useful contacts
Your MP
Get in touch with your local MP and let them know this is an important issue to you.
Harmful gender stereotypes aimed at children has already been raised in parliament on a number of occasions and received much needed support from members of parliament such as Katy Clark MP and Chi Onwurah MP.
To find the contact details for your MP, please click here.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC)
The BRC campaigns for big name British retailers and has produced its own Responsible Retailing Guidelines for childrenswear, updated in June 2020 with a new nod from Mumsnet.
"When it comes to children’s ranges our members recognise their responsibilities in providing age-appropriate clothing designs, and marketing these to parents and guardians in ways which do not sexualise or unduly gender stereotype children."
The following retailers have signed up to this, hold them to it: F&F at Tesco, Next, Nutmeg at Morrisons, Boots, Mothercare, Debenhams, John Lewis, Primark, M&S, Sainsbury, Argos and TKMAXX
Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)
New rules and guidance on stereotyping in advertising were brought in by the ASA in June 2019 which focus on the depiction of gender stereotypes "likely to cause harm or serious widespread offence”
The ASA has the power to remove ads it feels are harmful, including press ads, ads online, radio, TV or in the cinema; commercial emails, text messages, leaflets and brochures.
You can find information about making a complaint to the ASA here
The Childrenswear Association
Another organisation that promotes the childrenswear industry, the NCWA has also offered its full endorsement to the BRC Responsible Retailing guidelines. Chairman of the NCWA, Mark Barnett, states "We wish to design, make and sell garments that will be both attractive and practical, appeal to children and parents alike and yet be age appropriate."
The NCWA have a neat contact form on their website here
Let Toys Be Toys
LTBT were the inspiration for our campaign, and we were set up with their blessing and support as a separate sister organisation. Let Toys Be Toys, as you may have guessed is focused on children's toys, and they have done remarkable work in the UK by convincing retailers to drop girls and boys signage for toys in store and online.
You can find out more about LTBT by clicking here
Trouser For All
Trousers for All is a UK-wide group that campaigns to give girls the option of wearing trousers as part of their school uniform.
It is managed by parents of girls who have been, or are currently, prohibited from doing so, to create awareness about the issue and support others to obtain that right for all girls.
Email or follow on twitter @trouserforall
Transgender Trend
"We are concerned that the increased public awareness of transgender issues has led to parents worrying unnecessarily about normal childhood behaviours.
We wanted to create a site which balanced the sudden slew of cheer leading media stories with some research and facts which challenge the prevailing acceptance of an ideology which is new, untested, and invariably based on personal belief systems."
Follow Transgender Trend @transgendertrd
Safe Schools Alliance
The SSA is a group of parents/grandparents, health and education professionals, who are concerned that schools are being advised to use policies regarding gender identity that are based on misleading or inaccurate information.
"The SSA campaign is focused on working with schools and educators to ensure that school policies meet the safeguarding needs of all students whilst taking into account the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010. We endeavour to provide clarity on the law and offer unbiased, evidence-based guidance and support where conflict between protected characteristics arises."
Follow on twitter @SafeSchools_UK