Tesco brought to heel over child shoe sexism

Tesco has been caught in a sexism row after branding its boys’ back-to-school shoe “active” and the girls’ version as having “sensitive soles”.

Lauren Smallcalder, 37, a primary teacher from Bournemouth, complained to the supermarket chain after seeing the descriptions.

She said: “Yet again girls and boys are being put in ever limited boxes and having expectations loaded on them.

“It’s bizarre. Shoes are there to perform a function, and we want boys and girls to be as active as possible, not restricted by the idea that they should be restrained and delicate.”

Tesco says it will change the wording after “listening to feedback”.