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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

269 replies

WinterTrees · 07/10/2021 11:57

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...

To think that nothing is going to change for women while girls are still targeted with this bullshit?
To think that nothing is going to change for women while girls are still targeted with this bullshit?
OP posts:
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Anxietyandwine · 07/10/2021 13:55

YANBU it’s increasingly hard to shop for my 10yo DD who doesn’t want to be head to toe in pink with subtle (sometimes not so subtle!) messages of compliance plastered all over her. She often comments on the huge difference in the girls and boys aisles.

If a 10yo can see it, why can’t they?

We should come up with some new slogans for them. Starting with;

‘It’s okay not to be kind if someone is harassing you and not respecting your boundaries’

Okay might need something catchier… Hmm

Rummikub · 07/10/2021 13:56

@MrsTerryPratchett

It’s self fulfilling though. DD loved dinosaurs and space but as soon as she could read ‘boys’ she said, ‘I don’t want to wear boy’s clothes’. Why couldn’t the girl’s section have space and dinosaurs? And bigger bloody shorts.
Agree with this. My dd was the same. Wanted a doctors dress up but then refused to have it as it said ‘boys’ on the label. Looking at the dress up for girls - nurse but no doctor. This was in Sainsburys too,

The messages on t shirts are stereotyped. I’d prefer it if they left off the stupid slogans off an otherwise nice top.

seaandsandcastles · 07/10/2021 13:56

YABU and overreacting. There isn’t an issue here, stop making one.

Thewindsofchange · 07/10/2021 13:57

I’ve literally never seen an item of clothing or anything else aimed at men that has “be kind” printed on it.

DS has a T-shirt from H&M which has a phrase something like 'let's be kind to each other every day' on it.

But generally, I agree. I hate the 'macho' boys T-shirts and 'sparkly' girl T-shirts.

ThreeLittleDots · 07/10/2021 13:57

This is big business with access to the finest brains in marketing and fashion

Yes, who are the buyers?

Rummikub · 07/10/2021 14:01

@seaandsandcastles

YABU and overreacting. There isn’t an issue here, stop making one.
Why isn’t it?

Stereotyping starts somewhere. And these tops just perpetuate it,

In my example above my dd received a strong message that only boys could be doctors and girls are nurses. That is outrageous and still makes me angry.

seaandsandcastles · 07/10/2021 14:03

Because it’s only clothing 🙄

ScreamToTheSky · 07/10/2021 14:04

I’m sure I’ve seen words like unstoppable on girl’s clothing, but now I think about it I’m sure I’ve not seen any male clothing whatsoever that mentions kindness. Ever.

Pythonista · 07/10/2021 14:04

Don't blame the retailer. If people didn't buy this shit, they wouldn't sell it

Original poster
WinterTrees · 07/10/2021 14:04

I feel a bit the same Arrowheart. I have 3 daughters, all of university age and beyond so for the last few years I've been preoccupied with a different set of issues. One of my biggest fears in this phase of parenting girls has been drink spiking on nights out - two of three of my daughters have been spiked more than once, and this is true of most of their friends. It terrifies me - the randomness of a good night out ending in disaster, no matter how careful they are. But this is how it starts, isn't it? Boys - Unlimited, Unstoppable. Girls - Let's Stay Home.

OP posts:
Original poster
WinterTrees · 07/10/2021 14:06

@seaandsandcastles

YABU and overreacting. There isn’t an issue here, stop making one.
Phew. That's a relief. Thanks for setting everyone's mind at rest.
OP posts:
Original poster
WinterTrees · 07/10/2021 14:06

@Pythonista

Don't blame the retailer. If people didn't buy this shit, they wouldn't sell it
If they didn't produce it, people wouldn't buy it.
OP posts:
ThreeLittleDots · 07/10/2021 14:06

Because it’s only clothing

Do you know much about stereotyping, self-identity and feminism?

Felix125 · 07/10/2021 14:07

I have seen some horrendous T-shirts been worn by young girls with slogans across the front such as:

"You're a naughty boy, go to my room"
"Small ones are more juicy"

What is going through peoples minds to make & sell these - and why on earth are people & parents buying them

Rummikub · 07/10/2021 14:10

It’s not only clothing.
It’s a message that seeps into impressionable minds.
Same as saying to boys ‘big boys don’t cry’ And ‘man up’ perpetuate stereotypes to boys and could lead to mental health issues.

It’s worse for girls as the messages recurved are everywhere

Pythonista · 07/10/2021 14:11

If they didn't produce it, people wouldn't buy it.

If clothes manufacturers produced t-shirts with swastikas and "I love Hitler" on them, would anyone buy them? No.

But because there is a market for this kind of crap, they keep manufacturing it. Blame the parents who are buying this shit.

Rummikub · 07/10/2021 14:13

Change only happens if everybody takes responsibility. This includes big business, retailers, manufacturers as well as parents and schools. Everyone has a stake in making a better future free of damaging stereotypes.

Pythonista · 07/10/2021 14:13

To be fair, the type of people who put their children in slogan t-shirts are the issue.

ememem84 · 07/10/2021 14:13

this winds me up too. i have ds (4) and dd (2). to be fair, dd wears a lot of ds' hand me downs so she is in the "roar" and "be brave" clothes. but whenever i buy something for her i get super annoyed that something that i might like then had a stupid fucking phrase on it.

to be fair though, i did send her off to nursery today in an all blacks hoody which mil bought for her. it has a logo. "not all girls wear pink. some wear mud"

LookItsMeAgain · 07/10/2021 14:13

That first top would be suitable for both boys and girls and it doesn't need to have the word "Unlimited" written/embroidered on it.

I find the simpering "Be Nice" and "Be Kind" would probably work better on the boys clothes to be honest, as they are clearly being subliminally trained to be neither.

Pythonista · 07/10/2021 14:15

If you disagree with something, don't buy it. If enough people make a stand, they will stop selling it. But blaming the shops for daring to sell it is ridiculous.

some people want to put their girls in tacky t-shirts with slogans about staying at home. They are the ones that need to be educated

Rummikub · 07/10/2021 14:16

@Pythonista

To be fair, the type of people who put their children in slogan t-shirts are the issue.
I tried really hard when my daughters were young to buy nonstereotyped clothing. Avoiding pink and flowers and glitter and unicorns is impossible. Avoiding slogans like be kind and Princess is also challenging. If you have limited time and a limited budget choices are taken away.
Peanutsandchilli · 07/10/2021 14:16

I'm trying to see the positives in this. If a girl is walking around with a top on that says 'be kind', she's not the one reading it. The boys that are looking at her will be. Maybe it'll make them think twice.

Other than that, I've got nothing.

MintyGreenDream · 07/10/2021 14:18

Any slogan clothing is tacky imo.

ThreeLittleDots · 07/10/2021 14:18

Has there ever been a reponse from the shops, to these complaints?

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