to find this toy disturbing?

[Booboostoo]

DM bought DD (17 months) a happyland fun fair set which was such good fun I was looking through their other toys online for Christmas inspiration when I found this

www.elc.co.uk/HappyLand-Khaleeji-Family/134473,default,pd.html

I really liked the fact that the fun fair set came with little people from all races, but I find this toy disturbing. Aside from the burkas, what's with the men sitting on thrones and the women tending donkeys?

DP is trying to rile me over it, so I have come to MN jury for some sanity.

Cute, I hope my daughter aspires to covering her hair, or perhaps even her face as well?

They arent sitting on thrones - the figures do not bend at the waist and they are standing by chairs.

Those little sets are all about role playing and imagination.

I'm sure by the time the OP has got to grips with it, the female figure will be rogered senseless by the donkey whilst bent over the throne whilst the male figure is off cleaning the bog after working 87 hours a day on a minimum wage to support his wife getting a PHD in some utter low paying gobbeldygook. Thus is the way of MN.

Who has the baby? Why is there no baby? I demand a baby in the whole swene.

Cute, I hope my daughter aspires to covering her hair, or perhaps even her face as well?

You're absolutely ridiculous.

DON'T ORDER THIS TOY!

Because it'll be half price soon - happy land always comes on offer in the last few weeks of November - you'll be kicking yourselves if you miss a bargain!

Just to clarify, I didn't find it offensive, I found it disturbing in a toy. I am perfectly aware that people in other cultures cover themselves head to foot, although I am not entirely convinced that all women in all such cultures really chose to do so. If women in these cultures had equal educational, financial and power opportunities and STILL chose to wear burkas with absolutely no reprisals for making other choices, then I would be happy with this, happy to call it a choice and happy to see it in a toy.

I am not entirely sure what message this toy is sending to young girls which is why I find it disturbing. Play involves identification, imitation, and labelling and that is what is disturbing me about this toy as there is nothing about its portayal of women I would want DD to identify with, imitate or label as appropriate for women.

In some of these cultures women are stoned for rape, should this little house include a pile of stones for easy access stoning?

Not sure what the Daily Maily has to do with a feminist liberal position, but if it has made such a radical shift in its approach I may start reading it!

Btw I see a man and a boy in robes and a woman and a girl in burkas. If my eyes are deceiving me then I am completely off the mark and apologize!

I agree with the OP actually. Yes the figures can be moved, point is for the advertising in order to sell it that's how it's been set up. Both men in front of the thrones and both women with a donkey or hanging round the house. I am not one to look for offence believe me but that bothers me too.

FreakySnuckerCupidStunt- no, you are absolutely ridiculous

Booboostoo - and you are absolutely correct

"In some of these cultures women are stoned for rape, should this little house include a pile of stones for easy access stoning?"

get a fucking grip will you....

I looked at it again and OK yes it's a different culture. But the women aren't any more covered up than the men. Also if you took a nativity scene, Mary is usually holding the baby. And everyone usually has their heads covered. So really I'd just put it down to diversity!!

Surely one of the figures on the chair is a woman (the one without a beard )

I wouldn't buy this, but neither would I find it totally offensive.

OK the way it's set up in the pic is a bit unecessary . Will concede that.

But as for "nothing to aspire to" ? Climbing treehouses, riding ponies, feeing ponies (cake), having a bath, making a cake, sitting down, talking, playing with your brother etc etc. Admittedly whilst wearing dress which you find offensive but which is representative of that culture.

MrsDeVere - I feel the same way about them, am easily offended!

Well, this suggests to me that men and boys like eating cupcakes and having a chat, while women climb trees and go riding.

So all in all, I think it's excellent.

Oh good God, I really did think Mooblies was joking.

People will look anywhere for anything to be offended by, won't they?

It's a fucking toy, FFS. With moveable figures. There's jackshit wrong with it.

Good point GrendelsMum

When the toy is out of the box children can do whatever they want with the pieces.

George pig was driving a car today in my house I am pretty sure that's not the start of some massive misconception about little boys being able to drive!

Stop over thinking it!

And to you, Jamie! Although I have to say burqas don't look the most practical dress for climbing trees and riding. But then if you're a plastic figure without moveable legs or arms, you're probably never going to excel at tree climbing.

MrsDeVere no I haven't see the toy you are referring to, but I wouldn't be too happy about that either. I am not that keen on toys that encourage a stereotypical view of men and women as I do think that if you surround kids with a particular way of thinking it is more difficult for them to break out of it.

The funfair set had little people of all races which seemed very appropriate to me and I just got DD a fantastic builders yard set (both figures working on that set are men now that I think about it) which she should love.

Yes DD is my first child, perhaps I am not as aware of how gender specific toys are as I should be.

More seriously, and with Christmas coming up, do they have a Happyland Asian family, perhaps with people in saris?

Its not a burka...burkas cover the face right over with a mesh 'grille' to see out of.

Sirzy It seems their issue is that the female dolls are wearing Hijabs, le gasp, and that'll make their poor darling dears want to wear one too. Just like allowing their children to play with toys like this will make them want to be disabled.

How can you tell the figures are male/female? If you disregard the clothing as most of us would (Dressing boys in pink/girls in blue) then there really isn't any way of telling the gender of the figures.

Unless you plan to explain to your child that the women are oppressed by the clothing they wear and by some men in certain religions then I really don't see how said child would possibly get a bad image of women thanks to this toy.

Not all Muslim men are abusive and not all Muslim women are forced to wear the Burkha sometimes its personal choice and they're happy with it