Angry at M&S and their 'girls are here to spread positivity' clothing

[TheBlueOwl]

Looking for some sweatshirts for my 10 year old daughter on the M&S website. It was hard to find anything without a nauseating ‘positive/kindness' message/slogan. Had a look at the boys stuff and it seems they don’t have the burden of spreading positivity to the world via their clothing? What is this all about? It feels wrong or AIBU? Surely we’ve moved on from girls having to be sweetness and light? Do I need to learn applique and start some counter messaging? Get Fucked? Too strong? Any ideas?

Here are my findings:

Girls Tops:
Positive state of mind
Life is full of surprises
Always positive energy
Spread kindness
Amazing things will always happen
Super Love
Let the Sunshine In
Happiness Rocks
Better Together

Boys Tops:
Dead Cool
Gamer at Work
Just Roll With It
Turtley Amazing
Powered by Dino Might
Strong Together
Gamer
Goal

I think you're making a big deal over nothing tbh.

YABU. If people didn't but that shit then they'd stop selling it. You're focusing on the wrong area, you should target the people who buy it rather than the people who sell it, because there will always be some twat manufacturing shit like this if there's a market for it.

*buy

I could not agree more, OP.

YANBU my daughter has worn boys clothes for years because of this. She cant stand the cute glittery unicorn rubbish

Well, I won’t be shopping in M and S for clothes for my girls this season. Thanks for the heads up. I see no need to buy clothes that reinforce gender stereotypes.

Completely agree, all this shite just seems really sexist and outdated to me, back in the day kids clothes were just clothes, not loaded with gender stereotypes.

YANBU

It’s even worse with baby clothes all over the place

YANBU
It perpetuates the stereotypes that women have to carry everything on their shoulders whilst being peppy, kind cheerleaders that don't hurt anyone's feelings and stay eternally positive!

Whilst boys just have to be cool an dplay computer games.

It's annoying as fuck.

I have a son but I don't like the tops that say 'be kind' 'bee happy' 'today is a good day' I'm just a bit . I mainly go for H&M as they have character clothes and also just plain clothes.

Yanbu - I hate stuff like this and won't buy it for my daughter.

You'd be whining regardless of what is says. What about the boy's stereotypes? It's not a big deal, buy the boys if you prefer it.

Positivity is not exclusive to women, and it's a good thing regardless

YANBU! It's ubiquitous at the moment and only girls get to wear these types of message. My 12 year old asked me to get her sweatshirt "without glitter, rainbows, unicorns or stupid slogans". That eliminated about 90%!

This gets done a lot on here, the last one was about Sainsbury’s, people obviously buy them and that’s why they sell them

(Off to look for turtley amazing...)

YABU there are plenty of sweatshirts on their site without any slogans at all, plain ones, stripey ones, etc.
You could buy her a boys one !

Totally agree with you OP, m&s's current obsession with these slogans on clothes is gross.

Lots of girls like pink, glittery unicorn based things- why the hell do these elements have to come with those binary slogans?

The boys stuff they have in there is really heavily focused on the military/camo look, or trucks or dinosaurs.

In their world, there are two gender roles: monster-loving action men focused on power and strength.

Or pink princess fairy girls who do nothing but smile and look cute.

The idea that there's nothing wrong with this because your kid has the radical option of selecting either one of these two very narrow identities is depressing.

Yanbu! Can’t bear it. It’s such a stark contrast when you list them like that. In our local supermarkets it’s really stark in baby clothes, things like bibs have ‘little princess’ for girls and ‘cheeky monkey’ for boys. It’s insidious over time.

And hate that girls are tasked with managing mental health and boys are still being labelled fighty and strong

I would very much like to purchase your "get fucked" t shirt line for my 6yo DD. I feel on balance it would be a better message for her even with the profanity.

twitter.com/letclothesbe

There's a whole campaign on Twitter.

YADNBU 😡

@Nowayhozay

YABU there are plenty of sweatshirts on their site without any slogans at all, plain ones, stripey ones, etc. You could buy her a boys one !

I find the cut is often different. Although the material is usually better quality in the 'boy' ranges.

YANBU. It's better than 'Pretty Princess' and 'Sparkles and Glitter are a Girl's Best Friend' type slogans but it's still a damaging stereotype.

I also find it sad and dangerous that this is what is being pushed to be 'popular for the masses' though. If you look at independent businesses, boutiques, online companies etc there is the full variety of clothing out there for both sexes with things to suit every child's style and interests. But you have to have the time, money and know how to find it. Supermarket and high street stores should take more responsibility for providing options.

Agreed. Took MIL to M&S a few weeks ago and she saw a lovely yellow hooded top. However the #bekind on the front put her off buying it.

YANBU it’s ridiculous and I can’t fathom why people buy this crap.

Tbh I have boys and so don’t have to navigate the unhealthy messages on girls clothing. But neither do I care for boys slogans which tend to revolve around being ‘Roarsome’ or are plastered in aggressive looking sharks, t-Rex’s and my major beef….camouflage.