What do you see in the picture, what is this person doing, can you guess what this story might be about?
This girl has her hands in her pockets. Why is that a story?
8 year old Georgia is from Ipswich, UK and was shopping in Sainsbury's for trousers. She was shocked to find all the girls' trousers has fake pockets. But when Georgia went in to the boys section, the pockets were real. Georgia bought boys trousers instead.
Is it ok for Georgia to wear boys clothes?
Are clothes gendered?
This story follows a similar story from 2021 about a girl in America, Kamryn Gardner who wrote a letter about pockets on jeans.
Kamryn wrote to Old Navy store about the girls jeans they were selling after she noticed the pockets were sewn shut. They were fake pockets! Kamryn realised that this was the case for a lot of pockets on clothes for girls. Meanwhile Kamryn had a 9 year old brother and noticed his trousers did have real pockets.
Why do you think stores in the UK and the USA sell clothes for girls without pockets? What is the assumption here?
Why do boys need pockets?
What is this an example of?
You could argue girls don't need pockets because they often carry a handbag or purse. Do you agree?
Kamryn remembered her learning in school about persuasive writing.
What is persuasive writing, when do you use this?
Kamryn wrote to Old Navy store:
"Dear Old Navy,
I do not like that the front pockets of the girls jeans are fake. I want front pockets because I want to put my hands in them. I also would like to put things in them. Would you consider making girls jeans with front pockets that are not fake, Thank you for considering my request.
Sincerely,
Kamryn Gardner
What do you think of Kamryn's letter? Is it persuasive? What makes it persuasive?
Do you think Old Navy store replied?
What do you think they said?
Old Navy did reply and said,,
"The Old Navy Kids product team appreciate your information. It's great feedback for us as we develop new product."
What do you think of this reply? Are Old Navy store committing to changing their trousers for girls?
No change happened for Kamryn. In the UK, Georgia also received a reply which didn't really promise any change. Georgia started a petition at her school and sent it to Sainsburys.
This year when Georgia returned to Sainsburys, she found they had changed their trousers for girls, and they all now had real pockets.
Why do you think Sainsbury's changed their minds?
What can we learn from this story?
Why is is it about No Outsiders?
Which British Value is is about?
Do you want this assembly as a power point? To join the free mailing list and receive these assemblies as power points every week, email me on a.moffat@excelsiormat.org
No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat (scheme of work for primary schools)
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Watch CPD films showing schools teaching belonging
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