2 of my son’s Valentines Day shirts
A shout out to Target, while they have a long way to go, they do offer some options that are hard to find in other mainstream stores. It’s important that they have clothes reading “be kind,” “love,” “a smile can change the world” in the “boys section” because of the difference in size and sleeve style between “girl” and “boy” clothes. The above shirts are the same size, yet, the shirt on the left (not from Target) is from a “girl section” and is much smaller than it’s Chewbacca counterpart. I prefer the looser fit, makes it easier to play!
I scored the love sweater and heart patch cords from the “girl section” of 2 different thrift stores. The pants are Mini Boden, a European clothing company, which I tend to prefer to American clothing companies.
Here’s the back of one of my favorite shirts from Mitz Kids – Clever Clothes for Creative Kids. Dinosaurs AND hearts — both me and my son love it!
I silently gag when I see “little heart breaker” shirts in the “boys section.” Ok, maybe it’s not always silent. I prefer love, hearts, dinosaurs, and Star Wars to labeling my child a heart breaker.
Clothes matter.
If you’ve read some of my other posts you now know I read and reference a lot of articles. So I’ll close with thoughts from this HuffPost article – You Are What You Wear – The Dangerous Lessons Kids Learn From Sexist T-Shirts.
In it, the intersection of clothes and identity is discussed. The article references a 2004 study where “researchers described children as “gender detectives” who seek out information about the differences between girls and boys, attempt to draw inferences about gender and then apply their conclusions to themselves.
Even subtle messaging about girls’ and boys’ roles — in the media, in society and on clothing — affects the way kids see themselves.”
Clothes matter.
whatsaboymom 