to think MNHQ should know better than to feature photos of babies in headbands (preumably to denote female) on this site?

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

Of all places!

Come on HQ. Pull your finger out!

[WankersHacksandThieves]

Surely the whole point of equality is not to have everyone dressed gender neutral, it's giving people the freedom to wear what they want and not be judged for it. So, if an adult woman wants to dress in a feminine fashion and still be CEO of a company or a bus driver or whatever, she can be that regardless of having long hair or wearing a headband on her bald head if she wishes.

I appreciate that the babies aren't choosing to wear the bands themselves, but children are always initially the product of their parents choices for them. We can choose what to think about that. I choose not to care.

[IPityThePontipines]

I see the Mumsnet High Queens of Feminism (slogan - No Issue Too Petty) are out in force again.

And how to they show their concern for womanity? By rudely berating a female-owned and largely female staffed website for their choice of a stock photo featuring babies.

This isn't feminism, it's sneering at other women to make yourself feel superior.

[WankersHacksandThieves]

Yes, I thought the comment about the pushchair as awful too. i also couldn't work out how it was unequal unless we judge some colours to have a higher value than others or if the pink or blue side was more comfy than the other.

[corythatwas]

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angelikacpickles Sat 17-Dec-16 23:35:54
"But maybe all of the babies are girls and two of them are wearing headbands and two of them aren't?"

I was thinking that. In which case, absolutely the only gender stereotyping would be that of the OP.

[crashdoll]

I hope MNHQ don't remove the photo because of a few whingers. Their site, their rules.

[OlennasWimple]

Babies in headbands when they have no hair look ridiculous. YANBU

[SF25]

I think baggy jeans look ridiculous on children, but I don't get to decide if other people want to dress their child in them or a site get to use a picture with a child in them and nor should I

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

I'm not telling anyone they shouldn't have a half pink half blue pram FirstTime (amazing coincidence that you should have one by the way) I am just saying that what they represent is imo Awful. With a capital A.

[kali110]

yes, you not everybody though, clearly.

[LiviaDrusillaAugusta]

I see the Mumsnet High Queens of Feminism (slogan - No Issue Too Petty) are out in force again.

This ^^

[Sheld0n]

Just as bad insinuating that female babies shouldn't be wearing headbands.

Same here kali, DH has also been known to nick my pink hair elastics.

[kali110]

Yep my hairbands too! He's had it cut, but it's slowly getting long again....

[MeetMeAtMidnight]

You know, they tried gender neutral dress in China once upon a time, odd thing though, girl babies were still murdered and abandoned in ditches because gender neutral dress means nothing when some still think boys are better.

Why is it wrong to 'denote female'? What's wrong with a baby being female? I'm trying to understand how a headband is anything but a headband or a pink and blue pram is anything but a pink and blue pram. Why not just let people wear what they want to wear and dress their children how they want to dress them?

It's like a snake eating its own tail. Why are we doing the job of the misogynists for them? Women against other women, joining in on the what girls and women should and shouldn't wear message. How about we stop doing that? Women shouldn't HAVE to dress in a feminine manner if they don't want, conversely, they shouldn't be PREVENTED from doing so if they do want. Women (and men) should be able to wear a pink tutu and a spangled feather boa to a board meeting if they like and still be taken seriously. There is nothing wrong with adornment or embellishment just for the sake of it, and that goes for babies too.

And, all this talk of banning this, not allowing that and no-platforming here there and everywhere just because a vocal minority doesn't approve needs to stop too.

[1stTimeMama]

I don't have a pink/blue combo, I have 2 shades of blue, for 2 of my boys. I wouldn't, however, bat an eye at putting a girl in it, as if she'd care what colour the hood of her pushchair was! If my daughter was younger and had used this pushchair, I'd have picked a pink/floral/girly hood.
Oh the horror!
Somebody stop me!
What it represents is somebody's personal choice as to what they want. Nothing more, nothing less. I am slightly envious that you have so much time on your hands that you are able to use it to concern yourself with headbands and pushchair colours.

[Boomerwang]

I can't believe what I'm reading.

Must be time for another one of those 'putting things into perspective' tragedies soon.

[Thisjustinno]

You're doing MN WRONG HQ. Again!

[Want2bSupermum]

DS wore headbands as a baby because his ears stuck out. It pinned them back and now they look great. So many people thought he was a girl but I really didn't care. With DD2 so many people assume she is a boy. It's just not something I have the energy to get upset about.

[UserOne]

Maybe you're the one gender stereotyping. Loads of guys wear headbands, just look at all the footballers who do
Anyway, this isn't a huge issue. You seem really angry over it, calm down.

[NewRoadToHappinessxx]

I had 4 boys then a girl, the boys had pushchairs and dolls and a kitchen and our girl loves trains and cars, I put headbands on her bald head and dressed her in dresses and frilly socks and SHE looked gorgeous - I'm bringing my daughter up to be proud to be a girl but equally able to compete in what is still a boys world - my sons have short hair but dress up in fairy dresses and have pink t- shirts (the 4 yr olds rather than the 21/23 yr olds who, to my knowledge don't wear dresses anymore).

Concentrate your energy on real issues of gender inequality ffs not a beautiful photograph of cute babies!!

[BusyBeez99]

The crime here is headbands full stop. A fashion crime!

[BigFatLoser]

Get a grip.

[EnormousTiger]

No headbans on babies. It is bad enough our local primary has girls aged 5 years old in muslim head covering. Let children have free heads. Who wants a band around the head? Wooly hat when it's cold is fine.

Also more girls than boys are in head bands despite the rather strange suggestions some have that boys are often in them. I have never seen a boy in them. So of course it's sexist.

[0hCrepe]

I don't understand why this should be an issue. Dd doesn't wear a headband but I love making her look cute. I also love bright bold colours. She wore a blue and white dress the other day and everyone thought she was a boy. It got a bit annoying correcting them so I can see why colours can be useful to show a baby's gender. Why should pink be a problem? Pink used to be the colour for boys. Differences between the sexes are fine. The only problem comes if it is assumed that boys are better than girls and I don't think this is the case at all.