Author Heather Kaczynski has a three-year-old daughter who loves to carry around things like “rocks and Power Rangers.” However, her daughter’s pants either have fake pockets or lack them altogether.
So in response, Kaczynski turned to Twitter on Friday, begging clothing manufacturers to create more pockets for girls. She’s since gone viral, with over 60,000 retweets and 240,000 likes on her post.
“PLEASE PUT POCKETS ON GIRLS PANTS. omg,” Kaczynski tweeted in her rallying cry.
https://twitter.com/HKaczynski/status/987408621301624832
The internet quickly agreed. Women’s clothing notoriously lacks pockets, suggesting that female fashion is designed for the viewer first and the wearer second.
By designing kids’ clothing with fake pockets, those harmful, gendered stereotypes are just being forced onto young girls as they’re growing up.
https://twitter.com/_becca_donnelly/status/987437537164742657
Literally why I only buy my niece overalls from the “boys” section. She needs a place to keep twigs, apple slices, and her teddy bear’s secrets
— maura lee bee 🌈 (@mauraleebee) April 22, 2018
Before I became a dad I didn’t realize how much parenting involved rock inventory management. Pockets in kids clothes are non-negotiable.
— Dan Brown (he/him) 👓 (@brownorama) April 21, 2018
THIS! And tbh I STILL put things down my shirt when I lack pockets. Nobody can convince me that is not the intended use of bras. 🤷♀️
— Jane Nibful ♿️ (@Nibful) April 21, 2018
I was spoken to at little ones nursery once. They were concerned she’d been putting things in her kinckers toys etc. I asked her about it “it was my builders belt and they were my tools. I was being a builder like daddy.” Legend
— Becca Daisy (@theRebeccadaisy) April 21, 2018
I resent that as a woman I am not expected to want pockets I think it really affects things like exercise. You still have keys, random receipts and free shit you have collected. How many women even want a handbag!?
— Shanine Shanine (@braintree_) April 21, 2018
Even boys have this problem. Apparently, no one in the fashion industry realizes kids need to carry their rocks or superhero figures.
Some of my sons’ pants have fake pockets, too. Grrr.
— Miri C Golden (@MaryCWallis) April 20, 2018
https://twitter.com/HKaczynski/status/987473764026929152
I have to hold my 3 y.o. son’s rocks until we get home.
— Moaz Ahmad (@yyzMYA) April 22, 2018
And because I’m big on pockets (8 on my jacket, 5 on my pants, and I’m carrying a backpack for the 3y.o.) it takes time to find them again.
There are also half a dozen rocks and sticks sitting in the car trunk.
We’ve had some boy pants without pockets, and 4yo is quite annoyed.
— Mary Dunbar (@MaryCDunbar) April 20, 2018
Kaczynski has since used the opportunity to promote companies that sell dresses and pants for young girls that have pockets.
https://twitter.com/HKaczynski/status/988419567608303619
https://twitter.com/HKaczynski/status/988419968856461313
https://twitter.com/HKaczynski/status/988420416237637632
For adult dresses with pockets, @cherryvelvety is amazing. They are high quality, beautiful, and have great colours/patterns.
— maria (@themariadawn) April 22, 2018
Let’s just agree that everything is better with pockets: jumpsuits, lingerie, wedding dresses, shoes, even underwear.