Barry-based mums Charlotte Archibald and Hayley McGhan have joined forces to launch #DressDownFriday, an online campaign to eliminate gender-stereotypes.
#DressDownFriday encourages parents to help level the playing-field for boys and girls by banishing gender-stereotypical outfits – for one day each week – on a Friday.
A fast-growing online community of parents post and share pictures of their families in gender-neutral clothes on social media to spread the message of equality and acceptance. By ‘dressing down’ on a Friday, parents are showing their opposition to ridged ideas of gender that can limit aspiration and attainment in children.
As an official partner of the #DressDownFriday campaign, fashion retailer Zac & Bella are giving away one of their gender-neutral outfits to one lucky #DressDownFriday participant. Any parent that shares a photo on social media using the campaign hashtag over the next four weeks (10th March to 31st March) will be entered into the draw.
Charlotte, who runs a local parenting blog, MusingMum.co.uk, said; “The idea for #DressDownFriday came about following comments and assumptions people made when I dressed my baby daughter in anything that wasn’t ‘girly’. I got sick and tired of people thinking that because she’s a girl she should always be in a dress!”
“I wanted to do something to demonstrate to my daughter that she doesn’t need to conform to old-fashioned stereotypes, and that she can be anything she wants to be. Ideas that children form about gender stay with them into their adult lives, so the toys they play with and the clothes they wear have a huge influence on them.”
Hayley is the creator of Zac & Bella. The kids’ fashion retailer specialises in gender-neutral patterns and designs. Hayley said: “As a designer of children’s clothes, I was keen to back the #DressDownFriday campaign. I’m thrilled to be giving away one of my gender-neutral rompers to help encourage as many families as possible to think about the impact and the influence that gendered clothes can have on their children. I’m excited to see the campaign flourish online with more and more parents taking a stand against pointless gender stereotypes.”
To enter the competition and show your support for #DressDownFriday, simply like or follow the Zac & Bella & Musing Mum facebook and Instagram pages. From 10th to 31st March, upload your pictures using the hashtag #dressdownfriday, and you will automatically be entered into the draw.
For more information, visit www.musingmum.co.uk/dressdownfriday
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