A Labour frontbencher has attacked the Natural History Museum and M&S after they released a range of dinosaur t-shirts exclusively for boys. Chi Onwurah claimed the two were guilty of sexism because they had not produced alternative versions of the clothes for girls.
Yesterday Onwurah was encouraging people to join her protest outside the museum, according to the Daily Mail. She posted a message on Twitter saying: “‘If you’re in London next Monday help tell the dinosaurs in @NHM_London girls want a share in science too #hearusroar”.
Criticism of the range started in January when the ‘Let Clothes Be Clothes’ campaign founder Ruth Lopardo said: “I was astounded a national museum, which ought to have a clear access-for-all policy, should license designs to M&S that are only marketed at boys.
“How have these two national institutions, M&S and the Natural History Museum, managed to get through the entire product development cycle, from the initial idea to the product on the shelf, without anyone thinking that perhaps dinosaurs and natural science don’t just appeal to boys?’
A Marks & Spencer spokesman said: ‘This is a brand new partnership and, as with any new range, we have listened carefully to feedback from our customers on how they would like to see it evolve. Our design team is working with the Natural History Museum on expanding the range to include products for girls.”
A spokesman for the Natural History Museum said: “We are currently working with the Marks and Spencer design team to expand the range to include products for girls. Licensing retail items plays an important role in generating revenue to help fund our work.
“The Natural History Museum is passionate about science learning and careers for all. Products in the Museum shop are displayed without gender differentiation for children.”
Ms Onwurah’s attack is the latest in a long campaign to create much more ‘gender neutral’ clothing and toys. This follows accepted feminist theory that maintains women have fewer opportunities in life because of the toys they are given a children.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.