To be so sick and tired of gender stereotyping?`

[lifesabitchandthenyoudie]

Looking for a sports bag. Put that phrase into search in a well-known auction/sales site. 170,000+ results; most of the listings state 'Men's and Ladies' bags showing both dark colours and pastel shades, the listings that are just 'Men's' are all the dark colours and more utilitarian, the listings that are 'Ladies' are all the light/pink/pastel shades.

It's the same with all the horse equipment, lately; some years ago there suddenly appeared lots of pink stuff, marketed for girls. About the same time as pink, 'girly' lego came out. I simply can't believe we're here; it's worse than ever!

Nearly thirty years ago I put my baby DD in brown dungarees with a mustard yellow top. The colouring really suited her, she was able to crawl without worrying about hurting her knees, but DH and his family kept saying she had boys clothes on, both for the colouring and style.

I lived in blue jeans and dark jumpers as a child. Were they boys clothes too? I also had toy cars, lego, dolls and pushchairs. I like dinosaurs and glitter.

Maybe I'm just confused about my sexuality and my place in society 🤔

Both my husband and adult son complain that men's clothes are too drab, they both love bright colours. My son loved to wear his sister's castoffs when he was at primary school - I got told off by other mothers for letting him wear a pink anorak (it's a good job they couldn't see the My Little Pony vest beneath).

Don't see the issue with so called "gender stereotyping" at all...it's just logical categorising ...if I needed new crocs for work (I know hideous but they're a must) I'd rather browse the girly ones (as that's what I'd buy) than trawl through all the brown/black/camouflage ones amongst the women's ones.

If you don't want "stereotypical girly" items just look at the plainer men's stuff?

Leave the girly stuff to the girly women and girls!!

apologies to those who like pink, etc; it's not about the colour choice! It's simply about the label 'this is for MEN' 'this is for 'LADIES' etc etc. Just shut up and sell me the item I want. If I'm a MAN and want a pink thing then I want to search for a pink thing, not a 'Ladies' thing; if I'm a 'Lady' and want a black thing I want to find a black thing, not a 'man's' thing. Hope that's a bit clearer.

Same with tools, safety gear etc. What if I'm a small man? Do they not need H&S gear too? And yes, I like pink sometimes. For safety/work/riding gear I want neutral colours, in sizes to fit, in a quality that works.

@swimminginthesun no it was just a hold-all type bag.

@TeenDivided glad to hear things are changing... hope they weren't made in pastel colours! 😂

My point is (trying to clarify here, sorry) let us pick the colours we want! Just stop calling it Men's or Women's!

I know what you mean but dd loves brightly coloured riding stuff. But then maybe so do some boys

I got this in black and am v happy with it. Wear it messenger bag style.
https://www.johnlewis.com/knomo-hanover-14-laptop-briefcase/blazer-blue/p4237260?s_ppc=5dx92700074071294792_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&msclkid=16f16ab6a93e1efaa75d0e61294a70da&gclid=16f16ab6a93e1efaa75d0e61294a70da&gclsrc=3p.ds

(oh and don't assume that Woman/Lady means weak and small, only interested in tasks like gardening and 'light' stuff.)

Leave the girly stuff to the girly women and girls!!

This is the issue though. There’s no such thing as a ‘girly girl’ or ‘manly man’. Stuff is just stuff, we’re just brainwashed to believe it suits certain sexes. It’s this sort of attitude that is placing us back into these ridged boxes that makes people think that there’s certain aspects of male and female that is wholly inserted into our personalities. I love pink, it’s a fantastically fun colour. I’m not a ‘girly girl’.

If she's bad with combing it might be that she's bad with the hairdresser too? My boys have short hair and every month it's a horrible battle when the hairdresser comes round. Can't win with these kids!

Oh come on. It's not brainwashing, the woke just don't like gender stereotypes. There is such a thing and there's nothing wrong with it.

Of course there’s such things as gender stereotypes and it’s an ugly thing that the ‘woke’ are upholding just as much as conservatives are. Just in different ways.

The problem with girly things is that they tend to size small, so bigger girlies can't buy those pretties. Same for men who need smaller items but don't want pink, ie gloves or tools.

Another pp picked up on the different quality for men vs women. Thicker material, longer and usually cheaper despite having more material. I have broader feet and mens shoes fit me better, so I can't have girlie footwear. However it does mean I get the dinosaurs

The pink globe at WH Smith particularly amused me. Why can’t girls have a blue ocean and green land? Why is that apparently gendered?

but will anyone actually buy them for boys?

My DS 5 or 6 at the time wore an outgrown ski jacket of his female cousin that was blue with a pink trim, DS 3 will wear it when it fits too. I've also seen baby boys in their older sisters floral snow suits- I think for 'specific activity' clothes people are less fussy about colour

Nope. I’m just saying instead of judging you could provide a helpful suggestion 🤷‍♀️

I think a petition needs to be started about the state of women’s clothes vs men’s.
Why do we get crap see through material whilst men get long lasting man made fibres
probably so women have to replace the items because they fall apart hence more money for the fashion industry.

I don't buy them. I hate pink.

I've commented about clothes and shoes on other threads.
Men wouldn't put up with false pockets, or ones that aren't big enough to hold more than a tissue, flimsy shoes etc

Used to have to supply my own and other women's PPE, after much testing:
Dickies used to do women's boots until covid happened, you get still get them via eBay.
Scandinavian work gloves brands tend to come on women's sizes, I rate Ejendals.

Both affordable brands.

What is ‘worse’ for you is ‘right up my street’ for me. Why should I have to have everything in neutral because it’s what you like?!

Give me every unicorn, rainbow shade of pink and glitter or sparkle in the world and I’m delighted.

The best was when bic made a ladies pen. Good job too as those massive man pens are too big for our dainty hands 🤣

Controversial view. I think the trans movement has made it worse as it seems to feed the stereotypes
if you like pink and pastels your a girl
if you like darker colours your a boy

One good thing about 'barbie pink' tools. Nobody ever 'borrows' them.
They're also hideous and easy to spot if you've left it somewhere.

I have one, given to me by someone who didn't want it.

I don't want glitter, unicorns or rainbows on functional items.