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Original poster

Let toys be toys - Foodbank wants to allocate Christmas gifts based on sex and age

59 replies

ShotsFired · 22/11/2017 06:58

This sounds pretty trivial in the scheme of things currently being discussed on here, but in the spirit of Broken Windows Theory....

My local Foodbank (Trussell affiliated)is organising a Christmas Parcel campaign for local children - basically fill up a small box of Christmas Day. They go on to specify that age and sex should be noted on the outside.

I have FB messaged them, and they have seen it, to point out that the sex marking, in particular, is unnecessary and plays to pointless stereotypes (let toys be toys). Not to mention that if they get a surplus of one sex, do children of the other miss out as it isn't for them? No response.

Am considering chasing by email, with a cc to Trussell to ask for their response/position on this. Am I just wasting my breath? If not, any tips?

OP posts:
scrappydappydoo · 22/11/2017 07:29

Normally I'm with you on this. However they are a charity who are trying to brighten some child's Christmas and my guess is they don't know the recipient otherwise they would tailor it to likes or dislikes. If you feel strongly about it, I would give a non- gendered item and then they can distribute as they see fit.

That1950sMum · 22/11/2017 07:28

Makes sense to me.

Maybe volunteer to help out instead of sending emails criticising how they're doing it?

Tinycitrus · 22/11/2017 07:25

Well it makes sense to me - I’m doing a box got an 11year old girl and that does involve sparkly notebooks, pens, hat, gloves, scarf.

It is a girls hat etc. I don’t think a boy would like it.

FizzyWaterAndElderflower · 22/11/2017 07:21

Some boys might kick off if they got a doll. Others might like it.

Whereas girls that get a doll that they have no interest in can be trusted to keep their disappointment internalised. Good casual sexism there.

FizzyWaterAndElderflower · 22/11/2017 07:20

I understand why they're doing it.

As a kid though, I remember the feeling of getting 'girls' gifts again and again through the years, and having to pretend to be grateful for them, and how it just continuously banged at my inner self to be told that my interests were wrong, to see boys getting stuff that I would have found much more interesting, and I'm sure there are plenty of boys who felt the same way about only getting toy cars as I did about getting baby dolls.

I think that these boxes could be generic - especially since it's a small box, not a big present. Balls, Skipping ropes, pencils, paints, socks, sweets, yoyo etc. ?None of these have to be gendered, plenty of toys that would go in these boxes would be enjoyed by everyone. Why gender unnecessarily.

Original poster
ShotsFired · 22/11/2017 07:15

Age I get, of course.

But I am surprised you both feel gender is "fair enough" when dishing out a small box of treats to children who may not otherwise get anything for Christmas.

Doesn't only (for example) giving dollies to girls just reinforce that all they should be looking at is nursing or caring - not engineering or airline pilot or financier or astronaut? That has repercussions later in life, not least on finances and the very reason Foodbanks exist.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, just genuinely curious as to why this is ok in your opinions. Thank you.

OP posts:
headinhands · 22/11/2017 07:14

I agree op. It would ultimately cause less admin to just have it by age.

Soubriquet · 22/11/2017 07:11

I'm sure it makes it easier all around.

Some boys might kick off if they got a doll. Others might like it.

Less hassle to just do it by sex and age

ShatnersBassoon · 22/11/2017 07:04

This is a tried and tested method of donation allocation, and presumably makes their work quicker and easier. Just let them get on with it without adding to their workload.

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