ICM - Leeds Design Agency

Almost a year ago I gave birth to my daughter and since then I have been challenged by the gender stereotypes ever since. Are the gender differences natural or taught?

Pink Stinks is a campaign that has been set up to try and tackle the issue of marketing just pink and fluffy to girls. Is the marketing of pink and fluffy toys and clothes to girls forcing a generation of girls in a box or simply giving them what they already want?

I will admit I dress Maddi in some lovely dresses and pink things but I also bought her a toy digger and lorry recently which she loves. As I don’t want to push my daughter into a certain role I also don’t want to deny her the right to be a girl. Most of all I don’t understand the thought of no defined gender role were we can’t even use the terms ‘he’ or ‘she’.

And one day, there maybe equal Maternity rights so fathers have an equal opportunity to stay at home with their children and women can finally be equal in the work place. I’m lucky enough to work for a company where gender has never been an issue and I have been given the same opportunities as the men. One day I hope this will be the norm.