“DEAR Clarks, I don’t like how girls have flowery shoes – I like dinosaurs and fossils, so I think that other girls might as well.”

That's how eight-year-old Sophia Trow chose to take on a multi-national company in a bid to get them to make dinosaur shoes for girls.

- COMMENT: Kicking out at sexism

The Middlesbrough schoolgirl tweeted the company after a disappointing shopping trip saw her pick out a pair of dinosaur shoes made for boys only.

Surrounded by dinosaur-related paraphernalia, Sophia turned her nose up at the bows, butterflies and flowers decorating Clarks’ girls range and took to social media to urge the company to make changes.

The science lover and avid dinosaur fan was upset to be told the Stomp Claw range – which leaves behind “awesome” reptilian footprints – was not suitable for female bone structure.

Yesterday, the feisty dino-fan said she felt like killing anyone who told her she couldn’t have or do things “just because I’m a girl”.

She said: “I don’t like how girls just have to like pink and purple – I like blue and science and fossils.

“I really want dinosaur shoes because they leave footprints in the sand and mud.

“Clarks should learn what girls really want and do something about it.”

Sophia’s sentiments are backed by her six-year-old sister Helena and their mother, 34-year-old Jane Trow.

Ms Trow tweeted Clarks on her daughter’s behalf and criticised their “sexist shoes”.

She said: “Dinosaur shoes are fun, exciting and something to stomp around and make noise in which is apparently just a boy thing.

“Girls’ shoes are dainty and flowery while boys’ are sturdy and fun – where’s the choice?”

She added: “I want my children to have options – if they want to go down the pretty girl, traditional route and grow up to have a family then I’ll be proud.

“If they’d prefer a career, no children or to play with toys that aren’t supposed to be for girls then I’m equally as proud.

“I don’t want them hampered by expectations that tell them how they should behave as girls – I want them to be able to do whatever they want to do and become strong women.”

A spokeswoman for Clarks said the company offered a wide range of children’s shoes to meet “varied tastes and needs”.

She added: “We are sorry to hear that our product range didn’t suit Sophia’s personal tastes.”

 

UPDATE:

Following today's article, a spokeswoman from Clarks elaborated further on the issue and said: “Clarks are sorry to hear that Sophia was informed these shoes aren’t suitable for girls. The Stomposaurus range can safely be worn by all children. 

"We have a long and established heritage of designing shoes which offer style, comfort, fit, durability and quality, and offer a wide range of children’s shoes to meet their varied tastes and needs. 

"We are also developing a broader range of unisex styles which will be available from Autumn/Winter this year. 

"We provide training to staff to ensure customers are made fully aware of our range of suitable styles.”