Boys and girls

[ladyofastolat]

Ordering books today, I find these two books:

Illustrated Classics for Girls. Pink cover, edged with flowers, with Heidi frollicking with goats. "A collection of stories of adventure and magic suitable for girls. This delightful collection contains six timeless classic stories to enchant and delight." Contents are abridged versions of Heidi, Little Women, The Railway Children, Black Beauty, The Secret Garden, and The Wizard of Oz.

Illustrated Classics for Boys. Blue-ish cover, edged with black trees, showing a moonlit forest scene, with someone (a highwayman?) galloping through it. "A collection of stories of action, adventure and daring-do suitable for boys. This lively collection contains six thrilling classic stories of action and adventure." Contents are abridged versions of Moonfleet, Around the World in 80 Days, Gulliver's Travels, Robin Hood, The Canterville Ghost, and Robinson Crusoe.

Yes, yes, I know I'm ranted about this before. I know that children are usually the first to announce that something is "for boys" or "for girls." But... But...

I think it's the word "suitable" that particularly grates.

Comments

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

Hi, I'm stopping by from Sounis and couldn't help adding my agreement here.

I also think that the gender divide has gotten worse recently (in clothes as well as books), and this in an age when some people tell me there is no sexist agenda in society any more. Ahem.

I wonder if this isn't why so many kids (including my own) prefer to read books about animals. They come with less baggage. My daughter loathes pink and wouldn't pick up one of these "girl" books despite the fact that she might enjoy them a lot, so I agree that the packaging is stupidly exclusive.

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

Even animal books are getting pink, it seems. There seem to be a lot of new series about fairy kittens or magical puppies, with pink sparkly covers. I overheard a boy telling another boy that "animal stories are for girls." A few years ago, though, I remember there being a lot of action-packed animal stories about wolves in the wild, or stories in which weasels and hedgehogs fought epic battles with swords and axes.

The other thing that always annoys me around this time of year is all the adverts for gifts "for her" (i.e. nothing I'd want) and "for him" (i.e. computer games and geeky gadgets.) I don't remember that being as polarised a few years ago, either.

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

Never fear, Redwall is still going strong, as is Warriors (both of which have equal appeal among the boys and girls I know). Also Mouse Guard and Guardians of Gahoole and Kenneth Oppel's bats. Maybe I'm just not looking in the younger section any more, so I've been spared the fairy kittens!