Let Girls Be Girls - how is it going so far, d'you think?

[KateMumsnet]

It's been six months or thereabouts since we launched our Let Girls Be Girls campaign - and the time has come to take stock, and consider where we were, where we are, and where we would like to be.

For those who haven't been following the campaign closely, you can quickly catch up here. For those that have, what do you think of the show so far?

We're interested to hear all thoughts, suggestions, encouragements and criticisms - and we're particularly keen to hear whether you've noticed a difference in the product ranges offered by the retailers who've signed up. Mumsnetters are the eyes and ears of Let Girls Be Girls, so do please let us know what you think.

The eagle-eyed will also know that we're considering expanding the campaign to lad-mags - specifically, to the question of whether they and other sexually-explicit mags/papers should be displayed at children's eye-level. [[
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_campaigns/1011296-Should-we-be-setting-our-sights-on-lads-mags?pg=1 Here's the thread]] to let us know your thoughts.

I think M&S's clothes are lovely this year in their 0-7 range but the clothes in the 7+ range are radically different and far too old and teenage-like (lots of black) for my DD who is about to turn 8.

I don't it's possible to define such a thing on paper but aside from the whole tacky slogans, gender stereotyping and sexualisation of children, there's a whole issue of girls clothes just being impractical and too fashionable and adult-like, and I find it difficult to clothe Dd1 from exclusively High Street shops.

Excuse poor grammar and typos.

I'm not saying that I think such an issue should be part of the 'Let Girls be Girls' campaign it's just that I don't think the shops get it at all when their clothing ranges are geared simultaneously at 8 year olds and 14 year olds.

bhs are utter crap

went in there recently to look for winter boots for dd1 (8), did an about turn and left again. far too much black sparkly off the shoulder bolleux and heels :(

i think the campaign as a whole is a brilliant applaudabe idea but tbh the retailers signed up seem to be all mouth and no trousers, so to speak :(

Are we tying in the whole "pink stinks" ethic with this campaign? I know that's by another group but wow, I hate going into ELC and seeing pink versions of EVERYTHING. maybe it's not making girls grow up fast in the same way as clothes, but it doesn't send them a good message does it.

i get so depressed buying stuff for my girls. even with this let girls be girls campaign, a lot of stuff is totally unsuitable. i havent noticed much difference in products offered tbh, and find myself just sighing inwardly. and heading back off to h+m to buy stuff for my pre-teen girls.

I was in a well known high street shop in a very well known shopping centre in Kent when I saw a rack of "lads" magazines. Some of these images were places at the height of small children, the rest were placed at a little higher.
I felt the front covers of these magazines were not suitable (Front magazine, Loaded, FHM) but Wh Smith said because the magazines paid for the area that was where the magazines had to be.
I am no prude, the body in all its forms is a wonderful thing but does anyone else feel they would like to go shopping without having to see legs akimbo?

dd1 (10yrs old) got an eyeful of the daily sport at the garage the other day. she was NOT impressed and made puking noises. she described it to her friends who were with us, and i did pmsl where she said 'you know knickers that go right up your bum' and her friend said 'yer, those yukkypants' lol.

Hmm. I am impressed by the list of stores who have signed up.

Now we need to call them to account. I was in Debenhams, a place I loathe anyway. these were placed next to the Peppa Pig vests. So young young children are seeing these

I totally get that children need bras. If, for any reason, they and their parents feel they need padded, then they need to shop in the adult range. I can imagine people might want them for very tender developing breasts, or worries about nipples being visable. However I'm sure the loudest and clearest message to a child/preteen is woman should have breasts that look a certain way.

And that sucks, especially coming from a store that has signed up to 'Let kids be kids'

I think it would be good if MN could arrange for a group of mners to walk around a store of each participating retailer and talk about their ranges.

Those boots from JL are vile.

Agree with Pernickity re. M&S. Gorgeous, Boden-esque bright colours, pretty details, cosy knits for under 7s and mainly flimsy pink and black stuff for 8s and overs. Next Boden and Zara for us.

i would be up for that whoknows. and to advise stores in little meetings on what aprents want.

i mean, a store will look and say 'oh but that item sold well' when really that one item could be the best of a bad bunch iyswim. it gets really frustrating buying clothes with the girls in tow, as they do invariably want soemthing sparkly, and totally inappriate, whilst trying to make sure they make their own mind up and ensure they wil lwear it iyswim.

Just had a look at Zara'a website, and found this from age 2 up bleuuuuurgh

Zara is vile. Faux fur for babies FFS

i noticed that monsoon havent signed up, and at first i think but then i though again about it, and they dont really need to sign up. as their stuff is pretty inoffensive. ok, not entirely practical for day to day, but very nice girls clothes. would feel happy kitting out my 4 from there, even if my bank balence didnt.

The children's wear in New Look always really offends me. Sparkly prom dresses for two year olds that look like they should be for a 16 year old.

I was looking at shoes for DD in Brantanos and saw some sparkly Bratz shoes with a high heel, in her size! (She is 3)

I agree that some 8 year olds might need a bra (I did, although I didn't wear one as I was far too embarrassed) and I also think that they should be labelled in age as my mum tried in vain to get me to wear one but the adult sizing put me off and made me feel ashamed. However, I'm shocked to see that Debenhams stock a padded bra for children . Why on earth would a child need a padded bra?

I am a bit confused by the rejection of 'pink for girls' when coupled with 'let girls be girls'.

I have a 4yo daughter. I think knickers sold for 4yo girls are ridiculously flimsy little scraps of cotton. So I buy her boys pants. They are thicker cotton, softer, wider elastic, and not all pink. Sorted.

lenin - god it's so depressing. I have my first DD (after 3 boys) and am truely disgusted at how sterotypical everything is.

I see Tescos has signed up, but last time I was in there they were selling all sorts of "girly" crap. It was just before Halloween and there were superhero outfits with six packs in, and endless boring princess dresses. And the only facepaint they were selling was "for boys" orange, black and green so DS could be a tiger or soldier. Was so cross I just didn't bother buying any at all.

I guess this is slightly off the message of the sexualisation of girls, but I think this campaign should be more about let kids be kids and stop forcing them into stereotypical roles, and colours.

And please go go go on the vile lads mags. I'm not a prude, but these images are horrible and becoming so ubiquitous.

Off to sign the page 3 petition.

I will have a look next time I'm in and then go and complain, I love complaining, so unbritishish I know