To think mumsnet are helping promote sexist attitudes

[YoniFoolsAndHorses]

Re "girl" and "boy" toys.

I am a 'Mumsnet panelist' and regularly fill in a load of little surveys. I have never win any of the £50 amazon prizes, but actually I have never minded that at all. I can do the little surveys easily on my phone in a few minutes, and I like to think that it's doing my bit to keep mumsnet getting bigger and better.

Until this afternoon.

Until I get a survey about toy cars and trucks to which I would only be elegible to answer if I had a son.

My daughter plays with similar cars and trucks. We know the make involved well. She has fantastic and reasoned opinions on the toys involved too (we tried the survey together - although I didn't submit it - I just answered the first question incorrectly and said she was a boy).

How can this possibly be right that mumsnet is allowing such sexist marketing to continue around 'girl' and 'boy' toys?

.

Ain't that the truth.

This is rubbish. V disappointed that Mumsnet would undermine Let Toys Be Toys by allowing this kind of thing. It sends the message that they tolerate sexism and don't think it is as serious as other forms of discrimination.

Right MNHQ, do you think you have seen enough evidence now, to realise your decision was wrong?
Many people have commented here that they are disappointed in you, please can you re think your policy regarding this, apologise, and be much more careful not to perpetuate sexist stereotypes in the future?

We look forward to seeing your response on this thread.

Not good MNHQ. They're children. Children like toys. Marketing to one gender is wrong (and misses out half the potential customers). This survey should never have got through

MNHQ are silent because they've already been paid! They don't know what to say. They're not going to bloody refund the payment and refuse to carry the thing are they?

No...they'll just hope that the complaints from users peter out. But honestly, MN allowing this twaddle is no different to Debenhams and their awful "Boys Toys" and "Girls Toys" shit.

I think this really highlights the need for greater editorial control over the advertising you take, MNHQ. Or a better briefing of your advertising agency in terms of what is/isn't going to be acceptable.

... what this indicates is that whoever is working on your advertising has little real understanding of what MN is about and the values that are held dear by MN. How could this possibly have been approved/accepted given the campaigns that you have been involved in so far?

Truthfully it's just a handful of posters have posted their annoyance on here. MN couldn't give a shit. It's not like the whole site is in uproar. If that was the case they may listen, but as it is, they're just going to ignore it and wait for it to die down, as neo says.

MNHQ adding my voice too- am a long time lurker so don't often post! As the mother of a little girl who loves playing with toy cars & trucks this touches a nerve though.

Very poor decision MN, it looks worryingly hypocritical. All the sophisticated arguments in the world can't hide that this is indeed everyday sexism. Gonna get it sorted? Irritated feminists have got wide, wide social networks, just saying!

Is anyone from MNHQ going to come on and update? Or should we report the post so that they can see we're still waiting? They do have a lot of posts etc to look at.

Maybe it's because cars and trucks are very rarely the toy of choice for girls? I honestly can't see a problem with this.

Navada WHY are they "very rarely the choice" though? Is it because of YEARS of this type of crap do you think? And you might find, that MANY girls now those with enlightened parents anyway are far more interested in so called "boys toys" these days. Open your mind and work out what's been going on.

I agree the survey should have been open to parents of girls too, but on the whole manufacturers know their core target audience and I suppose only want their views? - it is a difficult one I know.

Says who, navada?

Yes says who? If manufacturers continue to bow down to the "traditional" roles of girls and boys which are demonstrated to them through play, then we'll be in the dark ages for YEARS to come. Things have got worse, not better....at least in marketing they have.

< Putting my self in a manufacturers shoes >

If I were about to market a new doll with pink glittery hair and a selection of rainbow coloured shoes, I would want to hear the views of 6 year old girls, as they'd be my target audience - would I care what little boys thought of my product? I'd know that only 1% of my sales ( if that ) would be attributed to the little boy market.

Navada - because perpetuating sexist myths isn't helping anyone (and is unlikely to make more money because so many parents despise sexism). Plenty of boys like dolls, glitter and pink - they're just put off because of sexist adults.

Where is the harm in the email simply saying that the manufacturer would like opinions from parents of children who enjoy playing with [insert toy here] and including demographic in the questions.

There is a good chance that many of the parents of girls wouldn't respond to the Tonka one but it isn't such an offensive invitation.

VN - that's a whole other debate - Nature v Nurture.

Oddboots - yes, you have summed it up perfectly.

Sorry Navada I disagree... Surely you could target the market research of anything by just having the first question to determine whether product X is relevant. In this case it could simply be 'does your child play with cars and trucks?'. Or in your example above 'does your child like to play with sparkly dolls'. No reason to involve gender at all fondly thinks of dd playing with her favourite spiderman toy. And of ds cooking in play kitchen for hungry troupe of stuffed animals. As the slogan goes, let toys be toys.

Crossed posts with oddboots... Man our internet is slow!

realises unfrtunate turn of phrase

Has there been any further word from Mumsnet on this or the other thread? Have been away for a few days.

They're just decorating their hollowed out volcano lair they bought when they decided to go evil.

Maybe somebody should start a campaign saying that toys shouldn't have a gender attached to them and start by trying to convince Mumsnet that toys should just be toys? (Irony)