Primark and Penneys has come under fire for selling 'hugely sexist' clothes for children.
It follows a series of tweets from user Kate Long, who started a thread showcasing the different messages printed on boys' and girls' clothing.
Strap in for a thread about the hugely sexist messaging on children's clothing at @Primark. The store I popped into was in Chester but of course it's a nationwide chain.
Let's begin with the messages girls are being hammered with. pic.twitter.com/nH4muQvFds— Kate Long (@volewriter) February 6, 2022
The novelist has called out the popular clothing retail giant in the UK for telling boys to be 'winnners' while telling girls to 'be kind'.
Mrs. Long started her thread with a number of photos from the Girls Aged 7-15 Years Section in a Primark store in Chester.
Branded on the clothing, is messages and phrases like 'LOVE', 'Keep On Smiling' and 'Be Good'.
To be full of HAPPINESS. pic.twitter.com/bitGHHrTOD
— Kate Long (@volewriter) February 6, 2022
To spread MORE JOY. pic.twitter.com/KgvFPtmTQ8
— Kate Long (@volewriter) February 6, 2022
After several images posted on the girl's range of clothing, Mrs. Long says the message this conveys to young girls is to little girls is to "be compliant and passive for that is your job in the world."
The message to little girls is BE COMPLIANT AND PASSIVE. Always think of others. Put on a pleasant, smiling face for that is your job in the world.
— Kate Long (@volewriter) February 6, 2022
The best-selling author also took a stroll through the boy's section in Primark, where again she tweeted several images of the slogan written on some of the clothing.
One word phrases like 'POWER', 'LIMITLESS', and 'CHAMPION' can be seen on jumpers and t-shirts.
Quotes likes 'YOU ARE LIMITLESS', 'EXPLORE. NOTHING HOLDING YOU BACK', and CHANGE THE GAME. REWRITE THE RULES. GO FOR IT. BORN TO WIN.' are what Kate Log thinks is a different narrative being told for boys when compared to the girl's clothing.
TOTAL ICON. pic.twitter.com/1X1lLaekaG
— Kate Long (@volewriter) February 6, 2022
AUTHENTIC LEGACY. pic.twitter.com/Nlj1u2reWN
— Kate Long (@volewriter) February 6, 2022
AWESOME. pic.twitter.com/mqWtQ3aiX0
— Kate Long (@volewriter) February 6, 2022
Mrs. Long ended her thread while tagging Primark, saying:
"Can anyone spot a difference in tone here? A difference in narrative? Boys are awesome in themselves and don't need to consider anyone else. Boys are about *doing* and girls are about *feeling*. Boys take what they want; girls consider others."
Mrs. Long added that the phrases on the clothing are 'incredibly sexist, outdated and unhelpful to both boys and girls'.
It's INCREDIBLY SEXIST and outdated and unhelpful to both boys and girls.
Stop telling girls their place is to serve others! Stop telling boys they should have nothing to do with kindness and love!
What are you, a throwback to the 1950s??— Kate Long (@volewriter) February 6, 2022
Other users have also spotted similar messages in other retail outlets such as Morrisons and Tescos.
In @Morrisons this weekend and feeling the dread of having to sift through the unnecessary and restrictive messages on clothing in the children’s aisle. Found opposite each other. Guess which was for which sex? @letclothesbe pic.twitter.com/KoyEmBQP6W
— Linda Marshall (@marshall_linda) January 30, 2022
Hello @CostaCoffee. I was at your new Edinburgh Meadowbank cafe yesterday and was surprised to see that of 4 loos, 2 were for females+males and 2 were males only. Why do women get only 2/4 with 0 exclusively for female use, while men get the choice of all 4 with 2 just for them? pic.twitter.com/2fjCtnUYU8
— Lauren (@NeepsnTatties) February 6, 2022
It would be great to get your confirmation @Igloo_Books that you have joined the rest of the major UK children’s publishers in ditching the gender stereotypes & are no longer publishing titles like these? #LetBooksBeBooks pic.twitter.com/yG6wiJXstl
— Let Toys Be Toys (@LetToysBeToys) February 7, 2022
What do you think, is the clothing range here in Ireland telling an 'outdated' narrative for young boys and girls?
Let us know in the comments!
