Why Does It Really Matter?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/shopping-and-consumer-news/12010834/Boys-and-Girls-categories-ditched-by-Toys-R-Us.html

When one goes into a toy shop to buy a child a toy, one knows the child's likes and dislikes, so one seeks out that particular toy.

If the child is a girl one heads straight to the girl's section and if the child is a boy one heads for the boy's section, unless of course one knows the child's likes differently.

[Answerprancer]

Why? Because some boys who might like to have a dolly might feel self conscious going into an obviously girly pink fluffy area of a toy shop.
Similarly a girl who has an interest in construction kits might feel a bit intimidated going into an area that is set up for boys only.

There is nothing PC about this, times have moved on and gender stereotyping is obviously being seen as not being very positive.

I personally think this is a brilliant idea.

[vulcan42]

Personally I don't think this has changed because of political correctness, the cynic in me says, Christmas, time for some free advertising.

[Answerprancer]

"Well then why not drop all this male and female nonsense, it's all so 'sexist'".
Sarcasm?

I predict a massive outpouring from you AOG along the lines of "why do we have to give in to the PC brigade".

No one is trying to 'force' anything here, they are just setting their shops up differently so the children (and parents) can make their choices without feeling like there are unspoken 'rules'.

[mikey4444]

My experience of taking my nieces shopping when they were younger, is that they made an immediate bee-line for the aisle that had all the pink things in it ! As an Uncle I had to bite my tongue !

[tamborine]

Books are unisex. Support our authors

http://tinyurl.com/psjjow6

[gness]

For your amusement.....☺

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiM_SpR7JAM

[jim360]

What is true is that parents who try and force their kids to conform to, or to rebel against, gender stereotypes aren't doing the right thing. All that we're saying is that you should drop the labelling and leave it to parents and children to decide what toys they like, free of long-term gender biases.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

I bet it would go down a bomb with his mates in the school playground after The Christmas hols.

Hi Tristram, what did you get for Christmas?

Well I got a smashing pram complete with a very nice dolly.

[jim360]

Who knows? Maybe all the other boys would be jealous... or maybe they wouldn't, and would mock. Although in that case it's hard to see why they would, other than that either children can just be nasty for no reason or that they've been encouraged to identify certain things as "girly" and turn that into an insult. That isn't really healthy and ought to be challenged if possible -- removing labelling at shops goes some small way towards addressing this, no?

[Mamyalynne]

I doubt it matters much to anyone really - if you are buying for a child you know then you seek out the type of toy/game they love regardless of who it is marketed at.

When I am buying for a child whose tastes I don't know, I either make enquiries or give books or tokens.

I grew up with two younger brothers so there were lots of interchangeable toys - I never forgave my brother for saying Sindy and Action Man had eloped...I eventually found her in the shed sawn in half.


That blasted tool kit again.

[jourdain2]

I wanted a Meccano set so much! I blame the lack of it for becoming and English and/Art/History teacher.. (Tried to put :( but actually much happirerl with working to my aptitudes. :) )

[jourdain2]

Type Your Answer Here...^^^ ' happier' - my fingers ran away with me. :(