRoar]

I have complained a lot now that DS is wearing clothes for over 7 (so not in the "1 - 7 years" ranges), that colours have all disappeared, theres a see of dull, mini-adult clothes, the girls ranges for those ages do still seem to have a range of colours, even if they are also mini-adult clothes. I'd be happy with bright blue again, it's the sludgey green, grey and dark blue that's so boring. (It doesn't suit DS's colouring at all, he's looking all washed out.)

[Waltermittythesequel]

The campaign mentioned is literally called Pink Stinks!

I don't think it's a big stretch to call that anti-pink.

[Coldtoeswarmheart]

And yes, boy's clothes over age 7 are very grey and navy. Dull dull dull.

[Muskateersmummy]

I agree too OP. The problem with "children's toys" is that children themselves quickly label things boys and girls toys. I don't refer to boys and girls toys, neither does her preschool or her grandparents. Yet over the past few weeks she has walked me past certain things in the toy shops saying they are boys toys. These are toys she would have played with before, she's only just turning 4 so she can't read, the knowledge of boys and girls toys comes from somewhere and I'm not convinced it's from labelling in shops.

[imeatingthechocolate]

some people i know have gone entirely the opposite way they go OTT on dressing there boys in pink because it's fashionable to have a gender fluid child same parents practically shoving a barbie at them everytime you go to a toddler group

should be a let kids be kids campaign

[soapboxqueen]

Don't know anyone who has banned their daughter from wearing pink or even suggested it. However, I get irritated at the pinkification of pretty much any item aimed at girls, particularly clothing. I hate the fact that clothes aimed at girls are often less practical, or not as warm as similar clothing in the boys section. My dd often ends up with clothing from the boys section because the stuff in the girls section is obviously for children who stay indoors. She also has boys shoes for similar reasons.

I hate the fact that boys clothing is often limited in range in comparison to the girls section and I object to some of the slogans etc that get put on both boys and girls clothing.

I went to an excellent training day by Gary Wilson about how stereotypes harm boys and their chances of success in school.

[Itinerary]

The campaign mentioned is literally called Pink Stinks!

Yes, and it wouldn't exist if there hadn't been such heavy-handed promotion of pink in the first place. It didn't just spring from nowhere.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Pink Stinks is yes, fuckingoutrageous.

Whatever next blue is poo?

[Waltermittythesequel]

I am referring to the name of the campaign.

It's not outside the realms of possibility to think that the colour pink and its fans are being targeted.

[Imfinehowareyou]

MrsDevere I completely agree with what you've said and it's how I see the whole anti pink stance...however, I am surrounded by parents who DO see 'we shouldn't restrict our children's choices to pink for girls and blue for boys' and they read 'GIRLS MUSTN'T EVER WEAR PINK!!!' It's really wearing. Please can you come to our school and give a talk?

[merrymouse]

Have never heard of anyone banning pink. However it is annoying and frankly stupid that so many toys and basic clothes like t-shirts are gendered either for boys or for girls.

[CountessOfStrathearn]

I'm like MrsDeVere. I want to dress my male and female children in bright colours. I want to have more choice than just pink/frills for my DDs and sludge colours for my DSs.

(I have found that both Tesco and Sainsbury's are pretty good for nice bright colours if anyone is looking.)

[NeedACleverNN]

Speaking of boys clothes why is there no variety?!

Girls aisles have at least one full one maybe two of various colours and patterns.

Boys have half an aisle if we are lucky and they are all either blue, red or green and have either cars, trucks or dinosaurs on them.

[Waltermittythesequel]

If the campaign is about equality and diversity for both genders, why is it called Pink Stinks?

Genuine question.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

I'm totally with you walter the word 'stinks' gives out nothing but negative meaning.

[NeedACleverNN]

For anyone who says they have never seen it, this came up on my FB feed from mn blog.

ohdollydosh.co.uk/2016/04/04/i-need-a-dress-mummy-when-children-conform-to-stereotypes/

[merrymouse]

I think it's because pink and stink rhyme.

However, I do agree that there is danger that rather than saying anyone can wear pink, the message could be read as anything that is pink and sparkly is less good.

[AndYourBirdCanSing]

I agree OP.

I'm a feminist and it actually really pisses me off. It's gone too much the other way now.

[Itinerary]

Have never heard of anyone banning pink.

Nope, me neither.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

and I'm a fully paid up dungaree-wearing feminist

And you don't see the irony in that statement?

[TheDowagerCuntess]

should be a let kids be kids campaign

Here you go.

[VikingVolva]

Pink Stinks isn't anti-pink.

I repeat what has been quoted above: "Pinkstinks is a campaign that targets the products, media and marketing that prescribe heavily stereotyped and limiting roles to young girls. We believe that all children – girls and boys - are affected by the ‘pinkification’ of girlhood."

It's anti the stereotyping and limitation of excessive pink, which is something that has grown up (marketing?) in recent years. It wasn't an issue at all in my childhood, and also far less so when my DC (now teens) were younger.

It does not seek to 'ban' pink, as even the briefest look at their website shows.