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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

206 replies

NeedACleverNN · 05/04/2016 18:02

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?

OP posts:
Crabbitface · 05/04/2016 19:57

I don't have a problem with pink things. I do have a problem with the fact the girls clothes are often poorer quality and less sturdy than boys clothes- even in the same shop. Went to buy dd (2) a jacket recently and ended up in the boys section... not because of the colours but because the girls' ones were completely impractical.

Original poster
NeedACleverNN · 05/04/2016 19:58

Boden also have a variety of dinosaur clothes, even a pink diplodocus and dino and planet pjs for girls.

How much?! Shock.

OP posts:
guerre · 05/04/2016 19:59

It's not hard to avoid pink. I have children of both sexes, and between them they have no items of pink clothes aside from one pair of pink spotted knickers that DD1 had in a multipack. I also have no items of pink clothing. I loathe pink, always have, since well before the pink/blue dichotomy. (I am v aged)

I have always refused to buy toys that came in 'gender specific' colourings. We haven't really been given any that were.

merrymouse · 05/04/2016 20:00

the weird thing is that pink seems to be fine for men in certain situations - on ties, shirts, t-shirts and socks, but I can't remember ever seeing it on boy's clothes. Equally adult women don't wear huge amounts of pink.

All the gendering seems to be a marketing tool aimed at children to encourage people to buy twice rather than pass down.

guerre · 05/04/2016 20:01

Grin with discount voucher and in the sale, probably nowhere near full price, and the clothing lasts a heck of a lot longer than Next stuff- through many, many children via hand-me-downs.

noblegiraffe · 05/04/2016 20:01

I posted a thread about this in the feminist section.

Even things that aren't supposed to be pink are made pink. You don't see that happening with boys stuff.

To think the anti-pink brigade can be a bit OTT
Original poster
NeedACleverNN · 05/04/2016 20:04

But what is wrong with pink and sparkly aswell. Some girls prefer it to be as girly as possible

I get the moaning about people saying it's either blue and solid or pink and sparkly but what if that super girl outfit came in the original super girl colours AND the pink and sparkly version. Would that be better?

OP posts:
InternalMonologue · 05/04/2016 20:06

My issue is the lack of choice, for both boys and girls. I want bright colours and variety for DD and DS. I have no issue with pink as a colour, but I do care when it's the only option.

DD has recently started walking, I'm looking for shoes for her. Ideally a pair that will be comfy, and go with most of her clothes. If you go to clarks, the girls shoes are all so fussy. I think we've settled on a plain red pair, no frills, no daisies, no sparkles. But they still are sandal style, so don't cover her whole foot. She's a baby ffs.

To think the anti-pink brigade can be a bit OTT
Ange246 · 05/04/2016 20:06

I have the opposite problem. My dd is the biggest Tom boy ever and refuses to wear anything pink or sparkly. I wish she would as she looks lovely all dolled up but she prefers her joggers and trainers just like her brothers.

noblegiraffe · 05/04/2016 20:08

Need I don't see why the pink version exists at all. Supergirl's outfit isn't pink.
You don't see Darth Vader costumes in blue with dinosaurs on them in case boys like blue and dinosaurs.

Blue isn't forced on boys in the same way.

Waltermittythesequel · 05/04/2016 20:09

Also BIC biros 'for her'

Can't link but has anyone ever seen the Ellen skit about this? It's brilliant.

And there was some piss take done by a magazine. Bic had sent them the pens as freebies. Much hilarity ensued.

Original poster
NeedACleverNN · 05/04/2016 20:09

But there is obviously a market for it.

Some girls LIKE pink and sparkly. As a child if I wanted a Wonder Woman outfit I would have chosen the pink version over the red. Why not give the girls a chance to choose what they would rather have?

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 05/04/2016 20:10

I got a Minecraft t-shirt for DD from Next too, so it's not just dinosaurs for girls they're doing.

RoseDeGambrinus · 05/04/2016 20:10

IMO it's disingenuous to separate the complete separation of girls and boys clothes (by pinkification but also frilly bits etc), the separation of girls and boys toys including pinkification, and the assumption that girls and boys will want to play with different toys. It all overlaps.

RoseDeGambrinus · 05/04/2016 20:11

I mean it all reinforces each other.

SheSparkles · 05/04/2016 20:13

Totally agree with OP, and I'm not a feminist, I'm an equalist

noblegiraffe · 05/04/2016 20:13

Why not sell Captain America outfits in yellow in case boys want a yellow one?

Kennington · 05/04/2016 20:17

What annoys me about pink is that it is associated mainly girls. At my daughters nursery they used to bang on about blue is for boys etc Etc.
I avoid a lot of pink as I don't particularly like it either. Pink has nothing to do with my daughters sex so I don't encourage this colour so much.
It isn't such an issue for clothes m and s not mainland Europe.
For me it is a very British/American thing.

Muskateersmummy · 05/04/2016 20:18

I agree with guerre. It's not that hard to avoid all pink for girls. My dd has very little pink clothes. Greys, blues, yellows, reds. And the same with toys. I don't talk to her about girls toys and boys toys. When buying her toy kitchen I showed her lots of different ones, some pastels, some vibrant primary colours and a blue one too. She chose the one she wanted, same with her gardening set, and her drawing desk. So many toys are just toys. I don't actively choose neutral toys but give her the options. Sometimes she chooses Thomas the tank engine and other barbie things. I think sometimes we limit ourselves rather than actually being limited

rosy71 · 05/04/2016 20:21

I have just carried out a google search for the infamous pink globe the Early Learning Centre did. I can't find it. That was the height of ridiculousness - globes aren't pink!

noblegiraffe · 05/04/2016 20:25

Don't worry, you can still buy a pink globe: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B005WQ78BG?vs=1

Ifiwasabadger · 05/04/2016 20:33

I know of someone who has completely banned pink from their girl's life. Even went so far as to send a pink dress straight to the charity shop!!! These people do exist.

SeamstressfromTreacleMineRoad · 05/04/2016 20:33

Moonrise I came on to make exactly the same point. That Lego advert (perfectly usual in the 1970s and 80s) contrasts with today's abominations like this... Which message would you rather your daughter received?

To think the anti-pink brigade can be a bit OTT
MrsDeVere · 05/04/2016 20:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Itinerary · 05/04/2016 20:35

Anything which is about fairness invariably gets labelled a "brigade". The "PC brigade" when people don't agree with insulting minorities, for example.