I think Mothercare's toy display reinforces outdated gender stereotypes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.

[halfwayupthehill]

Yanbu. I stopped shopping at mothercare once i saw an identical child's bike being marketed in two versions. One with pink all over and pom poms on the handles and a baby carrier and one blue with fire on the trim and a water carrier. I wish they would just do unisex primary colours.

[DziezkoDisco]

I love that add doctrine. Mylovelyboy, I want my kids to play with toys regardless of whether they are boys or girls.

There should be no girl or boy toys, dictated by signs or colours. Just toys.

But by making them pink or blue and segregating them the shops send a very strong message to parents (and kids) that certain toys are more likely to liked by girls or boys. Hence determine what they buy and encourage them to play with.

Toys are usually about playing being grown up, so girls get pigeon holed into caring/mothering/housework/make up boys get construction/vehicles/sport/action. Very limiting.

I don't particularly want my children to think girls or boys and hence men and women have these roles.

Kids tend not too notice these things early on and will choose any old toys but vey quickly most will feel they have to act in a way that is expected of them by society/their parents/their peers.

[Mylovelyboy]

But men and women do have these roles. Is there anything wrong in having these roles? And so what if they do. Is that so bad. Take a step back and look at what you do at home each day. Im sure almost all of you have these roles that you say you don't want your children to have. I think its all very silly to be honest. Dont know what the issue is, been sitting here trying to 'get it' but I just don't.

[Feenie]

I went nuts in there once when I saw a doctor's dress up outfit in the emblazoned BOYS' section and a nurse's one in the GIRLS'.

I was fuming.

They couldn't have cared less, and didn't really have a clue what my point was.

[Coupon]

But men and women do have these roles.

No, they don't. They are not born with them. These things are to do with cultural stereotypes which we can obediently follow - or not.

[Mylovelyboy]

Feenie - Of course they didnt really have a clue what your point was. Because there was no point. Probably made yourself look ridiculous. And to say you were fuming about this? They must of been laughing their heads off when you fumed out of the shop. Anyone for a might calm us all down

[Feenie]

I see - so it's fine for little boys to only want to be doctors, not nurses, and fine for little girls to aspire only to be nurses?

Have you travelled here from the 1950s? The world has moved on.

[Coupon]

I think you understand very well Mylovelyboy. Why not say you disagree, and attempt to provide some valid reasons, instead of pretending not to "get it"?

[Feenie]

There is a word for that kind of posting behaviour. Well, apart from twattish, that is.

[Mylovelyboy]

We are all entitled to our opinions. I have read your posts and just do not agree with what you are saying. Yes shops etc do have Boys/Girls sections in clothes and toys. But my point is this. Does it really matter what a boy or girl plays with. Or whether certain things are in the boys or girls section. Im a working mum. I get home and do all the so called things that you say are stereotypical. Like most mums I do the washing/ironing/cooking etc. Does it matter that your lovely dd is playing with her plastic pink kitchen (like mummy) and your lovely ds is playing with his truck or even if your lovely ds decides to play with a doll. The shops lay stuff out for customers ease. I think you are taking it all to seriously. Please ladies (and i mean this nicely) take a step back and listen to how silly you sound.

[Coupon]

take a step back and listen to how silly you sound.

Why don't you listen to how ignorant and patronising you sound?

[Feenie]

Yes, yes, of course I see what you are saying - it's absolutely fine to reinforce career stereotyping that we are supposed to have moved past decades ago.

If everyone had your attitude, women might never have even got the vote. Jeez.

[Feenie]

And there is only one poster here who sounds silly - and limiting, and archaic.

[DziezkoDisco]

Mylovelyboy - maybe your house has these roles, but mine doent and I sure as hell don't want my kids to aspire to them either. My kids are quite happy to play outside the normal stereotypes because we have made a real effort to not them watch sterotyped TV, or TV with adverts. And speak to them a lot about how girls and boys can do whatever they choose. But still they are influenced by the crap they see around them.

[DziezkoDisco]

i wonder why you do all the housework? Because you want to or because you think it is what is expected of you? More fool you.

[Mylovelyboy]

There is no such thing now days as career sterotyping. Men and women are in working positions that both sexes can do.More so now days than ever before. Men and women can be engineers, directors of companies, scientists, doctors (men can be nurses). Women work on building sites, stock brokers, bankers, van drivers etc etc the list goes on. What I object to is the constant fuss over kids toys. They are children for goodness sake. In a few years time when they become adults the toys they played with as kids will have no effect on their career choices and the way they are whatsoever. Its the parenting and the rubbish they have been fed by those parents that affects them. Not what colour isle the toys in mothercare are in and the colour of the toys. I hope that has answered why i just 'dont get it'

[TheDoctrineOfWho]

Mylovely, any man in your life ever push a pr or boil some pasta? Pretty sure basic survival and parenting skills are required by both sexes...

[Mylovelyboy]

DziezkoDisco - I do everything at home because I am a single mother. So dont say 'more fool me', If i didnt do it then i would be living in a shite pit. Thank you very much. And I work full time as a Director of a Company (which a man or woman could do). Or is that not Gender Correct

[Mylovelyboy]

What is stereotyped TV by the way. What adverts ???