Losing Toy Gender Labels
I’m sure by now you have heard of Target removing gender labeling from their toy and bedding sections. This has caused some parents and grandparents to have complete breakdowns, and to defend their argument a few of them have said, “No one is saying boys can’t play with Barbies…”.
Actually, that is exactly the message you’re sending when you have gender labeling on toys. This isn’t just an issue with stores, this is also a problem with the toy companies and the way they advertise. Why should kids feel wrong for liking something that, by societal norms, is considered inappropriate for their gender? Why do we allow this stigma to be put upon our children? Toys are meant for entertainment, imagination, and creativity. Things that are good, and should be encouraged, and should not be separated by gender.
If Target removing gender labeling from toy & bedding sections makes you “confused” because “it will make it difficult to find the right toys for boys and girls” then you’re an idiot. Walk into the toy section, if you want stuffed animals, Barbies, hot wheels, LEGO, or actions figures (*cough*dolls*cough*), etc, they really won’t be difficult to spot. If you’re the kind of person who goes by gender stereotypes, and can’t figure out how to find the toys you want, then you must be a bigger fool than I thought. Here, let me help you… Going with the stereotypes; If you’re looking to buy for a girl, maybe look for the glaringly obvious pink toys. They are very bright, which makes them easy to spot. Looking to buy for a boy? Pretty much the same thing. Just look for the stuff that isn’t pink, you will probably see a lot of blue. Also, there will still be signs that read “Dolls”, “Building Toys”, and the like. Is that really so difficult? Or, you know, you can find out what the kid actually wants, and look for that specific toy. It’s not going to be mass hysteria. Just gender labeling removed from toy & bedding sections.
This rant come from someone who, as a little girl, wanted hot wheels, Star Wars figures, and Star Wars bedding. There was nothing wrong with that. Yet I was not allowed those things because of my gender. My parents made me feel like there was something wrong with me, and forced “girl toys” on me, telling me I would appreciate it when I was older (I’m older, still not appreciating it). And when other kids found out that I liked “boy stuff” I was picked on for it. So I have kind of strong feelings about the whole “gender labeling” on toys thing.
In summary: The angry parents want people to believe that the problem here is a store removing gender labels, and the possibility of kids playing with toys that society says are meant for the opposite gender. But the real problem here are the stereotypes, and narrow-mindedness of some parents and toy companies. Putting gender labels on toys is stupid, and pointless. Get over the idiotic stereotypes and just let kids play with what they want to. Let it become the normal, natural way of things. Why are people so afraid of that?
