Young Sophie cannot yet read. Were she able to, she would know that she sometimes bears what my husband calls “Mommy Propaganda”. He refers to the common “I love mommy” quotes printed on babies’ bibs, footies, socks, and more. There are many variations of this. (I did not buy any of these clothes. They were all gifted.)
“Do you want to wear your Mommy Propaganda shirt?” he asked our grinning infant as she lay on her back, beaming after a diaper change.
“Oh, look, it’s your Mommy Propaganda bib!” he would exclaim while grabbing the topmost bib from the clean pile.
Young Sophie has sometimes worn both at once for twice the propaganda!
My father observed that this was clever marketing on the part of the manufacturers: They know it is mostly women buying the clothes. If it were men buying the clothes, there would be more “I love daddy” and “I <heart> my dad” things.
There is obviously possible harm.
Or we can just consider them clothes. Young Sophie used to wear a “Chico feliz!” onesie when she was smaller. The person who gifted it is illiterate in Spanish and liked the elephant. I can truthfully say that both Young Sophie and I are the same.
One day, my mother came home with a “Daddy’s little love” shirt, which appears to be counterpressure with Father Propaganda.
“Do you like her Daddy Propaganda shirt?” I asked my husband, thinking of all his good-natured digs about mommy propaganda.
“Yes,” he answered plainly.
