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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:
Thread gallery
10
Sofiegiraffe · 07/10/2021 21:24

Is the "let's stay home" slogan not a reference to Covid and lockdown as opposed to gender specific? I'd have assumed so. The "be kind be happy" one I agree is a bit cringe.

tellittomeslowlyandclearly · 07/10/2021 21:24

I don't and haven't worked for Sainsburys, but buying from the factories samples happens all over. It's quick and cheap. You don't have to have a designer, pay for trend information / inspiration, don't have to have a pattern cutter or toiles made and fitted. They will often have a fit day for the sample items and get their fit model to try them and if it's ok, it gets bought. So it will be why you will often get similar stuff in competitors, the factories are clever enough not to send the same thing to Sainsburys as Peacocks, they may make some tweaks.

I have a big thing against blue swimwear as I don't feel it's visible enough in water, but blue sells. We can only vote with our money, but people buying supermarket clothing often just need something quickly and will compromise due to convenience and price. I do this myself, buy cheap Asda stuff because I have young children who love mud, paint and chocolate.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/10/2021 21:28

@Sofiegiraffe

Is the "let's stay home" slogan not a reference to Covid and lockdown as opposed to gender specific? I'd have assumed so. The "be kind be happy" one I agree is a bit cringe.
The OP said she saw it this morning so, no, it seems highly unlikely at this point it has anything to do with lockdown. And can you honestly imagine that hanging in the boys aisle?
Sofiegiraffe · 07/10/2021 21:30

The OP said she saw it this morning so, no, it seems highly unlikely at this point it has anything to do with lockdown.

Not necessarily. It's a slogan that's unfortunately caught on (albeit an irritating one).

Sofiegiraffe · 07/10/2021 21:31

And can you honestly imagine that hanging in the boys aisle?

There is no "boys aisle" at the Sainsbury's where I live. Just children's clothes.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/10/2021 21:33

@tellittomeslowlyandclearly

I don't and haven't worked for Sainsburys, but buying from the factories samples happens all over. It's quick and cheap. You don't have to have a designer, pay for trend information / inspiration, don't have to have a pattern cutter or toiles made and fitted. They will often have a fit day for the sample items and get their fit model to try them and if it's ok, it gets bought. So it will be why you will often get similar stuff in competitors, the factories are clever enough not to send the same thing to Sainsburys as Peacocks, they may make some tweaks.

I have a big thing against blue swimwear as I don't feel it's visible enough in water, but blue sells. We can only vote with our money, but people buying supermarket clothing often just need something quickly and will compromise due to convenience and price. I do this myself, buy cheap Asda stuff because I have young children who love mud, paint and chocolate.

I don't see how that stuff about cut and fit and toiles has much to do with the sorts of logos being discussed. And even so, that doesn't excuse those big companies for accepting this sort of stuff. Surely they can give feedback - nope, we're not having those designs, here's why.
GreyhoundG1rl · 07/10/2021 21:34

@Sofiegiraffe

And can you honestly imagine that hanging in the boys aisle?

There is no "boys aisle" at the Sainsbury's where I live. Just children's clothes.

I'd imagine that's quite unusual? I don't think I've ever been in a clothes shop that doesn't segregate between male and female, even in the kid's section.
Sofiegiraffe · 07/10/2021 21:37

Here's an example of "stay home" clothing for sale currently.

To think that nothing is going to change for women while girls are still targeted with this bullshit?
Sofiegiraffe · 07/10/2021 21:38

@GreyhoundG1rl

I meant they aren't labelled as boys or girls. It's quite clear which sections are aimed at boys to girls. But it's not labelled as such. Therefore there's no "boys aisle".

Sofiegiraffe · 07/10/2021 21:38

*boys or girls

Grenlei · 07/10/2021 21:47

YANBU OP.

I don't have girls but if I did there's no way I'd buy them tops with either of those slogans on... I'd far rather they wore the unlimited/ unstoppable ones...why not use the same wording but in a variety of colours?

