'Let Toys Be Toys' Organising Thread - Part 2

This is all so depressing! One point on the pink items, however, is that I've bought the pink or blue version of things a few times because it was the only one on the shelf. It's only later I've realised they make another one as well. Some of the worst culprits were a V-Tech electronic book and some magnetic letters. When I realised I'd bought the 'girls' version for DD I felt gutted!

the study i read, had a list pf the toys they used and assigned gender to them. the gender assigned was determined by adults. so the gumball machine was classed as masculine and the phone was classed as feminine.

that's what qe need to do- get toys st are a reasonable colour (ie not pink) and do a survey on what gender those toys are.
then we've got a good starting point.

so:
telephone
cuddly dog (without further function)
box of normal lego bricks
baby doll
teddy
toy kitchen items (not a whole kitchen, but say, a hot plate that makes noises or a settled or a cake oven etc)
shop till
hide n squeak eggs
stacking cups
water pistol
shape sorting
rattle
toy camera
etc

get as many as possible: use photos of the item rather than descriptions
and do vox pops.

Yes anaisb, I do think some parents like it - hard to tell whether it's a response to the pressure or if it comes from parents as the stores claim.
Buying a play piano for dd at elc, the sales assistant said, ooh we have it in pink too. I felt like a doofus saying no, this is fine - it was as though we 'ought' to get the pink if we really cared!

or they were in the shop, but now I'm trying to link to illustrate my point it seems I'm wrong

Great article in the Indie - fab.

Have to say that I can easily believe that lots of shoppers like the segregation though. I was shocked recently to see that "girl versions" of toys (i.e. pink ones) often sell at more than the "gender neutral version" (primary colours). It seems people will pay a premium for gendered toys.

I suspect it's leading questions. Or possibly it is as simple as them asking if people are happy with the current layout without giving them other options? Most people will say yes rather than thinking of alternatives

I'm hugely sceptical that anyone would really want toys to be separated. It's so, so, weird. I wonder how robust their research is - maybe they ask leading questions or something. It seems much more likely that the stores are just tapping into a zeitgeist than responding to genuine customer needs.

Parsing...maybe they use 'market researchers' who don't dare approach those of us scowling and muttering under our breath at inane signage.

Are the customers really saying that in the first place, though? In answer to what question, exactly?

I can't imagine anyone who's had to trawl round half the shop to find the glue under "girls" is going to be particularly enamoured of it.

Here is the link: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/1621810-Help-us-find-out-which-toy-stores-are-best-and-worst-about-pink-blue-segregation

Well done on the initial list aufaniae. It's going to be quite a job distilling that: I'm afraid my twopennorth is limited to saying that I think (3) is important and good as it is.

And to ask if there's anyway we can incorporate into (17) the (anecdotal) reports of shop staff actively challenging children who don't chose the "correct" gendered items, as wth MrsHP's DD's bus? There's an example here, where the staff member actually told a girl to give up her pirate costume to a boy.

Have bumped it so should be in last 15mins or active convos.

There is a thread with the links on, will try and find it and bump.it as i cant do links on my phone.

Sorry if it has been posted somewhere, but to prevent me searching - could you send me a link to the research if it is online, or email it to me. Is it still ongoing?

I agree, great article well done to everyone who has put in all the hard work.

I think the hardest thing will be the combatting 'that is what customers say they want stance'. I don't think it is particularly what parents' shopping want (although there will be some), but more that other people buying for children they don't know very well (relatives, birthday parties etc.) think it is easier.

Nothing annoys me more than purchasing something at my local ELC (latest example a red shape sorting bus) for DD to be asked at the till 'do you want the pink one of that, there is a girls' one you know'! When I have spent hours finding something not in pink as she doesn't like it.

Just seen you in the Indie. Well done, it is a good article.

Have we been.in touch with m&s? Do they have twitter/fb they are a main offender but they are also good at responding to customer complaints.

Yes, although Next is very marginal as a toy retailer - I doubt they put a lot of thought and research into it. I think the bigger battle is with the Supermarkets and Toyshops who will say "this is what our customers say they want"

Yes hopefully that'll encourage the other retailers to see it as a bandwagon that they want to hop onto!

Absolutely fantastic, well done all!

And the success with Next - that's amazing too.

Whoop whoop! We're in the Independent!

And it's pretty positive

AndIfATenTonTruck good food for though, thanks :)

grimma and nickelbabylyinginamanger it's vital, I agree. We're also compiling a list of quotes so this will be well covered there. Does it need to be spelt out as well? Will ponder that ...

Sorry I should have been a bit more clear! The list above is pretty much unedited - it's a collection comments people have made in answer to the question "what's important" and there is a fair bit of overlap.

I posted it as I wanted to ask which you feel are most important / compelling?