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?

it is not that deep.

Well it has made for an interesting discussion!

I'm sure there is an excellently feminist point to be made apart from the nature of cartoon characters on men's pyjamas (big, strong, aggressive characters) and women's (soft, biddable, gentle characters) but I can't put my finger on it so I will go to sleep in my non-Disney nightshirt, off for a few hours of sweating and non-sleep. Thanks peri-m.

Also thanks to those with suggestions of where to try buying plain nightshirts - I'm going to scour the internet tomorrow

@RoseMartha

OP, I got non cartoon nightshirts from TU A couple have prints on like caravans or stars. But are not cutesey and disney.

My favourite one is a check one and I wish now I had bought two at the same time.

The check one is probably the ones my husband bought from TU when sent to buy nightshirts for me when I was in hospital. He got 3 of them. I really like them.

I had a cyberjammie nightie but it was a bit too short (amd I’m only 5’3) and it started to rip at the seams after less than a year.

I’ve never seen any of their nighties shorter than just above knee length (I’m 5ft7). The ones on their site are all that length or longer. You must have been a bit unlucky.

Completely agree OP

massive market for childish adult-sized nightwear

Only childish if you deem it to be! There is a generation of adults that love Harry Potter, we grew up with it and still get enjoyment as adults. Me wearing pjs that say hufflepuff on the front doesn’t make me childish, it is simply that I am wearing pjs linked to something that I enjoy.

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

This just isn't remotely true. Look on the website of any popular mainstream clothes shop or department store - M&S, Next, John Lewis etc - and there are tons of non-sexy, non-character pyjamas. I often my mine in TKMaxx.

‘I'm sure there is an excellently feminist point to be made apart from the nature of cartoon characters on men's pyjamas (big, strong, aggressive characters) and women's (soft, biddable, gentle characters) but I can't put my finger on it so I will go to sleep in my non-Disney nightshirt, off for a few hours of sweating and non-sleep. Thanks peri-m.’

But that isn’t the point you made!

It is absolutely the case that there is a divide in masculine and feminine characters, although the masculine ones are not all big and strong - think of the cute aliens in Toy Story, the minions or the muppets.

Still, there’s an obvious point about feminine and masculine stereotypes.

But your OP was about how women’s items are childish and men’s are not, which is simply not the case.

I still don’t understand what is even wrong with liking childish things at home! It is one of the joys of being at home. Nothing harsh or scary.

I really struggle to find nightwear that’s not cutesy or has characters on it. I want 100% cotton. I want plain. I do not want checks, floral, stripes, prints of cute birdies or teddies etc.

It’s because it’s probably aimed at teenagers who are maybe too old or big for their kids range. They sell the disney branded womens pyjamas next to training bras usually.

This has been a bugbear of mine for years. I like plain black v neck baggy tshirt style nighties made from viscose or modal that are soft, stretchy and cool. It can be really hard to find. I'm 40 something. I don't want childish designs or pastels.

@NiceGerbil

How many men are going to fit into Bambi nightclothes designed for women?!

They go all the way up to 18 in most shops

I'm thank and I don't fit into some women's clothes. Not a feminist issue. Of you really want them, I'm sure there are men's bambi clothes online

@GrumpyHoonMain

It’s because it’s probably aimed at teenagers who are maybe too old or big for their kids range. They sell the disney branded womens pyjamas next to training bras usually.

I doubt Cath kidston are aiming at teenagers. They sold nightwear, clothing and bags in collaboration with Disney.

Agreed Libertymole - that was not my original point, quite right. It's just as many posters have been keen to point there ARE such thing as Disney pyjamas for men. I was making a point in response to those.

I still think there's far more cutesie, a child would wear this type stuff in women's than men's PJs but interesting to know so many Mnet husbands are Disney pyjama wearers. The point is that men are seen to grow out of the young Disney minions, Winnie the Pooh etc clothes wearing stage (so that doesn't include Star Wars, super hero stuff) but women aren't. Anyway I really am off to bed now.

How many men are going to fit into Bambi nightclothes designed for women?!

Not sure what that post is referring to, but if it's mine I was saying there should be more choice in both sections.
As I don't see why Disney cartoons (eg Mickey Mouse or whoever) or Star Wars/Trek/Red Dwarf etc should be fitted firmly into men and women sections when either are capable of liking.

I get you. I have worn jersey material pyjamas since I was a teenager, and the choices are becoming more limited. Where you used to be able to get plain sets of top and bottoms (stripes always popular too), it’s getting harder and harder to find non-cutesy stuff. Not that this is always bad - I have sets from Tesco with llamas and cats on - but I’d like more adult choices really.

It is an issue if you can’t actually buy what you want. A lot like being able to buy non-padded bras, something I gave up on years ago as the range of options was so reduced from when I was younger.

‘ The point is that men are seen to grow out of the young Disney minions, Winnie the Pooh etc clothes wearing stage (so that doesn't include Star Wars, super hero stuff) but women aren't.’

I picked minions and toy story because they both appear on adult male underwear.

I don’t think that it is much that men grow out of it, but that even young boys don’t tend to wear bambi, Winnie the Pooh etc very often. Think of even non Disney motifs. Lots of great whites and grizzly bears on boys’ clothes.

So I don’t think it is men being more grown up but that childhood is very gendered in the first place.

I buy mens plain pj bottoms out of markies for me. Jersey cotton and they wash well. Worn with a vest or long sleeve tshirt. I do not want ridiculous slogans or cutesy characters or sexpot type stuff.

The upside of all this neutrality is I can walk the dog in my pjs first thing.

White Company sale. Cotton striped PJs for grown ups. Or Primark - they do everything from tartan to floral or plain grey marl. Very soft cotton too.

Where are you all going in your nightwear that you'd be embarrassed if it had a Disney character on it?

Not to mention there's barely any Disney nighties on the M&S site

Cath Kidston is a young teen brand. Most people I know buy stuff from there for kids or teens.

I'm with you OP!

You are creating an issue where there isn't one. And you are massively exaggerating as whilst there are a few Disney PJs on M&S website, there are far more non-Disney ones to choose from. PLENTY, in fact.

As for infantilising, I don't agree. Whilst their collection is a Disney one, they are clearly not childish designs but very tasteful patterns any adult can wear. If they wish to. If not, they can scroll on.

As for why it isn't part of the men's range? I think any clothing company would be silly to introduce a specific (ANY) design to audiences clearly not interested in them. Women buy into it, men don't. Probably what their consumer research showed before they designed and launched the range. If you really want to know why, ask the men!

Having tried to find nightwear recently, I’m genuinely a bit aghast at the ‘I don’t understand why you can’t just wear Frozen nightshirts’ argument. I’m a grown woman with zero interest in cartoons.

It’s like when I want to buy running shoes and every fucking pair of women’s trainers are pink or lilac. It’s needless feminisation of products and I hate it.

Cath Kidston is for middle aged women.