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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to find the latest ELC catalogue offensive.

99 replies

nannyn · 02/10/2010 08:49

Got the lastest ELC catalogue through the door yesterday. Was really shocked by the gender stereotyping, it's totally ott.

Since when did a garage have to be pink for a girl to play with it? Why is the lovely play house which used to be wooden now bright pink?

I know some girls at a certain age go through 'pink' phases but these are toys for younger children. I would quite happily buy pink for a boy but would everyone?

There are so many colours that are neutral why can't they use these.

OP posts:
Nellykats · 02/10/2010 14:56

excellent points cory

Nellykats · 02/10/2010 14:58

same to sethstarkaddersmum

mummynoseynora · 02/10/2010 15:05

I am confused... having seen ELC's latest catalogue I thought it was much better than the last one! Less gender stereo typing, more girls dressed up in 'boy' things - like the pirate outfit, and more gender neutral colours

for a while it was all pink for girl, blue for boy - but now there is a lot of neutral stuff... also available in pink - which is obviously a big seller for them... can't you just get the neutral one ?! I don't see it as neutral for a boy now - its just neutral... or pink if you'd rather

I also don't see anything wrong with girls having pink things if they like them... we were very keen to ensure DD wasn't ALL about pink when she was small- she's now 3.9 and chooses all sorts - with a big heaping of pink involved, but not always... she's not a dainty girly girl - but she does love swooshy dresses and pretty pink things sometimes - is that not most girls?!

Nellykats · 02/10/2010 15:27

the division between "girls" and "dainty girls that like pink" is not something out of nature, it's a choice that we make for them.

Original poster
nannyn · 02/10/2010 18:02

Just come back in, some very valid points being made. This was never about being anti pink it was about the un-necessary pink versions of things and the stereo typing of some toys.
I remember how the range used to be & it made me quite sad that things seem to be going backwards with regards to equality.

No one is suggesting that liking pink makes you an air head, I like pink as much as any colour, but it is just one colour.
I will be contacting ELC to express my disappointment & not shopping there.

OP posts:
prozacfairy · 02/10/2010 18:09

Pink sells though doesn't it? I used to work in a toy store and lost count the number of times parents said "oh it's great, just what she wants but does it come in pink?"

Very annoying but that is what alot of parents seem to want. My DD loves pink even though I have tried to steer her away from having everything in pink. It seems to have worked in that she has the ELC kitchen, till and painting easel in blue rather than pink. Thank god. I like pink but not that much.

prozacfairy · 02/10/2010 18:16

And nannyn I totally agree that there is alot of unnecessary pink items that weren't available couple of years ago.

The dressing up section used to annoy me loads (still does) in that all the girls clothes were princesses, fairies etc all decked out in pink. There is also a vet outfit in pink and ofcourse the nurse.

The boys section looked more fun: Pirates, Police officers, fire fighters, doctors, knights, astronauts. Yet there was no male nurse outfit even though I've met many male nurses Hmm Mind you even if the made a girl doctor outfit it'd be in pink...

Original poster
nannyn · 02/10/2010 18:33

You can contact ELC via the website, click on the contact us button. I have done, they promise to respond in 24 hrs so I'll let you know what they say.

OP posts:
FeelLikeTweedleDee · 02/10/2010 18:34

A lovely BLUE cleaning trolly.

(lol @ the price)

Mumcentreplus · 02/10/2010 18:48
Hmm
zukiecat · 02/10/2010 18:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mumcentreplus · 02/10/2010 18:57

If you dont like it dont buy it...my girls like pink..red..blue ..purple... black..

champagnesupernova · 02/10/2010 19:10

It's also surely so that they can sell things twice
If you have a DD first and you buy pink duplo then you have a DS, you're going to buy another set most likely aren't you?
Similarly if you buy a Pink Kitchen or whatever.

mummynoseynora · 02/10/2010 19:22

I must be one of those EVIL mums who contribute to this whole saga then - DD has the easel and till in pink, however the kitchen in blue and many other things in the gender neutral colours.... I don't personally see a huge distinction - whichever looks nicest to her is the one that will be bought in the end Confused

tyler80 · 02/10/2010 19:38

The pink thing is something that manufacturers carry on into adulthood.

The number of outdoor clothing manufacturers that make all the womens versions in pink, lilac or baby blue is astounding. I'm going outside to get wet and possibly muddy, I want something that's going to hide the dirt not be completely impractical.

At least with toys you have the option of another version a lot of the time, ditto childrens clothes, unfortunately mens stuff doesn't fit me most of the time.

I can only imagine it'll get worse in years to come with the pink for girls being drummed into the current generation.

(Disclaimer: I don't actual mind some pinks, dusky pink or hot pink, just not pastels. Just doesn't suit me, and not in outdoor clothing)

Dancergirl · 02/10/2010 20:34

'Disclaimer: I don't actual mind some pinks, dusky pink or hot pink, just not pastels'

Grin

You should suggest to ELC that they start making toys in dusky pink.

Tori27 · 02/10/2010 20:43

I have 1 DD who is 2 1/2 - we bought her a garage for her 1st birthday, which she loves. We, however, chose the bright coloured one not the pink one - how can children learn colours if everything they own is pink!? I guess it must sell.

Don't get me wrong, DD does love pink but she also loves yellow etc!

sweetkitty · 02/10/2010 20:45

I have one pink loving DD and one who was disgusted with the new catalogue until she found the dinosaurs at the back, she hates pink with a passion.

DD3 is yet to have a preference but the sandpit I bought her for her birthday is red and yellow (they did have a pink version?!)

chandellina · 02/10/2010 20:56

of course it matters and is not "just a colour." girls are made to feel freakish or at best rebellious if they don't wear pink!

lovechoc · 02/10/2010 20:59

we don't shop in ELC - too expensive. Considering you can buy similar toys in a supermarket these days for a fraction of the price...well, almost!

BuntyPenfold · 02/10/2010 21:57

I recommend the Myriad online shop for well-made natural toys, lovely puzzles and building blocks. A very non-pink shop.

onceamai · 02/10/2010 22:16

What's wrong with pink? What's wrong with being feminine? If you don't like it, don't buy it; if you do like it then buy it.

mrsgordonfreeman · 02/10/2010 22:32

I looked at the catalogue last night. Like Sainsburys, the girl is a nurse in a dress and the boy is a doctor.

Silly really as last time I was in hospital I was seen by a male nurse and a lady doctor.

You can get nurse outfits for boys but not, unsurprisingly, from elc.

I don't want to buy toys in knicker pink.

greenbananas · 02/10/2010 22:58

I've just bought DS (sged 2) a pink play pushchair with his birthday money. He loves it Grin It was only £6.99 and the non-pink alternative was £24.99.

It bugs me hugely that most children's clothes shops have at least 3 aisles of bright girly-pink clothes saying "I'm Daddy's little princess" for every row of dull khakhi, blue and orange boys' clothes saying "I'm a little monster".

Pink is vile, especially if you have red hair. Telling all girls they must like pink is very, very wrong - on so many levels!!

sethstarkaddersmum · 02/10/2010 23:02

my little boy looks gorgeous in pink - he has the perfect blond haired, blue-eyed colouring for it. Smile

(Not my fault everyone thinks he's a girl, is it?)