This reminds me of the incident a few years ago where some high st/ supermarket were selling 'boys' clothes with words like fierce or strong and girls with happy or beautiful or something along those lines. Nothing changes!

notanothertakeaway · 07/10/2021 21:47

@seaandsandcastles

Because it’s only clothing 🙄
@seaandsandcastles

But it isn't "only clothing". It's horrible gender stereotypes starting from very young age

dollybird · 07/10/2021 21:57

Scarfmonkey.com is the website I'd seen

Original poster
WinterTrees · 07/10/2021 22:01

I don't know if the aisles are actually labelled Boys and Girls anymore. Nor did I notice if the adults' clothing was actually labelled Men and Women. But if you want to buy a skirt you'd know which section to look in.

I'm guessing that the 'Let's Stay Home' slogan is tapping into the twee 'cottagecore' trend that has spread through instagram like a floral rash. That doesn't make it any less deplorable that no one at Sainsbury's thought to question whether it's an appropriate message to be giving to girls. I don't care about the quick turnaround buying process - it's no excuse. It's within their power to say no to sexist slogans, and I'm sure they would do exactly that if they were presented with anything that reinforced race stereotypes. Bloody rightly so - because they know they would be eviscerated for that kind of unforgivable lapse of judgement.

But girls still don't matter that much. Be Kind. Politicians stuttering and stumbling over statements about how to make society safer for women and Sainsbury's cut straight to the chase. Let's Stay Home.

OP posts:
mustlovegin · 07/10/2021 22:46

Unicorns and rainbows can fuck off too

Yes, where's the creativity?

AngelDelight28 · 07/10/2021 23:11

People say "oh but customers buy this stuff"...yes, because that's all there is, unless you're willing/able to spent lots on Scandi gender neutral clothes from fancy shops.
Really hard to find something that isn't wildly gendered in any high street shop or supermarket or second hand on eBay/charity shops. So I've needed up with lots of stuff with unicorns and bunnies and rainbows. People just buy what's available.

Sofiegiraffe · 08/10/2021 05:13

Why not just dress your child in whatever clothes you feel are appropriate, then? Nothing stopping anyone buying the "unlimited" or "unstoppable" tops for a girl, is there?

Sofiegiraffe · 08/10/2021 05:19

The label on those first two grey tops says "TU kids", not "TU Boys". If people feel strongly, why not stop assigning these gender labels themselves and just put the clothes on your kids that you feel are most suitable and appropriate?

Sofiegiraffe · 08/10/2021 05:22

My daughters often mooch over to the 'boy' section for options. The hoodies/Tshirts are more in fitting with their interests and the shorts are longer

Great example of my point. Maybe more of this should be encouraged?

Sofiegiraffe · 08/10/2021 05:23

I have never bought anything for myself, or for my two children when they were young, with any kind of slogan or crap sayings on them.

Me neither

MayorGundersonsDogRufus · 08/10/2021 06:16

I love Man Who Has it All too! Got DD a 'Spacewomen, dinosaurs and rockets' that she loves and a 'My mum is a total legend' t-shirt. Very pleased that her school has a gender neutral uniform policy too and she's opted to wear trousers more often than the skirt so far this term. They are girls trousers (they have a little charm on the waistband) but otherwise just normal trousers.

misskatamari · 08/10/2021 07:55

I absolutely hate this shit. How anyone with a brain, living in the current climate, signed these off, is beyond me! wtaf!?

And don't get me started on the fit of clothes. My daughter is 7 now, but tall, so basically i can't buy clothes in Sainsbury's anymore, as everything is ridiculously cropped and tight. I don't want a hoodie for my kid that ends mid torso thanks, I'm buying it to, you know, keep her warm...? I absolutely bloody despair at this shit

SmileySandwich · 08/10/2021 07:57

If they are staying home whats the point of wearing a slogan on your t-shirt that no one will see? Just buy a cheap plain one.

Porcupineintherough · 08/10/2021 08:11

@AngelDelight28 that's bullshit. You can avoid the worst of this crap with just a modicum of effort. How sad many parents wont make even that.

TrainforSpeed · 08/10/2021 08:18

I don't get it at all but presumably mothers parents are buying this stuff. Theres no earthly reason not to put a girl in that unstoppable tshirt.

When I was a child everyday clothes were basically unisex. I spent most of my childhood in a plain blue tracksuit. Today it would have sparked and butterflies on it.

Where did the process thing come from? How did daughters of the 70s/80s turn into parents who raise princess girls? Because we know it is mostly mums buying kids clothes.

An amazing single mum, professional woman friend of mine actually takes her preschool DD to "Princess school". It just seems to be a place where little girls dress up and learn Disney songs but still...