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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be annoyed by this on the early learning centre website...

147 replies

dreamylady · 01/12/2009 21:43

"For the little princess in the family we have great feminine outfits like Butterfly Fairy, Sleeping Beauty, Ballerina and Nurse's uniform. Why not add a medical case for that extra touch of authenticity.

The boys are catered for too, with great Doctor, Policeman & Fireman uniforms, not to mention fantastic Pirate and Knight costumes. All these can be combined with a range of accessories so your child will really look the part."

Here's the page: www.elc.co.uk/toys/dressing-up-roleplay/dressing-up-outfits/?filter=filter&category=604

gr r!! I've already written them an email to complain, but I wondered what the general mumsnetter concensus would be?

OP posts:

MilaMae · 02/12/2009 17:51

I don't think they're spending much on research though.

They hardly bring out anything new now just the same old toys but pink. Must be saving them thousands.

If you look through the catalogue there is very little that is ELC branded that wasn't there pre- Mothercare.

Nefertari · 02/12/2009 18:00

The pink for girls and blue for boys is actually a recent thing. In the early part of the 20th century, it was the other way around, on the grounds that pink was a light red and therefore an "aggressive" colour, and blue was a nice, calming female influence.

I am sick of seeing pink things aimed at girls, and I'm weaning my dd off the colour. She still says it's her favourite, but I have managed to persuade her that other colours, esp turquoise, suit her just as much.

ll1970 · 02/12/2009 18:08

Look atthis exploring page on the elc website

I literally meant pink globe - not pink vs blue "world".

Chaotica · 02/12/2009 18:19

Just had this reply in response to my email to elc last night...

Dear Dr Chaotica,
Thank you for your recent email.
It's not our intention to promote stereotyping or sexism, especially to young, possibly impressionable children so I can only apologise that you feel this is the case with our dressing up outfits.
We feel we offer the best possible range of products and offer our customers the widest range of choice available. ()

Kind regards
(Name omitted)
Early Learning Centre
Internet Customer Services

I am although not in the least surprised at the lack of a satisfactory answer. If it's not their intention, then why do they bloody do it? (And I actually asked the question about their toys in general. Have sent a response, but I can't imagine that they'll deign to reply.

Chaotica · 02/12/2009 18:20

Noooooo! I just saw the pink globe

ImSoNotTelling · 02/12/2009 18:20

That page shows up something odd though.

To me the items on it are either unisex, or pink.

So geen things for all the girls and boys. And pink stuff for the princesses, as if they are a different breed.

NancyDrewRocks · 02/12/2009 18:52

lucy Ok I hadn't actually seen the pink globe so your argument now makes more sense but (sorry carry on dancing!) I really can't get overly stirred up over the issue.

The globe is merely a pictorial representation of the earth and whilst a "conventional" globe is obviously more accurtate than the pink neither is literally so. I could draw similar parallels with the cartoon-esq world map that my DC's have pn their playroom wall: it is not geographically accurate but it engages them. If something encourages learning in a child by making something more accessible to them then I'm not going to get my knickers in a twist.

CarryOnDancing · 02/12/2009 18:57

If you click on 'boys' on the left though, the pink items are still listed. Has this always been the case?
Surely this somewhat removes some of the frustration? Although no boy is shown holding the pink binoculars and a boy is next to the standard globe, whilst a girls next to the pink one.

Have they modified this after recent pressure?

Sputnik · 02/12/2009 19:35

Totally useless reply you got there Chaotica.

If they're not intending to promote stereotyping why did they have to divide the dressing up costumes into these 2 categories in the first place? Why not just list the costumes? And the nurse/doctor thing is inexcusable.

Original poster

dreamylady · 02/12/2009 19:43

ooh glad to see I'm not alone on this one -

...and sputnik every time I see that phrase 'add a medical case for that extra touch of authenticity' i get a rush of blood to the head, which spurs me on again!

