Hamleys end gender stereotyping

[dogindisguise]

X-posted in Feminist activism - hope that's OK.

Hamleys have changed their signage (although not their layout as far as I know) so toys are no longer labelled as "boy's toys" and "girl's toys".

There's a round-up of links to news articles here.

A small step in the right direction I think.

good

I was in Hamley's a couple of years ago and was so disappointed. I hadn't been since when I was little, and I remembered it as being really wonderous. When we went there was a floor for "boys toys" with all the stuff which did things, and then a floor for "girls toys" which made you feel quite ill as soon as you came up the escalator - the whole thing a violent pink hue and swathes of plastic.

Across the shop as a whole it just felt very bog standard and not very "special" and it was just a shame.

Will look at link now thanks

I like Hamleys, if people do not like it then why shop there. Vote with you wallet. I really hope they do not change the layout. It is quite sad that in a country where nearly two women a week are killed by partners or ex partners, people are using their energy to get the layout of a toyshop changed and calling it progress. If a boy wants to play with a doll he will go to the floors with dolls on.
Adult shops divide their goods into male and female, yet I do not see people challenging next for its sexist and anti-transgender, and anti-transexual womenswear and menswear section. You see plenty of sexy uncomfortable objectifying womens underwear in clothes shops, yet the underwear these same shops stock for men consists of normal shorts, and socks. thats it -where are the g strings for men!!!!! Where is the campaign against this?

Am very happy about it

Can't stand all this pink / blue nonsense

Well done Hamleys. Let's hope other shops follow very soon.

The new in store floor sign looks so much better.

they should start by getting rid of the 'bling' section at the top of the escalators on the girls floor, all that hair crimping and nail varnish, may as well add a tattoo parlour and body piercing

Gender stereotyping ultimately contributes towards a cultural climate which facilitates hostile, misogynistic attitudes.

It is not trivial to campaign against what Hamleys have been doing. Anything which helps reduce unquestioning acceptance of stereotyping will assist with addressing the more obvious and brutal results of sexism against women and foster more options for men to develop healthier, relationships based upon equality.

Anything that proscribes or encourages 'otherness' - i.e girls and boys need different toys and floors, will encourage the translation of what is 'other as different' into what is 'other' in an inferior way.

Regardless of the whole nature V nurture argument regarding what each gender naturally plays with, the opportunity to naturally discover any differences needs to be in place. And Hamley's will hopefully now be more supportive of this.

Pink and blue signs are not what is causing the problem. I should say I might have a different experience from many children as my parents never encouraged me towards one particular set of toys, therefore I played with barbies, and ballet sets as well as toy guns, darth vader dolls, and had a boys bike (it had better colours), and it was never an issue. If parents push their children towards certain toys based on the child's sex, then obviously that is an issue. I think Hamleys have done enough now they no longer label the toys as boys and girls.
Targeting mens magazines, people like Ken Clarke, facebook for allowing pro-hatred groups towards women would be much better. A couple of weeks ago a London university magazine had an article giving tips on rape. The authors claimed they did it for the amusement value and so have not been prosecuted or even spoken to by police for inciting hate crime, have had their identies protected, and have faced no discplinary action from the university. Compare their treatment with that vile woman on the croydon tram. yes she was a vile racist and should face police action, but she was not giving out tips on how to commit racist and violent crimes. Yet whilst the two men who wrote the article have been protected, she is in prison over Christmas with her name and address all over the internet. There should be a campiagn to get incitment of hatred and violence towards people based on their sex treated more seriously rather than just a joke.

I agree Kelly2000 but think there's room to highlight all cases of gender stereotyping/discrimination along the continuum from 'mild' to major'. I campaign and try to consciousness raise wherever I can.

Pink and blue signs might not 'cause' the problem, but how I see it is that if they are not part of the solution, then they are part of the problem. They contribute towards a culture of gender stereotyping which ultimately results in the serious incidents highlighted in your post.

I think the main reason the 'tram woman' is remanded in custody is because of concerns about her safety-threats made against her by all those upstanding people who didn't like her type of verbally violent behaviour.

How Ironic....

Oh I can't wait for all the extra people traffic this will cause...I just might have to avoid the store altogether...

I think this is a stupid waste of time. Kids don't care what department the toys come from so long as you buy them! I read a funny blog about this topic. Made me think about the ridiculous toys I was given as a kid and how they made no difference to the way i turned out. I got a game called 'Snack Shop' where I'd make snacks out of play-doh for 'customers' in my shop. LOL it was so much fun. But alas I never worked in a diner. There are some good points made here blog.diystorytime.com/?p=59