I was shopping for a leather messenger bag today. As I was perusing a variety of online sites, it struck me anew how sexist and outdated shopping categories are.

There have been several articles in the last several years about toys and gender. Why label G.I. Joes as “boy” toys and Barbies as “girl” toys. Aren’t they both dolls? And why should building blocks be for boys and the easy-bake ovens be for girls? Can’t girls build and boys bake? Of course they can. But this demonstrates our outdated ideas of gender.

Today I found those same outdated gender ideas in bags. On most every site I searched, from the large department retailers to niche stores, bags were labeled as “men’s” or “women’s”.

One large department had “women’s bags” (including totes, wallets, and luggage) listed under the catch-all label “handbags” but the “men’s bags” (including wallets, backpacks, luggage) were listed under “accessories.”

But what set me off on this tangent was a specialty leather retailer who had “diaper bags” listed only as a women’s bag.

My first thought was, don’t males who are also a parent have a responsibility for the cleanliness and health of their small humans, as well as the need to carry all the accoutrements that come with being a parent? I realize the United States has failed miserably at providing parental leave, as well as maternal health, newborn health, and a host of other issues around child rearing. But could we at least do better by making diaper bags gender neutral?

Then my anger turned a bit into rage as I realized this store had arbitrarily divided all the bags along gender lines. Along with diaper bags, the only other “women’s bags” this store offered were “women’s purses” and totes. The messenger bags were listed under “men’s.”

These are bags. Bags meant to carry our stuff. I don’t buy a bag (or a wallet or a tote or a suitcase) because I’m a woman. I buy a bag for a purpose—for overnight travel, to carry books, to take to the beach, to carry my electronics, for going on a plane.

So then why are bags divided by gender? Shouldn’t there just be types of bags (e.g., backpacks, totes, messenger bags, duffles, crossbody, shoulder) and then let the consumer decide what they want instead?

Maybe this isn’t a big deal in the larger scheme of world issues, like climate change, war, and political incompetency. But I do think this demonstrates the issue with how we as a society view gender and the how this is continuing the narrative of harmful stereotypes, marginalizing or shaming those of us who don’t neatly fit into just one box. Those of us who preferred the “boy” toys. Or liked the color blue better. Or like the “men’s” messenger bag better. (Or visa-versa for those who preferred the “girl” options.)

It would be lovely if retailers would stop genderizing items that don’t need to have a gender identity. Like bags. Or socks. Or watches.

For now, I will buy the messenger bag that I found (on a site that didn’t use gender as a descriptor). I am also refusing to patronize at those retailers who list “diaper bags” under “women’s bags.” Come on U.S. retailers, do better.