To think that nothing is going to change for women while girls are still targeted with this bullshit?

[WinterTrees]

In Sainsburys this morning. In the boys' clothes aisle I noticed tops with the words UNLIMITED and UNSTOPPABLE printed on them. Took a quick detour down the girls aisle to see what similarly empowering messages were being directed at them...

Ha - brilliant RebBridge! Thanks for the link!

The power of MN - I know it can be inhibiting to know that journalists stalk these boards for stories, but it does have its uses too.

How pitiful was the Sainsbury's response? "Our kids range includes a wide range of designs which everyone can enjoy and we do not label our items 'boys' or 'girls'."

MyLondon are having none of it. But, on their website, under their Kids section, they have separate 'Boys' and 'Girls' options

Mic drop.

How pitiful was the Sainsbury's response? "Our kids range includes a wide range of designs which everyone can enjoy and we do not label our items 'boys' or 'girls'."

If Sainsbury's had RTFT they'd see we covered that. They know. We see you Sainsbury's.

This gives me the rage too. And that’s before we get started on boys want to wear sludge colours.

Can I also add that I'm sick of girls' shorts being crotch-short and snug, with tiny useless pockets and in flimsy cheap fabrics, while boys' shorts are typically generously-sized, comfortable, with deep pockets and practical hard-wearing fabrics. It's the same for t-shirts - girls tops are so much shorter, including the hems and sleeves. Why are retailers so keen to expose so much more of our girls' bodies, than our boys?!! It's wrong on every level.

Dear god, it's in the Daily Mail. www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10072615/Parents-blast-gendered-slogan-clothing-saying-harmful-girls-boys.html

The comments beneath show exactly how big the problem is and how deeply ingrained misogyny is in society. Colour me shocked that a commenter with the username 'averageman' thinks it's a 'pointless point.'

I'm guessing 'averageman' hasn't ended up staying home rather than going out for a run when it's getting dark, nipping down to meet a friend at the pub or going to a party/gig/evening thing because he doesn't know how he'll get home safely. I'm guessing 'averageman's' movements are pretty much unlimited by fear of rape or murder.

You actually make the point, 'averageman.'

Don’t worry about the Fail. Who reads it anyway?

Congrats on your thread OP.

I'm laughing at the comments posted under that story on the Fail website - Dave Gorman would have a wonderful time putting together one of his "Found Poems" from it if he was still doing "Modern Life is Goodish"

The comments are just choice so they are!

@WinterTrees

I honestly can't believe that no one in the meeting where this season's collection was signed off flagged up that this might need looking at again. Who designs these things? Who approves them? I'd actually really like to know.

I often want to know this about so many things?

For example, the M&S plastic farm thing. Or Heinz introducing plastic packaging for...tinned beans. Or Sony changing the chargers on its MP3 players a few years ago so they were not compatible with anything else (including its own speakers)...

@wouldthatbeworse

This gives me the rage too. And that’s before we get started on boys want to wear sludge colours.

Yes I have to say I think a lot of the boys' clothes are awful. But there's no need for sexism in the slogans.

Just seen Stacey solomons new range at primark - covered in smile, be happy and kindness. From the comments on the manaloveshighstreet Instagram I can confirm most people apparently still love this stuff… sigh

I saw some in the newspaper - I thought it was all neutral colours!

I hated pink and a child - you couldn’t make me wear it. What happened (Marketing)?

Yes the colours were good I thought! But the slogans :( I guess boys could wear them but somehow I feel it will be girls wearing all those items and still no slogans like ‘brave’ etc for the girls.

So agree with you OP.

I had a chat with my H the other say when I said I want our DD to be assertive not kind.

I think that the sexism in the slogans is awful.

I also hate that our boys (and young men) are expected to largely wear grey, khaki and black - and I'm sure that mothers with daughters are frustrated at the amount of pale pink that there is. I don't know why someone can't come up with a brand that does lovely colours that suit either sex that have no stupid slogans or pictures that are clearly aimed at girls or boys.

@Peaplant20

Just seen Stacey solomons new range at primark - covered in smile, be happy and kindness. From the comments on the manaloveshighstreet Instagram I can confirm most people apparently still love this stuff… sigh

The thing is though, there isn't a difference in the slogans on what the boys wear (or the colour schemes used in the embroidery of the slogans) or the girls. It's just kids clothes. Buy them or don't buy them but at least she is keeping her slogans the same for boys and girls.

Yes I do get that I just wish there was less of that and more ‘be brave’ etc in neutral colours that girls could wear too! And inevitably it will be girls ending up in most of those clothes with smile etc on them, even if they are neutral etc.

My point was just that clearly people still like this stuff as the discussion on this thread has been more towards people wondering who still buys it.

Completely agree OP - I have been struck by this before. Girls with t-shirts saying 'I am a butterfly' and boys with t-shirts like 'adventurous'. I mean come on.

I know that I found it so hard when I was a girl to assert myself and stand up for myself - and even to know what I really wanted or needed before I was so focused on being kind, nice and sweet.

This is one part of it but to dismantle the whole package you need to unpick all the little strands of it.

I'm late to this and haven't rtft but I've bought plain t shirts and personalised iron on transfers so I made a cheap version of a be kind t shirt for my son.