Signal Boost: The Early Learning Centre continue their genderfail suckitude

[miss_s_b]

From the website of the Early Learning Centre.

For the little princess in the family we have great feminine outfits like Butterfly Fairy, Sleeping Beauty, Ballerina and Nurse’s uniform. Why not add a medical case for that extra touch of authenticity.

The boys are catered for too, with great Doctor, Policeman & Fireman uniforms, not to mention fantastic Pirate and Knight costumes. All these can be combined with a range of accessories so your child will really look the part.

Because, apparently, boys can't do ballet, and girls can't be doctors.

You can contact them via the page here if you'd like to express your displeasure, and pass it on.

(via Andrew Ducker and Jo Crispy-Strips, among others)

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Comments

[staceyuk]

*sigh* *head/desk*

Rinse. Lather. Repeat.

[(Anonymous)]

"apparently, boys can't do ballet, and girls can't be doctors"

Although girls can be vets, apparently.

..."Pink Vets", to be specific.

[scarier.wordpress.com]

oops, that was me.

[miss_s_b]

Pink vets, eh? Oh joy.

[leoniedelt]

christ. both of my girls are far more likely to dress up as doctors or firemen than fairies. that is, if they dress up at all.

*headdesk*

[lonemagpie]

To be fair, the boys' ballet costume is generally rather different than the girls' one...

Though my main reaction to the list was, upon seeing the word "Doctors", to wonder if they stocked long stripey scarves, pinstripe suits and camel-coloured coats, bow ties, etc...

[sassy_scot]

I've just done a very polite blog post about this, but I feel I can come on here and say what a bunch of utter fuckwits ELC are. How dare they limit the ambitions of girls who are barely out of nappies.

Aaaaargh!

Why do I feel like I have been banging my head against a fucking wall for quarter of a century and it isn't getting any better?

This is not good.

[telegramsam]

Bleh, how 1950. What century are we supposed to be in, again?

[telegramsam]

(also you think they could just say "we have Butterfly Fairy, Sleeping Beauty, Ballerina and Nurse’s uniforms, Doctor, Policeman & Fireman uniforms" and leave at at that. Who the hell wrote that description? They are clearly overpaid.)

[telegramsam]

(also, I decided to dress up as Superman for Halloween when I was four. Not superwoman, superman. Spit curl and all. My mother made the costume for me. And I didn't explode in a fiery ball of doom.)

[andrewducker]

My girlfriend went to her first halloween as Aladdin. She also failed to burst into flame :->

[telegramsam]

Hahah, FTW! Did she have a genie? A lamp? A FLYING CARPET?

I dunno, the only person who was always upset by my costume choices (which were always things like tigers and dragons and zombies, and never princesses or ballerinas) was my dad, who clearly wanted a "feminine" daughter and got me instead.

I think he still does given his penchant for trying to set my brother up on dates with any really "pink girly" women he sets eyes on, but at this point in my life I figure it's his problem (and sadly my brother's), not mine.

[(Anonymous)]

I remember back in the old days (which for me were the 1990s) ELC was all about no guns and afaik no gender bias. Have they been bought out in the new century or are they just weak willed and bowing to marketing guff?

[daweaver]

Early Learning Centre had a management buy-out in 2001, was sold to Tim Waterstone (founder of the book store) in 2004, and then to Mothercare in 2007.

[andrewhickey.info]

This might cheer you up - your post is currently number four on Google when you search "Early Learning Centre" - after three pages from the ELC site itself, but ahead of the Wikipedia page...