I think Mothercare's toy display reinforces outdated gender stereotypes

[plumrose]

I went in to mothercare recently to buy a present for my friend's first grandchild. I noticed the toys were displayed as 'girls' and 'boys' toys with large signage on the wall above. I could not believe this could be acceptable. I have sent a facebook message to mothercare and the response I got makes it clear they will not pay attention to my one message. Please get out there and either contact this retailer or boycott them until they stop this retrograde and frankly offensive way of displaying their toys.

[ErrolTheDragon]

Because the word boy covers everything.


It's no big deal walking up the boy's toy aisle is it?
Wouldn't be for my DD, but it is for some. And quite a lot of boys would have a problem with choosing something from the girls aisle. And then there's grandparents/other people who default to choosing toys of the 'appropriate' gender.

[HeeHiles]

However, I'm not sure if I was buying a boy's birthday present I would choose a tea set or doll. And yet my son has played with these.

So the marketing has worked on you then hasn't it? Why shouldn't a boy have a tea set and play with his dolls? Why should my dd who loves playing with cars and trains think she is doing something wrong because someone has decided they are boys toys? If all the toys were in primary colours and all together would we be so quick to decide what a boy should play with and what a girl should play with?

One of my dd's favourite toys is her garage, with a petrol pump and lift to fix the cars - but why is it only in the boys aisle? Why only in blue? with blue cars - why not red? or green?

[plumrose]

I think it is enforcing gender differences and too simplistic to say boys and girls are different. PEOPLE are different and to have expectations according to gender as we grow up helps shape the people we become. I do not agree that you can say your teenagers or whatever are fine so this doesn't matter. I work psychologically with people and can assure you that early influences and DO matter and while it may not be apparent these things lead to adapted reactions rather than allowing a person to develop as their genuine selves. It will only be in adult relationships and when they have their own children sometimes that these things surface.

[HeeHiles]

As an aside but following on with the same topic, CBBC make programmes for boys, because girls will watch boys programmes but boys won't watch girls programmes! Can't they just make programmes that suit both? Or are girls not as important as boys in TV land?

[plumrose]

That is the other side of this too that somehow the message is perpetuated that female is inferior.

[glenthebattleostrich]

What really winds me up is that kitchens and cleaning trolleys are in the girls aisle. Yeah, lets teach our daughters that their role is to cook and clean while the boys play with Lego.

I'm a big fan of let toys be toys.

[HeeHiles]

I agree Plumrose

[fromparistoberlin]

mothercare are twats, not even suprised in the slightest TBH

[Coupon]

YANBU. The norm should be to have toys displayed by type, not labelled "boy" or "girl".

[Crowler]

Because the word boy covers everything.

What does "boy" cover?

It takes a pretty unconventional kid to break free of this kind of stereotyping. As in, most won't.

[Coupon]

"too simplistic to say boys and girls are different. PEOPLE are different"

Yes, exactly.

[Davsmum]

They are not forcing you to choose 'girl's' toys for girls or 'boys' toys for boys.
Its not an instruction.

No child will decide not to play with a toy they like just because it has been labelled as the other gender's type of toy!

The display is probably intended as a guide to people - who do, tend to look for certain types of toys for their boy or girl.

[MutantFuckerAndProud]

I'm sorry this is not true.

A very close family member works high up in MC. They arrange their toys by age and activity, not by gender. There is no such thing as a boy toy section and a girl toy section. In the 'lets pretend range' they have multiple colour options in their toys. Blue and pink prams, dolls in blue and pink, blue and pink kitchen accessories, blue and pink garages.

[NewBlueShoesToo]

Yes people are different. But would you say that there are no gender differences in boys and girls?
Obviously it's a scale where we all fit somewhere. Obviously let your children explore all types of toys. My girls play with cars, balls, tools.
However, would you buy a tea set, a pink one, for your lets say 6 year old boy to give to one if his male friends?

Also, for what it's worth, I think boys' toys are so much better than girls', have more scope and open ended play options.
However I still wouldn't

[Crowler]

No child will decide not to play with a toy they like just because it has been labelled as the other gender's type of toy!

Really?

[Chesntoots]

I have been Christmas shopping for my two nephews recently. As part of their presents I bought them some clothes. Great range of colours - blues, greys, browns,reds etc. Went to have a look for a gift for my friends daughter and I have never seen so much twinkly pink shit in all my life!
I haven't got children so never really understood these threads before, but now I know why it boils peoples piss. I was a tomboy growing up. I would rather have walked round in my underwear than dress in one of these pink abominations!
Perhaps some of these toy and clothes companies need sending a Dulux colour chart just to show them there are other options...

[ErrolTheDragon]

I'm sorry this is not true.
are you saying the OP is either lying or delusional?

More likely, this branch has labelled as she states, whether it's MCs corporate policy or not.

[KittyLane1]

people who rage about gender stereotypes, be interesting to know what your kids are called

[ChaosTrulyReigns]

In the 'lets pretendrange'they have multiple colour optionsin their toys. Blue and pink prams,dollsin blue and pink, blue and pink kitchenaccessories,blue and pink garages.

^^Yup, that's multiple.

[MutantFuckerAndProud]

Errol I'm saying it is not true that 'mothercare's toy display reinforces outdated gender stereotypes' which is the title of the thread.

But nice attempt to put words in my mouth :)

[MutantFuckerAndProud]

Ok chaos that was badly phrased on my behalf. Must be all the pink shit I was exposed to as a child.

But the fact remains they display their toys by age and activity NOT by gender.

[plumrose]

MutantFuckerAndProud your relative is wrong. Go into the Brighton branch of Mothercare and you will see 'boys' and 'girls' on the wall in huge lettering with the toys displayed by gender suitibility under each sign. When I had some correspondence Mothercare did not deny this practice.

[HeeHiles]

people who rage about gender stereotypes, be interesting to know what your kids are called

You make a good point - I don't want to reveal my children's names on here but you wouldn't know if they were male or female by their names - I am consistent!