DESPITE some progress in the fashion industry, gender stereotypes are still alive and kicking. While these days adults have an increasing number of options for unisex -- or neutral -- collections, children continue to face the same clichés. A new study conducted in Germany reveals that children's fashion hasn't stopped promoting gender stereotypes. We take a look.
Anyone who goes to a high-street store or the clothing section of a supermarket can easily see that children's clothes are not sold in just one section.
There is a clear separation between boys' and girls' sections. The advantage, if there is one, is that it is difficult to mix up these two sections, with the girls' area generally distinguished by an explosion of pink, and boys' by a wave of blue.
This holds true for the clothing department, as well as for the toy department. Despite many advances in the past few years in terms of gender neutrality, gender segmentation, on which gendered marketing is based, is far from having said its last word.
Pink and blue, the colors of discord
A study conducted by data journalist Marie-Louise Timcke and published in the German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung, looked into the matter to find out. Together with her peers, the expert analyzed no less than 20,000 shirts and shorts sold at retailers such as H&M, Zalando, and About You, intended for children under ten years old.
Prints, colors, lengths, cuts ... all was put under scrutiny, and the verdict seems clear: "Current children's fashion cements gender images," concludes Marie-Louise Timcke on her Twitter account.
Upon looking at the colors of children's clothes, it is clear that blue dominates among boys' clothing, all brands included, while pink rules among girls' clothes. We can therefore check the box ''proven' for this old cliché that we hoped had gone out of date.
The conclusions of the survey go even further: "almost every second shirt for girls is pink. This picture is most extreme in H&M's collection," says the data analyst.
Predestined to be dreamers or adventurers
While girls and boys have long -- if not always -- had passions in common, the prints that are supposed to bring a touch of fun to children's clothes prove that the line between the genders is stronger than it seems -- and that clichés about each gender's preferences and characteristics are hard to break.
For girls, the most used terms are "love," "girl," "sunshine," "smile," "dream" and "dreamer." On the boys' side, we find words related to adventure or sport, with an emphasis on surfing, like "aloha," "wave," "explore," "fast," "coast," and "crew." Two totally different atmospheres.
Not content with clearly distinguishing genders, children's fashion does indeed.
Last but not least is the length of the clothes. If it seems obvious that boys and girls under 10 years old should have access to the same cuts and shapes of shirts and shorts, it is not the case in practice. Far from it in fact! "We stacked and compared thousands of shorts for kids from H&M, Zalando and About You.
The difference in length is clear: on average, a pair of 30cm-wide shorts for girls is six cm shorter than boys' trousers. And this is despite the fact that children's bodies hardly differ at this age.
Boys are a little taller and heavier, but could simply choose the next size up. The fact that girls' trousers are tighter and shorter is simply the result of fashion and socialization," the specialist emphasizes.
The study also reveals that it is essentially impossible to find certain clothes with any specific print, such as nightgowns decorated with dinosaurs, soccer-print skirts, or cargo shorts covered with unicorns.
"In the logic of these markets, girls are first and foremost little women; for them, clothing is meant to please. And boys are supposed to be everything but "girls".' concludes Marie-Louise Timcke.
ETX Studio
Wed Sep 07 2022
![Fashion's gender stereotypes start at a very young age Fashion's gender stereotypes start at a very young age](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-08/71661856116_FASHION.jpg)
From an early age, fashion cultivates gender stereotypes, a study reveals. - ETX Studio
AWANI Ringkas: Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini | Skandal LCS
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, kenapa tak umum tahun lepas? - MP Kampar
Chong Zhemin, tindakan tersebut seolah-olah satu penghinaan paling besar kepada Parlimen yang telah meluluskan pindaan Perlembagaan Persekutuan berkait Akta Antilompat Parti.
Masuk Pas untuk sama-sama susah dengan rakyat - ADUN Rembia
Muhamad Jailani berkata, sebelum ini beliau pernah menghantar surat kepada Lembaga Disiplin UMNO memohon untuk memecat keahliannya daripada parti Melayu itu.
[TERKINI] Astro dipilih sebagai penyiar rasmi Olimpik Paris 2024
Astro dipilih sebagai penyiar rasmi bagi Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024 bermula hujung bulan ini.
[TERKINI] Speaker DUN Melaka tunggu surat rasmi Muhammad Jailani
DUN Melaka masih menunggu surat rasmi daripada Pas berhubung tindakan ADUN Rembia, Datuk Muhamad Jailani Khamis yang menyertai Pas.
Sasar sumbang RM500 bilion kepada kdnk tempoh tiga tahun
Selangor perlu merancakkan semula kapasiti pembuatan untuk tidak hanya memenuhi keperluan tempatan, tetapi menjadikan negeri itu sebagai asas kepada pelan peluasan ke rantau Asia Tenggara dan Asia.
![Wanita dihempap kayu balak mula sedarkan diri Wanita dihempap kayu balak mula sedarkan diri](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720789446_Wanitadihempapkay.jpg)
Wanita dihempap kayu balak mula sedarkan diri
Wanita yang nyaris maut akibat dihempap kayu balak dalam kejadian di lampu isyarat di Persimpangan Bendahara, Jalan Gua Musang-Kuala Krai di sini 9 Julai lepas, kini dilaporkan mula sedarkan diri.
Sah suspek anggota polis
Ketua Polis Selangor, Datuk Hussein Omar Khan mengesahkan suspek bunuh Nur Farah Kartini, ialah anggota polis.
Suspek juga yang dipercayai teman lelaki mangsa dan bertugas di Perak.
Suspek juga yang dipercayai teman lelaki mangsa dan bertugas di Perak.
Suspek dibawa ke lokasi kejadian di ladang kelapa sawit
Suspek kes pembunuhan bekas penuntut UPSI Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah dibawa ke lokasi kejadian di ladang kelapa sawit di Kampung Sri Keledang, Hulu Bernam, Selangor.
![Ringgit susut berbanding dolar US pada penutup Ringgit susut berbanding dolar US pada penutup](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/41713876066_TBringgitmalaysia.jpg)
Ringgit susut berbanding dolar US pada penutup
Pada 6 petang, ringgit susut lagi kepada 4.6745/6790 berbanding dolar AS daripada 4.6725/6745 semasa ditutup semalam.