Encouraging Girls Without Dissing Boys

The topic of feminist messages for boys has been on my mind for some time, but it's been coming up a lot so far this year.

I got a comment in an order from Melissa in El Paso, TX saying:

"I love how the site and products encourage girls to be strong without engaging in boy-bashing (I have a son too!)."

This might seem hard to believe, but I'd never quite thought about it that way. I mean I've always hated that slogan, "Girls rule, boys drool." It just doesn't make sense to me to be encouraging one person while putting down another. I want all the Sticker Sisters goodies to have a celebratory, fun tone that doesn't come at the expense of anyone else.

I was thinking about this when Janet in San Francisco e-mailed me for advice:

"In a couple of months I have a chance to go to a family reunion and deliver stickers, shoelaces, bandaids...into the hands of at least eight grand-nieces whose parents may or may not get the reasoning. (Ages: 18 months to 15 years, with a cluster in the 5-10 range).

Meanwhile, the girls have three brothers/cousins in the impressionable age range of 5-7. They will get gifts too. To inoculate the boys against "girls-rule" teasing (which can lead to a backlash by parents and other folk, thus negating the valuable consciousness-raising), I'm looking for some good messages to incorporate on the boys' gifts. You've undoubtedly thought this question through: I notice that your messages are pro-girl but not anti-boy. What messages do you like for giving confidence to boys, without putting girls down?"

So that brings me to my biggest challenge. While Sticker Sisters will always be focused on girl-positive messages, I've had a lot of requests for items for boys as well. Of course boys can wear "Girls Rock," "Action Not Glamour," or "My Kind of Princess..." t-shirts. And I've had some very cool ones do just that! But let's be real--most boys aren't going to wear those shirts.

Anyone have ideas on messages that would be appealing to girls and boys?

 

Holiday Shipping & Gift Ideas

If you need your order by Xmas, please get it in by Saturday 12/20.

Need help choosing gifts for the girls on your list? Here our most popular gifts for every age group (and budget!).

Gifts for Babies
Girls Rock baby shirt

Very soft, pale yellow shirt with a girls rock design on the belly. $17

Also available in a onesie.





More suggestions:
"My Kind of Princess" shirt or onesie.
Brave Girl shirt or onesie.


Gifts for Kids
Brave Girl Adventure Pack

She gets a Brave Girl t-shirt, box of Brave Girl-Aids, pair of shoelaces, button and stickers in a festive gift box. You get the satisfaction of encouraging her to be strong, proud and adventurous. $35
More suggestions:
"Happy to be a Girl" fuzzy stickers
Rockin' Girl gift pack


Gift for Activists
Action Girl Pack

Give her the activist attire she needs--an "Action Not Glamour" t-shirt, a pair of spunky shoelaces, and stickers galore. $35




More suggestions:
"I Fight Like a Girl" poster
"This Insults Girls/Women/Everyone" stickers


Gifts for Readers
Up Words Girls Magnetic Poetry

"Featuring verbs like investigate and demand, adjectives like invincible and sassy, and nouns like goddess, activist and amazon, this fierce collection of women's words will bring out your inner Audre Lorde. "
--Bust Magazine
$14.95


More suggestions:
Girl Writer Gift Set
"My Kind of Princess" t-shirt


Stocking Stuffers (Under $10)
Brave Girl-Aid

Band-aids for the skinned kneees, scraped elbows,
and other boo boos that BRAVE girls
are bound to get. $7.95

More suggestions:
Girl Power and Action Not Glamour shoelaces
Stickers!


A Little Something for the Whole Troop/Team/Office/Family (Under $5)
Girls Rock Buttons

They're cute and fun with a celebratory message. At a dollar a piece you can get enough for everyone on your list (and even people who aren't!). $1



More suggestions:
Stickers
"I'm so Happy to Be a Girl" pencils