Children's clothes, no labels necessary

“We all know fear is born from ignorance. If you can demystify these things, then people will realise that everyone has a right to be happy and I think the same principles probably apply to this argument.” Julian Clary discussing gender neutral clothing with Piers Morgan.

John Lewis ditched boys and girls clothing. It has caused a lot of responses, as if giving children choice is more harmful than sectioning off what they can't wear. In the past boys and girls wore white dresses, then colours came in and pink was first chosen for boys. This switched around the 1940's and the rise of manufacturing led to distinct colours and clothing. Feminism in the 1960's saw a dropping off of such stark clothing differences, but this picked up again around the 1980's, with being able to learn a child's sex and business seeing children as consumers. More money is made if separate clothes and toys are bought rather than having a 'children's' section, whereby hand-me-downs can be given regardless of the younger childs's gender.

When we learn a child's sex we are learning that we have to prepare differently depending on whether it is a boy or a girl. As babies, clothing is often the only way to work out if the child is a boy or a girl. Why do we need it to be clear? Why does it hurt if our girl is mistaken for a boy? From birth a girl should be attractive, and dressing her like a doll begins. The clothing for girls is appaling. Slogans such as 'hey cutie', 'play it cool', 'eat, sleep,sparkle, repeat', padded training bras, heels...Girls are being taught that it's looks not brains that makes them female.

Boys are given clothing that will allow us to be more physical with them and allows them to be more physical back. Slogans such as 'big trouble', 'future scientist', 'sorry ladies I only date models', the boss' is teaching boys that they will achieve regardless of their behaviour. They certainly need better role modelling and choices to know it's ok to express a softer side.

If this is about choice then boys will start to ask for a dress/skirt and parents need to be ready for societies reponse so that the boy isn't shamed or boxed into thinking he is somehow more effeminate. Just like a girl prefering trousers doesn't make her a tomboy. Clothing choices need to be seperated from personality or lifestyle choices. Society will always pick on something. Teaching your child to celebrate their choices and differences despite everyone else, including your own bias, is needed.

To have just children's clothes, and one design range, is the way forward. A great campaign would be retailers sponsoring school projects for children to design their own gender netral slogans ard ranges. It would offer up a great discussion, and we would find out what children find important.

There are physical differences once puberty hits, but they're not always as stark as we assume. Some women have larger busts and hips, some don't. Some men have larger busts and hips, some don't. Men are given more bulge room, but women wouldn't mind that if it meant we had decent pockets where we could also fit our purses/wallets/purses. Why do we have gendered money holders? The 'boyfriend range' is just that, but obviously an awful name. Anyway, non-gendered clothing for adults is out there. Proper designs could be in place so that we have body shape clothing instead of separate clothing.

Regardless of your opinion on adults clothing being gender neutral, there really is no argument for different children's clothing. The only reason for it is to socialise a difference. Children need to be given the same choices to be able to find out who they are.

#clothing #sexualisation #masculinity #Identity