What's with the infantilising of women's nightwear?

[FrickfrackFeckit]

I was just looking for a nightdress (peri menopausal and completely unable to wear pyjamas any more because I'm so bloody hot at night ) on M and S (never again). I was struck by all the Disney bloody characters? I'm not 5yrs old, I don't want to wear Disney characters. Out of interest I had a look at the men's. No Disney, no cutesie stuff, just very normal (if boring) pyjamas. So what's that all about?

@cunexttime

I agree with you OP I think it's infantilising as well. I find options for nightwear are often limited to very sexy or very childish. Obviously there are options in between but I really don't get why Disney cartoons are pushed on adult women. Whatever floats your boat I suppose but personally I find it patronising.

Totally agree with you OP and @cunexttime

LibertyMole

I resent you all because I have a 34 inch inside leg so have a more restricted pyjama choice to start with“

Stealth boast.
If I had 34 inside leg I would never wear pyjamas

I agree OP but I think society as a whole is infantilising itself and this isn't a feminist issue. Plenty of shops are full of ridiculous muppet/Star Wars/cartoon pyjamas and T-shirts etc for men too.

Grown adults who are obsessed with Disney or Marvel particularly creep me out. Life has become an ever increasing extension of childhood.

@daysofthunder

I agree OP but I think society as a whole is infantilising itself and this isn't a feminist issue. Plenty of shops are full of ridiculous muppet/Star Wars/cartoon pyjamas and T-shirts etc for men too.

Grown adults who are obsessed with Disney or Marvel particularly creep me out. Life has become an ever increasing extension of childhood.

Look to Japan for the logical extension to this. I remember my first cash card there had cute little cartoon character on it! Everything was just decorated with adorable little cartoons and such, it was great!

@LibertyMole

‘Amazing responses here for a board that is supposed to be for "feminist topics", e.g. Because it’s seen as more feminine and more females tend to buy them? I’m happy to wear stuff with bambi or dumbo characters, my oh wouldn’t though. It’s not hard to figure out’

Why is that an amazing response? Feminists are not unaware that masculinity and femininity exist, or that women are more likely to choose feminine options and men masculine ones.

Are you amazed every time you go outside and find that men usually wear trousers?

I found it unusual for a feminist board because the prevailing narrative at the time I posted seemed to just uncritically accept sex-based (or if you prefer, I guess, "gendered") roles. The PP is "female" and likes cartoon characters on her lingerie, and it's natural that her OH (I have to assume male, because otherwise the comment makes no sense) does not. And "it's not hard to figure out" implies that we should all accept these roles or be considered stupid, because these two people's likes and dislikes (sorry; neoclassical economics!) affirm some nebulous, imaginary, and bullshit gender binary. Au contraire; I think know that it is a lot more complicated.

Agreed, without the big words @Helias
I own Arisocats pink pyjamas, not because I particularly liked them, but that they looked comfortable and cost £18. The nice ones posted on a pps link are approx £45.
Women buying what is available does not mean that's what they would choose if there was more variety. As its only nightwear I suck it up, but as it gets to the point where we're told that's what women buy so they must like it, then it gets to the point that it's all there is - see what @usedupusername said re Japan.
And all of a sudden - women like Disney pj's, so if you're a man and you like Disney pj's, that must mean you're a woman, right?
So what looks to be societally driven is in fact down to what sales dictate.
It's driving me insane.

Christ I'm with the OP. Its bloody weird imo. I would imagine I'm in the rather large proportion of adult women who don't even think about disney/tatty teddy etc.

And the 'cute' slogans can piss off too.

There's usually some plainer ones mixed in amongst the crap. I got a nice dotty one from TU last week.

I would imagine I'm in the rather large proportion of adult women who don't even think about disney/tatty teddy etc.

Agree, I do not accept that the majority of adult women like, and/or would choose, Disney/cartoon/infantile/childish sleepwear.

Hellas, the poster didn’t suggest that gender roles were natural, merely that they exist, which they very clearly do.

The amount of consumer choice is overwhelming. Nobody is being forced into wearing Disney clothing.

There is a wider point about why certain motifs (and the implications of them) are associated with men or women, which is down to socialisation, including media companies like Disney.

