Gender specific pyjamas

[ThePurplePrincess]

My son will be 7 next week and other than a football party all he is asking for is some 'my little pony' pyjamas. my three sons love watching it and the birthday boy particularly enjoys it - he is a very thoughtful and caring child.

We have searched online together and found some that he likes and by his definition aren't too girly.

my husband is not happy and doesn't want me to buy them for him. He can't tell me why but just said he doesn't like the idea that I will buy him something that is aimed at girls. If we had a daughter he has openly admitted that he would by her some Star Wars or avengers pyjamas if she wanted them. How hypocritical is that??? Apparently they are films and are for everyone where as my little pony is aimed at girls. So boys are ok to watch it but not play with the toys??

I get more and more frustrated that toys and clothing are gender specific, shops are completely divided boys and girls. And more and more they are producing 'girl' variations of toys ie the new superhero girl figures. What kind of a message is that giving our children?!

[GloriousSlug]

I've had similar issues with my son, he is almost 8 and loves MLP. He is acutely aware that other children (and adults) may find this odd but I'm trying to guide him through being able to see beyond gender stereotypes and let him choose his own path.

I have bought him MLP pj's recently (that were pink amd sparkly, shock horror!!) and will probably buy him a new MLP onesie for Christmas.

Interesting how it's generally more accepted for girls to like 'boy' things but it's a different issue when the roles are reversed?

[00100001]

just well... what activities does he do that are only associated with boiys then?

[00100001]

just "you know exactly what I mean so I don't know why you've taken time out to ask me the question."

No, I really don't know what you mean by "all boy" - I knwo of ZERO activities that are only associated with boys, so please do enlighten me :)

[llangennith]

If he wants them, and doesn't see a problem, just buy them.
DGS 9 chose a rather nice fleece hooded dressing gown from M&S in pale turquoise with large white spots: he doesn't know it was in the girls' section.
Talking of M&S: why do they have separate pages online for girls' nightwear and boys' nightwear???

[SolomanDaisy]

My DS loves MLP, he watches it with the girls next door. Then they play Rescue Bots and climb trees in the garden, because 5 and 6 year old boys and girls generally like a broad range of stuff, unless they're discouraged by their fuckwit parents. He likes sparkly nail varnish too and I've taught him to respond to anyone who says it's for girls: nail varnish doesn't make your willy drop off, so how can it be?

[DollopofTrollop]

My DD5 loves Lego Ninjago but I haven't bought her clothes related to them as she wouldn't like them.... Maybe if they were purple and sparkly!
I

[JustHereIGuess]

00100001 I answered your first question, I am not going to explain myself any further.

[GloriousSlug]

Just is that's because you have realised there is zero logic in your argument?

[00100001]

Because you know your'e spouting bullshit... there is no such thing as "all boy" - otherwise you'd be able to say "well, my "all boy" child is interested in x, y and z, boy only activities. But you can't do that, because there's no such bloody thing, as you well know.

And you're now trying to dismiss my question, hoping I'll go away and everyone will point and go "Tut tut Binary's off on one again [eye roll]"

[KatharinaRosalie]

he doesn't have any interest in anything associated to girls - he certainly won't be admitting if he has any that would be considered not boyish enough by his parents.

[00100001]

It's OK, User1477 realises that she was talking nonsense and is now hiding and avoiding the thread.

[00100001]

sorry just not User

[ErrolTheDragon]

I think we've had some proof why Let Toys be Toys matters. Because, amazingly given its the 21st century, there really are still people who think that there are things that are for boys and things that are for girls.

[TaurielTest]

Glad you bought them. My DS, same age, is currently rocking the Anna-and-Elsa onesie he picked at Asda, and he'd love those red ones too...

[HappyCamel]

I asked DH if he'd let DS have MLP pajamas. He said no. I asked if he'd let DD have Star Wars ones.

He looked scared and said "it's a trap! Let me guess: chocolate and wine and I'll clean the living room".

[JustHereIGuess]

Excuse me? There was never no argument, I don't argue with people in real life and I wouldn't argue with people online it makes no sense.

KatharinaRosaline Please Hun, you do not know my child, his personality or my parenting to say such a thing, you may think he is ok to let your sons wear pink pyjamas, play with dollies and dress up as princesses, that would never ever be the case with my child, we live as a family he has a father, he gets treated to a toy every week and not once has he stopped at the girls section.

I don't hide or avoid anything, shame on all of you.

Ask yourselves why this thread only has three pages whilst there's hundred of thousands users on this site - the other users, simply don't want to entertain the nonsense

And yes I will not be replying back to this thread.

[ErrolTheDragon]

Camel - well, thats a result of sorts.

[MamaPippin]

I hate all this stigma around children having to conform to gender specific roles! My Little Pony should be for any child, no matter what gender they are. This is such a frustrating topic as it seems that it will never really change because everything is always marketed towards men or women, boys or girls.

Personally, I was a tom boy when I was younger and loved wearing black (still do) and always had people comment that I didn't wear pink girly dresses. Even as an adult with tattoos and a tom boy style, my Dad still buys me pretty dresses and claims that's how girls should dress... Um, nope!

I guess I would just say to tell your husband that he needs to accept whatever your son likes and encourage him to be his own person. It's so important for children to feel comfortable in their own skin and not care what others thinks of them. Your husband needs to be setting an example - maybe he should get some MLP PJ's to support your little boy.

[DoomGloomAndKaboom]

JustHereIGuess - sorry if I've missed this but I don't understand. I think what you're saying is you wouldn't allow your son to play with what you see as girls' toys (princess dresses, Barbies, baby dolls etc.)

Could you tell us why that is?

Sorry if you've already answered that and I've missed it.

PurplePrincess - excellent pyjamas, I hope your ds is thrilled with them and has a very happy birthday.

[SolomanDaisy]

I'd love to know why just thinks never going into the girls' section makes her five year old more of a boy than mine. Having a doll doesn't appear to have made his penis drop off or prevented him from being the tallest and strongest in his class.

[AlwaysNeverOnTime]

Some of the posts on this thread are ridiculous. I can't believe what I'm reading. Not allowing your child to play with 'girl' toys? I honestly didn't even know people thought like this anymore!

My DD is a pink princess. Loves all 'girl' stuff. Her little brother also loves these sorts of things and they both love my little pony. I've brought all the cuddly ponies for them for Christmas and they will both get (probably pink) matching mlp pjs too. Didn't even cross my mind that DS should be discouraged from mlp, I'm obviously a terrible parent for not bringing up my son as a real boy

Seriously though, just let your kids play with what they want. Pink and blue are just colours.

[00100001]

just so what boys toys does your son play with? I hope he doesn't play with any kind of actin figure or poseable superhero... :/

[00100001]

soloman ahh, didn't you know, just's son is all boy, whereas yours comes up lacking you see... just so you know.

[KatharinaRosalie]

What an odd comment just. My son has a father too. Who amongst other things pushes my son's little sister around in his pram. So why exactly should I tell my son that he can't have a toy pram? Because it's not manly to be like his dad?

[KatharinaRosalie]

And while I did mean to write 'her pram' it was actually my son's first. That probably explains it all, I didn't buy a manly pram for my DS and pink one for my DD, they both had to manage with a beige gender neutral one. That's probably why DD has this clearly un-ladylike interest in her bother's trains.