How will disoriented parents in the UK cope?

I don’t remember the exact age when I first walked into a Toys R Us. I think I was older than 8 and younger than 15 (really narrows it down, huh). I vaguely recall thinking it was so cool. All the toys, stuffed animals, games and more. It was like heaven for kids (except here, you could see the toys and touch them to know they actually existed). My first few times going, my interests were straight up Transformers. Not those knock off GoBots. I wanted the ‘robots in disguise’. I’d walk up and down the aisles of the boys section at Toys R Us looking for them. And when I finally did, I never wanted to leave. I wanted to sit there on the floor and play with them all (for some reason the store frowned upon opening the boxes and having an Autobot/Decepticon war in the middle of the aisle). I remember having several Transformers as a kid: Metroplex, the Combaticons, Hot Rod, Springer, the Constructicons, Blue Streak, Scorponok, several of the triple changers (can’t remember their names), Astrotrain, one or two of the Headmasters toys. Man, what fun.  Ah, the memories. The days of cool toys for boys. But now it looks like those days may be numbered, as Toys R Us-in a bid to combat gender stereotypes-has ::gasp:: dropped gender filters from its UK website!!!

The company, one of the world’s best-known toy retailers, has dropped gender filters from its UK website following complaints that such signposting puts off girls from playing with trains and construction sets.

Why should girls want to play with construction sets and trains? Those are boys toys. They’re supposed to know that and remain in their lane. They’re not supposed to push the boundaries of gender stereotypes that dictate what boys and girls can and cannot do. If girls start playing with boys’ toys, why…that could lead to girls playing with Transformers (that would probably be another sign of the apocalypse, right after the legalization of same-sex marriage; and look how societies around the world have crumbled in the wake of that). This is why toys need to be separated according to gender. Kids simply cannot be trusted to play with toys that society dictates are appropriate for their gender. They need the guidance of their parents and without clear markers determining what items are for boys and girls, parents will be disoriented. And we all know how awful that would be.

Shoppers are instead invited to browse depending on the child’s age group, brand, or type of toy they are after.

See, it’s this kind of thing that is going to confuse the heck out of parents like One Million Thousand Hundred Moms. How will they be able to find the appropriate Christmas presents for boys and girls that subtly inculcate in them the belief that some products are for girls and some are for boys, bc reasons? This will present quite the dilemma, and I fear the stress may be too much for some parents to handle. I hope they’ll have someone who can comfort them in the trying days and weeks to come (I hear groups like Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council may be able to offer support to parents devastated over the end of gender filters and the continuing erosion of gender stereotypes). It’s a shame that Toys R Us shows more concern for battling rigid gender stereotypes that harm children than they do for the delicate fee fees of parents who cannot handle the idea of boys playing with dolls. Where are their priorites?

Campaigners and politicians have warned that stereotyping can deter girls from studying science and engineering.

You mean to tell me that subtle reinforcement of gender stereotypes impacts children at a young age and can influence the decisions they make in later years regarding career choices? I see right through you Toys R Us. I see where your priorities are now.

(warning: this post may contain a wee bit of snark)

 

{advertisement}
How will disoriented parents in the UK cope?
{advertisement}

4 thoughts on “How will disoriented parents in the UK cope?

  1. 1

    It’s about time. I can remember finding a hapless worker at the local Toys R Us, back when the Daughters were small, and politely complaining that everything they wanted (and I wanted) was designated “boy”. They were into dinosaurs and trains and science, and I collected action figures.

    It’s nice to see that somebody somewhere finally got a clue.

  2. 2

    I was never interested in the Transformers, but I truly, madly, deeply wanted the rockets. And the dinosaurs. And the microscope. And the chemistry set.

  3. 4

    I am always amazed at how those people reconcile “girls and boys are naturally drawn towards different types of toys” with “how am I ever going to find out who the toy is for if you don’t label it clearly???”

Comments are closed.