But acknowledgement that gender roles exist isn’t a statement that it is wrong to criticise the content of those roles.

They do exist, as stereotypes, because they are pushed. It's structural mysogyny, which is what OP was posting about.
And certainly in supermarkets, it's quite hard to find non cutesy pyjamas. I wanted short ones. There was nothing that wasn't Disney/teddies etc. I know; I looked.

I know you have gotten a lot of hell here, but I feel your pain. I too enjoy a good no-nonsense sleeping garment. I prefer simple, cotton (not flannel), soft, no sleeves please, easier for hot flashes, longish enough to hide my bottom when I bend over 'cause the knees don't work like they used to.

It actually sounds worse here in america, so much polyester and the children's characters! Bright-ass pink everywhere. If it isn't flimsy or infantile, it's floor to toe flannel with long sleeves and covered with flowers.

Just a simple cotton shift please. Maybe a nice earth or jewel tone that doesn't proclaim anything? Is that too much to ask.

(and I know that I can find such things online, I buy them later at thrift stores, but my local equivalent of Asda is crap on this sort of thing)

The amount of consumer choice is overwhelming. Nobody is being forced into wearing Disney clothing

Absolutely. I hate any clothing which has logos, pictures or slogans on it. A Disney character nightshirt is just as unappealing as a "Woman - noun Adult Female" T- shirt but there are gazillions of options available and if people like Disney characters or "Woman- Adult Female" it's not my place to say they shouldn't wear them.

And certainly in supermarkets, it's quite hard to find non cutesy pyjamas. I wanted short ones. There was nothing that wasn't Disney/teddies etc. I know; I looked

Goodness only knows where some of you live/ shop. This simply is not true in my experience - as is borne out my entirely 100% cotton, non- cutesy nightwear ranging from TU at one end to Brora at the other.

@SaturdayRocks

I would imagine I'm in the rather large proportion of adult women who don't even think about disney/tatty teddy etc.

Agree, I do not accept that the majority of adult women like, and/or would choose, Disney/cartoon/infantile/childish sleepwear.

Probably depends on how are of you are, not meant in a rude way, but if have no problem wearing it but if you're a bit older you'd probably feel ridiculous in bambi pjs

I have very normal boring pyjamas, DH has star wars, batman, marvel and Rick and Morty. So definitely similar available for men.

Not read the entire thread, but am finding this baffling. Where are you looking? I don't think I would k ow where to look for Disney nightwear for adults, except the Disney store. Search on h&mash for women's nightwear and 5/232 items contained diney references - and they weren't enormously cutesy. All the rest were plain, and included several nightdresses/nightshirts. If you're looking in primary or on amazon I guess it may be different but non-cutesy, inexpensive nightwear is really not hard to find.

Probably depends on how are of you are, not meant in a rude way, but if have no problem wearing it but if you're a bit older you'd probably feel ridiculous in bambi pjs

My 70 year old mum has Cath kidston PJs. I don’t feel ridiculous in my bunny print ones. I’m not young.

People just have different tastes.

@LarryUnderwood

Not read the entire thread, but am finding this baffling. Where are you looking? I don't think I would k ow where to look for Disney nightwear for adults, except the Disney store. Search on h&mash for women's nightwear and 5/232 items contained diney references - and they weren't enormously cutesy. All the rest were plain, and included several nightdresses/nightshirts. If you're looking in primary or on amazon I guess it may be different but non-cutesy, inexpensive nightwear is really not hard to find.

I went to M&S on Friday to buy some underwear and nightwear. The ladies options were cotton button down nighties, satin slips, or pjs with Harry Potter on them or 101 Dalmations.

A whole wall for the Harry Potter pyjamas. Baffling.

@SlidesAndLadders that's awful!

That Japanese chain of shops, Uniqlo, has plain pyjamas, or did when I last was in their shop what feels like 100 years ago.

And why on earth design a towel for adults with Barbie written on it?!?

Why is it impossible (unless you pay silly prices) to get plain cotton pyjamas in nice colours?

Primark have them, usually with a plain coloured top and abstract unobnoxious print on the trousers. Cotton less than £10 a set, sometimes significantly less as they often pop up on their sales bits. I get them for DD's cadet residentials. They have to be covering for DD to even consider them.