Morrisons has been slammed over the length of girls' shorts in its children's clothing range.
Campaigners have questioned why the retailer even needs to have separate girls and boys sections for under 14s in the first place, and why the ones marketed for girls are so much shorter in length.
Sharing a photo of a pair of girls' shorts on top of some boys' navy shorts, Niamhirl-#JohnsonOut (@niamhirl) on Twitter said: "a)Why do you still have a boys and girls clothes section for U14's? b)Why are the shorts marketed for girls much shorter than the ones marketed for boys? c)Why are the shorts marketed for boys duller colours than those marketed for girls? It's 2022."
READ MORE: Parents brand Child Maintenance Service 'a joke' and too easy to dodge payments
She tagged in Let Clothes Be Clothes, a campaign to end gender stereotyping in the design and marketing of childrenswear, who retweeted her photo, along with Keith Berry (@KeithBe97672927) who said: " @Morrisons please change this unnecessary sexualisation of young girls clothes."
The sweat shorts start from age three to four and come in a pack of three for £8 - in the colours pink, black and light grey.
It's not the first time Morrisons and other stores have been under fire on the issue.
In January Sainsbury's was accused of the same thing by selling fake leather shorts for children as young as three.
Last year Matalan's Candy Couture clothing range was called out for its cropped tops, side lace denim shorts and tight black bardot dress, being 'short, tight and skimpy' and reflecting 'adult, sexual designs'.
And back in 2019 mums criticised the Nutmeg range again for selling denim miniskirts for babies.
Speaking about the issue previously, Francesca Mallen, of Let Clothes Be Clothes, told the M.E.N's Manchester Family : "The issue of sexual styled clothing being sold to girls has been raised many times over the past decade. No one is judging children for what they wear, but we are right to judge retailers who offer very grown up, tight fitting and skimpy clothing to children."
Do you think girls' shorts are too short compared with boys'? Do you think retailers need to offer brighter colours for boys? Let us know your views in the comments here.
She added: "Studies have shown girls are susceptible to cues from sexual imagery, such as music videos and advertising, and as such believe they will be accepted more by wearing such clothing. The problem is, what does this tell young girls at such an important age? Does our worth lie in being decorative? In showing as much of our bodies as possible? Girls and young women feel they are constantly judged, not just in their clothes, but their appearance - and these sorts of clothes only ramp up the body confidence pressure."
A spokesperson for Morrisons said: "We offer a range of shorts in varying shapes, colours and designs for all children in our stores."
To keep on top of the news and events for families in Manchester, sign up to the Manchester Family newsletter here.