OP posts:

LittleSilver · 02/12/2009 20:07

ELC full of plastic tat, never shop there. I have just e-mailed them re that dated bit of copy.

thisisyesterday · 02/12/2009 20:10

OP, i wholeheartedly agree, come join my facebook group

ELC stop stereotyping my children!

thisisyesterday · 02/12/2009 20:12

the reason they do it is money.

you have a child of each sex and a lot of people will buy each colour toy.
esp if you've had a girl first and got all pink stuff, then if you have a boy you go and get it again but in a boy colour.

ridiculous.

PerArduaAdSolInvictus · 02/12/2009 20:40

Completely agree with the OP. My grandmother used to advocate ELC when it was gender-neutral, and mostly wooden stuff which lasted - she'd ask us to get things for my (very low-functioning) Uncle. She'd spin in her grave if she saw it today. I have to admit I've been in the local store 3 times altogether since DS was born - only once did I come out with something I was happy with. Too much tat, too much plastic, and TOO MUCH PINK.

elkiedee · 03/12/2009 01:05

My mum thinks that the split has really increased since she had children, though she did get people assuming I was a boy when I was dressed in blue as a baby. It is depressing, and I remember ELC seeming different when I was a teenager and my much younger brother and sister were small.

Chrysanthemum5 · 03/12/2009 11:42

Chaotica I complained as well, got a slightly longer but similar response to you.
"Dear C5,
Thank you for your recent email.

We take on board your specific comments regarding girls and boys being portrayed through our toys. It's very important for us to achieve a balance, we agree that girls should be encouraged to develop an interest in construction, science and engineering and that it is equally important for boys to be given positive, caring messages as well as action and activity messages.

I'm sorry that you feel that we have failed to meet your expectations with our product range. Please be assured that your comments have been passed to the relevant departments for their information and consideration during the next product review."

Have written back to expand on my thoughts!

nannynobnobs · 03/12/2009 14:24

I have managed to vigorously avoid the whole 'pink princess' thing with my dds so far. They both like train sets, construction trucks and scientific kits as much as baby dolls, dressing up and teasets.
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I was looking through a well- known mail order catalogue full of christmas tat. The boys had a storage stool that opened out into a town, with road tracks, cars, buildings etc.
The girls one folded out into...
A kitchen sink, complete with plastic plates, cups and cutlery to wash. Bliss for all small girls eh!! Jeezy creezy.

PfftTheMagicDragon · 03/12/2009 14:28

I would ask for examples on how they encourage such things....

stillfrazzled · 03/12/2009 15:57

I complained too, and have heard nothing back. Is well over 24 hours now, so much for their claim...

Original poster

dreamylady · 07/12/2009 23:36

Here's my second response (the first was too bland to bother repeating here, so I emailed again to ask them to try harder)

^At the Early Learning Centre we believe in helping children to be all they can be, to be happy and confident individuals.

We offer anyone who wants to buy toys so much to choose from that no one should feel disappointed when they walk into our stores.

We have a huge range of toys in an assortment of colours. Customers can choose a red kitchen, a blue kitchen, a blue cash register, a yellow dolls house or a gorgeous multi-coloured farm.

Our photography features boys ironing, girls playing with space aliens, boys playing with dolls, boys cooking and pushing buggies, girls building and playing with remote control insects.

We strive to offer our customers a vast and varied range and we constantly review our packaging, catalogue, website and marketing messages.

I hope we have been able to reassure you of the diversity and choice provided by our toy ranges, irrespective of the child?s gender or age.^

err no you haven't, so i've written back again referring you again to the words I cut and pasted from your website.

look forward to hearing from you again elc...

OP posts:

Original poster

dreamylady · 07/12/2009 23:37

feckin' italics didn't work sorry

OP posts:

MIFLAW · 08/12/2009 00:34

The whole thing is depressing and hideous. YANBU. Hate it, hate it, hate it. My daughter deserves better.

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