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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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

346 replies

FrickfrackFeckit · 08/04/2021 18:59

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 Sad) 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?

OP posts:
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WeatherwaxLives · 08/04/2021 20:31

I get properly arsed off with 'girlie' versions of stuff for no reason. Like perfectly serviceable 'mens' colours of something like a razor, and then pink, hopeless, breakable and impractical women's versions. So I get the premise, but I don't think I agree regarding pajamas.

I don't have any cartoon pajamas, although I have seen them in shops. There always seem to be plenty without though. I haven't seen a polar (is that the word? I mean just 2 choices, sorry, I'm tired) choice of either slinky or Disney.

DP has Disney pajamas. They have Grumpy from Snow White on.

I think adults liking 'kids' stuff is just fashionable at the moment. Like super heroes / Marvel / star wars. I don't think it's a women only thing.

Comefromaway · 08/04/2021 20:37

When I hear dd singing some of the wonderful Alan Menken Disney songs or rehearsing a tap dance routine to Newsies and I hear Ds playing his arrangement of the Avengers theme tune or playing the keyboard part of Hunchback of Norte Dame I reflect how Disney has stunted their childhood.

LibertyMole · 08/04/2021 20:37

Look at all the men who collect Lego, Star Wars toys or railway sets, or play video games!

Both sexes like things associated with childhood.

Viviennemary · 08/04/2021 20:39

I definitely see your point. All this cutesy stuff for adult women. Ridiculous.

Chicchicchicchiclana · 08/04/2021 20:43

"Disney isn’t just for kids, you know."

Isn't it? It should be! I'm amazed any adult wants to wear a garment with Disney cartoon characters on it, whether in the privacy of their own home or not. That's so ... weird.

Quaagars · 08/04/2021 20:44

Isn't it? It should be! I'm amazed any adult wants to wear a garment with Disney cartoon characters on it, whether in the privacy of their own home or not. That's so ... weird.

Is it really that weird a premise that people have different likes and dislikes?

Comefromaway · 08/04/2021 20:45

I know a grown man who has a complete obsession with all things Disney. He’s a musician and has just landed a job on a Disney musical!

PurpleDaisies · 08/04/2021 20:47

Aren’t they making it because women want it and are buying it? There are other options available.

PurBal · 08/04/2021 20:47

I agree OP. I am a Disney fan but I don't want to wear it, looks ridiculous as an adult.

BruceAndNosh · 08/04/2021 20:49

I agree with you OP.
Why should a 50 year old woman want to wear a nightdress with a Teddy bear on it?

BurbageBrook · 08/04/2021 20:49

They are awful and the opposite of stylish. But I don’t think it’s a feminist issue necessarily.

Thisgirlcando · 08/04/2021 20:50

What is is that appeals to you about Disney images on your night clothes?

I tend to just like the pictures. It’s nothing to do with infantilism. I would rather them have a nice picture of a character I like over plain and boring.

FreeButtonBee · 08/04/2021 20:50

Yup. I’ve started making nightdresses as I hate everything in the shops that is under £150.

They come to mid calf are 100% beautiful cotton lawn have wide straps but a nice low but not too low v neck and enough room on the boobs and bum without swamping me. Now that I’ve got my pattern all sorted I plan to make about 10 of them. My favourite is in a bright green palm leaf pattern although the Liberty print one is also 👍

LibertyMole · 08/04/2021 20:55

The Japanese are also obsessed with cute things.

Quaagars · 08/04/2021 21:01

The Japanese are also obsessed with cute things.

Is this referring to anime cartoons?
What's that got to do with Disney?

PurpleDaisies · 08/04/2021 21:11

@Quaagars

The Japanese are also obsessed with cute things.

Is this referring to anime cartoons?
What's that got to do with Disney?

Presumably more like Hello Kitty. Not exactly a million miles away from Disney.
LibertyMole · 08/04/2021 21:16

Yes, it’s called Kawaii - Hello Kitty and so on. It is a massive part of Japanese culture.

Not anime.

NiceGerbil · 08/04/2021 21:17

I have always preferred men's clothes and shops since I was young.

I prefer the colours, the designs, things seem better made, lots of pockets etc. The shops have more space so you can take in what's there more easily. Also very low risk of buying things and then realising they're bloody see through. Or what you thought were pockets are fake.

As I'm short and booby, I can't though.

I do find it odd how the women's stuff is so much more revealing, tighter, flouncy/fussy, see through, fragile etc etc.

Of course you can find stuff if you look but often it feels that only more feminine tastes are catered too iyswim.

This is true of girls things as well. And that drives me mad tbh.

Why are clothes for prepubescent boys so often made of sturdier fabric? Why are girls shorts so often so skimpy? Boys usually go to the knee, girls are up round the bum cheeks. Why? I genuinely don't understand.

And I agree that women's night stuff seems to come in

Sexy
Kiddy
Granny

I'm perfectly happy to discuss this with the OP. Why not? It's fine obviously to wear it if you want.

On these sort of topics it's really common for lots of posters to take it as an attack on their personal preferences. Why is that?

I wear makeup but don't feel defensive if there's a thread about makeup and feminism. I enjoy those sort of threads.

Quaagars · 08/04/2021 21:17

Presumably more like Hello Kitty. Not exactly a million miles away from Disney.

Ah, forgot about Hello Kitty, didn't realise was Japanese - yes lots of adults love Hello Kitty too, one of my friends loves H K

PurpleDaisies · 08/04/2021 21:19

And I agree that women's night stuff seems to come in
Sexy
Kiddy
Granny

Mine is mostly from cyberjammies. I don’t think any of those apply to my everyday nighties and PJs. There’s plenty of normal looking stuff on the Sainsbury’s site which is where the rest of mine is from.

peak2021 · 08/04/2021 21:20

Agree that we don't all want characters aimed at children on nightwear.

Last time I was in M&S (pre Covid) I noticed one of the men's pyjamas I was very surprised at. The stripes looked far too much like the uniform worn by those in Nazi concentration camps. Not available now thankfully, perhaps I was not the only one to notice.

NiceGerbil · 08/04/2021 21:21

'Aren’t they making it because women want it and are buying it? '

It's all a bit chicken and egg though.

I remember in the 90s when low waist jeans were (apparently) in fashion. At the time (and on my budget) it was nigh on impossible to find jeans that weren't cut like that. Were most women wearing them because they liked them or because loads of shops didn't have anything else? And then to add insult to injury there was all the 'muffin top' commentary left right and centre.

So I don't know really. I mean I genuinely don't know.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 08/04/2021 21:21

I agree OP, I don't want to dress like a 5 year old. H&M do nice plain options although the odd bit of Disney features there too

SappysCurry · 08/04/2021 21:21

Try Lands End OP
Lots of nice cotton plain adult nightwear on there

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