Are British children more gendered than other countries?

[MsTiggywinkletoyou]

A well-travelled friend commented recently that children's toys and clothes, and therefore behaviour and expectations, seem more strictly divided here than in other countries. (She was probably thinking of Europe.) These threads have already discussed how childhood a couple of decades ago wasn't divided into pink sparkly unicorns and camouflage dinosaurs. Is it true that other comparable countries aren't so keen on these gender markers? Or is it only in the mythical Scandinavia that all small children wear neutral-coloured dungarees.

Yes, and it will get far worse before it gets better, it's all part of the same bigger issue / plot.

It's not just Britain. The USA is also notable for this, as well as many European countries (though they do seem to be generally better than us). There'll be many places where, while young children aren't necessarily separated with colours and toys, girls will be told from a very young age that they will keep house and bear children while the men provide.

I was looking after a French girl today who told me she only likes girl's colours and not boy's colours. She wouldn't have any of it when. I told her there was no such thing, girls and boys can like either.

Slightly off track, but wtf is that thing where posh boys wear only shorts until aged six or so? I guess that's more of a class marker? Thinking prince George here.

I have a FB friend who works at kmark and she often does stealth swapping of gendered kids clothes from boys section to girls and vice versa, and posts the results. She's awesome.

Hell yes, OP.

I was just thinking of starting a ranty thread about this, but I'll post it here instead:

www.google.com/search?q=boys+panda+onesie&safe=strict&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjq5oTsrN_gAhXFA2MBHVlUAAoQ_AUIDigB&biw=1366&bih=654#spd=14546496295111037508

In what world is a panda onesie for an 18 month old specifically "for boys"? The world has gone totally fucking bonkers. (Though I suppose if there are only boy pandas out there, it would explain why zoos have so much trouble getting them to breed in captivity.)

Snork at all the boy-panda costumes causing reproductive stalemate down at the zoo! Demanding girl-panda costumes might be an interesting campaign.

I feel a name change coming on... I may have to identify as a demisexual, aromantic transpanda.

Was worse in the US, I used to buy boys clothes - why is a plain burgundy hoody for boys, and a girls one have to have princess on it and pale pink? (Same store)

"Stealth swapping": great phrase. Some American culturejammers were swapping Barbie and Ken voice chips in 1993. Why are we still having to protest this shit?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie_Liberation_Organization

I think it's worse here than in the US. Girls being forced to wear skirts as part of the uniform wouldn't happen at least not routinely. They can wear shorts/trousers and mostly do.

I come from Southern Europe and find British society surprisingly gendered - and yes it's stronger with children. The other thing I find surprising is that many people seem really happy with gender stereotypes and strive to follow them.

Nah - come to where I live and enjoy the children's activities organised for the half term just gone by one of the main holiday camp companies: a football camp for the boys and a modelling camp for the girls. (Yes, labelled as "for the boys" and "for the girls", before anyone asks if I'm leaping to assumptions)