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Feminism: Sex & gender discussions

'Let Toys Be Toys' Organising Thread - Part 2

458 replies

OneHandWavingFree · 02/12/2012 12:43

"Let Toys Be Toys - For Girls, and Boys" is a campaign started by a group of Mumsnetters, to convince retailers to categorise their toys by theme or function, rather than gender.

We're inviting everyone to 'like' us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter (@LetToysBeToys) and join us right here for discussion and collaborative decision-making about the next steps of our campaign.

Himalaya has been hard at work compiling the information gathered by our fantastic LTBT Mystery Shoppers, and we will be agreeing right here how the surveys will be ranked, which retailers we will be targetting with our message, and how we will go about it.

If you think that girls and boys should feel free to play with whatever toys that interest them most, and that they shouldn't walk into a toy store and feel pressurised to conform into archaic gender roles and stifling stereotypes, please join in the discussion!

OP posts:
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5madthings · 02/12/2012 12:44

marking the thread so.its in'threads i am on' :)

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nickelbabeuntiladvent · 02/12/2012 12:59

signing in!Grin

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ashesgirl · 02/12/2012 13:00

Marking place. Well done OHWF Smile Reckon here is as good a place as any.

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SirBoobAlot · 02/12/2012 13:01

Can I join please? Didn't want to post on the other one as when I spotted it the thread was nearly full.

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ashesgirl · 02/12/2012 13:03

Of course, SirBoob! Welcome to the group. Smile

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SirBoobAlot · 02/12/2012 13:11

Thank you. My son is currently clomping around in a pair of tacky pink poundland high heels Grin They're his dancing shoes, apparently. The bugger can walk in heels better than I can Wink

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LoopsInHoops · 02/12/2012 13:18

Just noticed on the toys r us website, in the boys' toys section there are options for action figures and vehicles, hobbies and r/c, but these don't feature in the girls options.

Don't girls have hobbies then? Nor like vehicles? FFS Xmas Angry

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LoopsInHoops · 02/12/2012 13:20

Bath, beauty and accessories, and dolls feature on the girls' but not boys.

And don't get me started on this: www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3458567

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WomanlyWoman · 02/12/2012 13:28

Can I ask if anyone sees any related news stories or has good photos, to put them on the fb page or tweet them to @LetToysBeToys. Noticed twitter and fb been quiet over wknd, I know we all have families and RL so would help if as many people got involved as poss.

Who thinks we're ready to get a blog started? I think some of the stories I've seen shared on here and other threads, the ones that really tug at the heart strings, would really build up the case for our campaign - putting them on a blog might be a way to go...?

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LadyKinbote · 02/12/2012 13:43

Hello all Grin

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ashesgirl · 02/12/2012 14:06

Trisha, i cd prob do some social media stuff on the weekends. Would it be poss to log in as ltbt or are we limiting how many have access? No probs if so but wanted to check.

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ashesgirl · 02/12/2012 14:09

And blog wd be great. We could do interview with harrods toy dept since their relaunch as gender neutral? It's been 4 or 5 months now so be good to hear how it has gone for them. Just one idea

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RikersBeard · 02/12/2012 17:26

Signing in!

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WomanlyWoman · 02/12/2012 18:47

I'll pm you the twitter pw ashes, I don't know about limits on access but no-one seems to be around to say otherwise so my best guess is there's no harm in passing it on. I popped on this morning but have some work I really need to get done this eve. This is why I suggested a rota, but I've forgotten who said they'd do what when. Maybe best if we just check in here and volunteer for the night in question.

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WidowWadman · 02/12/2012 18:54

I'm still wondering whether it really is getting worse, or whether I'm just suffering from confirmation bias.

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ashesgirl · 02/12/2012 18:55

Ah just seen this. PM'd you about who's going to be on when.

I'm best for later on in the evening (after 8.30pm) or weekends. Weekdays during the day are difficult for me.

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WithTheDude · 02/12/2012 19:18

Harrods isn't gender neutral. They have taken down the signs which say boy and girl but everything is still blue and pink INCLUDING the clothing staff wear.

John Lewis window display here as boy and girl sides. Boys side has all science and musical instruments.

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Only4theOlympics · 02/12/2012 19:18

I am still waving from the sidelines. If I can be of any help just shout!

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WithTheDude · 02/12/2012 19:19

Between, I noticed you retweeted the Good Men project. They aren't really feminist-friendly; not by a long shot.

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ashesgirl · 02/12/2012 19:23

Withthedude - re: Harrods yes I read that. But it's at least one step in the right direction, isn't it? If not as far as we'd ideally like.

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WithTheDude · 02/12/2012 19:31

I don't think it is though. It's a cheap advertising gimmick rather than actually degendering. They did it to stop people complaining without having to spend the money to do it problem.

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ashesgirl · 02/12/2012 19:42

Ok. I was under the impression that they did spend a lot of money on the redesign of the Toy Kingdom though? I will have another look at what they did.

Also I just want to check here ... but isn't this is what we're asking retailers to do in the first instance? Just to take down the signs as a fairly straightforward start to get things rolling.

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AndIfATenTonTruck · 02/12/2012 20:32

just signing in and marking place

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tougholdbird · 02/12/2012 20:35

Just done the boots in store survey, hope it wasn't too late

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