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?

I think if it were true it would be annoying, I wouldn’t want Disney characters either, but I just had a look on the M&S site and most of the nightdresses aren’t Disney or childish. I like the cotton t shirt type and they come in various stripes, spots and florals and a couple with characters on.

Quick Google gives me daddy and grandad pig, SpongeBob,harry potter and hey Dugee pyjamas for men.

@Youngatheart00

I am inclined to agree. It does seem to be either ‘cutesy 6 year old’ or ‘sexy’ with not a whole lot in between.

I buy my pj’s from the local Asda where there’s 4 aisles of pyjamas. 1 has Disney pj’s, over 2 and a half of the other just have normal pyjamas, and there’s a very small selection of ‘sexy’ ones. Are people honestly finding this an issue?

yeah, if it's not Disney its bloody teddies.
Moomins are OK though!

@Insomnia5 I need to get myself to Asda then 😁

I agree that a lot of pjs for adult women look very childish.

@Mrsjayy

Quick Google gives me daddy and grandad pig, SpongeBob,harry potter and hey Dugee pyjamas for men.

Just went on the Asda website and scrolled through 28 pairs of women’s pyjamas before I saw one with a character on it 🤷🏼‍♀️

I buy most of my pyjamas and nightshirts (no characters) from Asda or Matalan

I like long trousers, long sleeved t shirt, I wanted some new ones last year, I could only get Christmas ones
I do have some WTP Christmas ones, they were heavily reduced so I just got them.

Lidl often have nice nightwear, though obviously you can never actually plan to buy from there.

@emilyfrost ok, if you say so.

Oh no, hang on, I think I'm allowed to have my own view.

It's just something which is so normalised we don't even think to question it. Like men's footwear being universally comfortable and practical, unlike women's. Women's nightwear being covered in cutesie, gentle children's cartoons and men's not.

It's not a pressing feminist issue and of course there are far more important fights but it just struck me today.

@Youngatheart00

I am inclined to agree. It does seem to be either ‘cutesy 6 year old’ or ‘sexy’ with not a whole lot in between.

Yes! I agree with this.

"Just went on the Asda website and scrolled through 28 pairs of women’s pyjamas before I saw one with a character on it 🤷🏼‍♀️*

Yeah I was just trying to point out to the op that there is cartoon PJ's for men !

@FrickfrackFeckit

So why isn't it all over the men's clothes? I absolutely love Disney films, I don't want to wear it though.

Dh has loads of disney/marvel type pj's, mainly from places like tesco/matalan/next/primark etc. Where are you looking?

It’s not infantilising confused Adults are allowed to like Disney too, and many do. Why shouldn’t they have the option of having it on their clothing? It’s not like it’s the only style available.

This
Why is Disney "infantalising?!"
Adults and kids can both like it.
There's plenty of pyjamas out there to choose from what hasn't been Disneyfied.
More choice, isn't it?

My daughters in year 6 and 5 ft 6 - I'm thrilled that shops do cartoon characters on clothes in adult sizes, it means she doesn't have to grow up so fast just because she's usually tall. She has a good selection of PJs - Harry Potter from the women's and Marvel from the Men's for what it's worth.

I've got HP pj's, I wouldn't want to wear HP clothing out and about but in the privacy of my own home - why not.

*unusually

I hate nightdresses and only wear pyjamas. I also don't like Disney but there are so many pairs of pyjamas and nightdresses out there without Disney on them!

Ooh interesting point.

It's much more obvious in children's nightwear.

The girls have both pretty much always had boys sleepwear because

They prefer the colours and the characters on them etc
They're better made
The shorts actually cover your arse cheeks

The last thing in particular really pisses me off.

I agree with you.
M&S was full of them at Christmas with teddy bears on. It seems an odd choice to me.

M&S you say OP? Funny the first 4 listed when I looked are not Disney. In fact of 40 night dresses on their site, I saw 3 Disney, 1 Snoopy (who is very cool and I would love to have on my nightwear) and one Harry Potter.

Everything else was generic patterns / range of colours and styles. Are we looking at different M&S's to each other??

Lands End have a good selection

I don't wear any Disney clothing and have no problem getting any style of pyjamas at all prices.

M&S have nighties without Disney characters on just buy those instead?

I agree OP, seems a bit odd to me but each to their own I suppose. A pity there isn't an equal amount of neutral non-cartoon character nightwear around.

Men's nightwear is a tiny market. Women buy far more than men do, ergo there will be a much wider range of designs and styles.

Source: YouGov study 2017, see first bar chart.
yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2017/09/14/more-half-young-women-wear-underwear-under-their-p

I don't think it's particularly a feminist issue, unless as part of a wider world-view that women's naked bodies are disgusting and therefore you should always wear clothes in bed in case you accidentally see your own boobs and start masturbating. FOR SATAN.