The toy car trial that's apparently 'only for boys'

[AmandinePoulain]

I've just received an email inviting parents of boys aged between 4 and 7 to fill in a questionnaire about some new designs for toy cars and trucks, because I'm on the MN panel. Why are only boys allowed to have an opinion on toy cars? I thought MN was trying to discourage the concept of 'girls toys' and 'boys toys', this survey is hardly going to help with that, is it?

My dds play with cars so why aren't dd1's opinions valid, just because she's not a boy?

[EuroShaggleton]

WTAF?

Sexist twonks.

[BeauNidle]

Overthinking. Just fill it in for the boy if that is what you have been asked. Don't have a problem with it myself, when my DD was little it was all trains and cars for her. Those toys were in the 'blue' section of toys r us, but I never lost sleep over it.

[AmandinePoulain]

I just thought MN was above this kind of stuff to be honest!

[AmandinePoulain]

I can't Beau, because I don't have a boy. That's my point.

[YoniMatopoeia]

I guess it is what the marketing team for the product has asked for.

But not good that MN are allowing this view to be perpetuated.

[BeauNidle]

Maybe they are actually just interested in what boys play with these days as apposed to say, ten years ago?

[OddBoots]

Hopefully MN have a good reason.

[AmandinePoulain]

It's 'out of their control' according to my email reply.

[YoniFoolsAndHorses]

I have posted on AIBU about it.

Baffled and a bit disillusioned!

[BeauNidle]

opposed not apposed!

[PearlyWhites]

You are being ridiculous boys often play with cars yes so do girls but in this survey they want to know about boys playing with cars. Maybe next week they will want to know about girls playing with dinosaur toys. Does it matter?

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

Bollocks. If it it is out of their control, they need to take that control back by not taking money from manufacturers who are sexist.

[ashesgirl]

Ridiculous. Of course it's silly to only ask boys about such things.

[Grammaticus]

It's not out of their control. They should have refused to take the survey.

[PearlyWhites]

No it is not silly if they only want boys opinions. My dd3 loves playing with cars but I am not offended that they are not interested in her car playing habits.

[ashesgirl]

Yes it is silly, very silly.

[LinusVanPelt]

I hope you'll come back and let us all know, the next time you see a study or survey from toy manufacturers about girls playing with dinosaur toys, PearlyWhites. Since sexism in the toy industry is such a non-issue.

[BeauNidle]

Of course it is a non -issue. Who had died because of it. The world has gone mad if that is all there is to worry about. I couldn't give a shit whether my DD was playing with a train which was a 'boys' toy or my DS's playing with dolls from the pink aisle of toys r us. I know where to find what I am looking for and that is all I care about. Certainly wouldn't be frothing over who was playing with what as long as it gives me a bit of peace!

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

Pearly then that's your foolishness. There is no reason to only seek the opinion of one sex when both use the product. Oh...apart from sexism.

[SoupDragon]

There is no reason to only seek the opinion of one sex when both use the product. Oh...apart from sexism.

So, would it be sexism if they had asked only for girl's opinions about playing with cars?

[RakeABedOfTyneFilth]

yes I think it would. what would be best (and most robust in terms of evidence gathering) would be questions about what your child thinks about this toy, and then is your child a boy/girl, age 0-3, 4-6, 7-10 etc. Then if they were really only interested in boys 4+, for example, they could strip other groups out at will, without having alienated them in the first place.

[bigkidsdidit]

I think the OP (and the rest of us) are able to worr yabout more than one thing at once

Soup the thing is that would be highly unlikely to happen. THey would ask about your daughters playing with barbies.

[Doobydoo]

I haven't received that email...I am on the panel and have a 6 year old boy...send me the email!

[whiteandyellowiris]

[OliviaMMumsnet]

Hi there
Thanks for your comments here -
We do appreciate where you're coming from but this is the particular group that the client wanted responses from in this instance and we will of course pass on this feedback.
Thanks again
MNHQ