Would anyone like to join in an effort to convince retailers to stop categorizing toys by gender?

[OneHandWavingFree]

Following on from this thread and similar ones, a few of us are interested in discussing ways to send a message to retailers that it is not acceptable to designate 'boys' and 'girls' toy aisles which reinforce the message that science and adventure are "boys stuff", while girls should be primarily occupied with looking 'sexy' or practicing for domestic drudgery.

The first steps might be to draft a letter and identify a few retailers to target for an email campaign. Other ideas of how to get the message across are very welcome too, though.

Would anyone like to join in?

I still like
name: Let Toys be Toys
tagline: for girls and boys

hastag either #lettoysbetoys or #equalplay (we could include the term equal play in the fb page 'about'.)

I do like let toys be toys, because you can then say...

Tell Tesco to let toys be toys
Tell The Entertainer to let toys be toys etc.....

(once we have decided on who are the top targets...)

Was just talking to SIL, we happened to be talking about about pinkification of girls toys / clothes (as we were talking about my impending baby DD, and also SIL shopping for gifts for friends' DCs). She was talking about how she loved playing with lego as a child and was annoyed to find it in the boys section.

So, I told her about the campaign (which she thought sounded great) and asked her what she thought of the names.

To "Equal Play" her instant response was "Yuck!". (Sorry!) I asked her to expand and she wasn't sure why she liked it. I asked "is it because it sounds too feminist?" (so I did prompt her then!) and she said yes, it sounds too militant. She said she could imagine people shouting "What do we want? Equal Play! When do we want it ... etc" which was a negative image for her. She also said the equal didn't make her thing of gender necessarily, it could be race, disability or something else.

She said she likes "Let toys be toys" but she liked "It's a toy thing" best.

If we're still undecided on names, how about people canvas opinion from people you think will be into the idea, but don't necessarily see themselves as feminists / lefty?

Going to ask my flatmate now ...

Flatmate says they're all pretty snappy.

Equal Play is "A bit ambiguous as to what is means"

She likes "Let Toys be Toys" best.

She's least so keen on "It's a toy thing"

Too tired to give reasons why, needs sleep

Should mention, flatmate also supports the campaign but doesn't identify herself as feminist particularly AFAIK.

Although I like Equal Play I'll happily go with one of the others. Let's give it a bit longer to canvas opinion and then just go with the consensus.

Any lurker opinions..?

I prefer its a toy thing but I don't think it works without a longer explanation of "not a girl thing or a boy thing" or whatever. Realistically, in engaging people and for consistent use in different media, you need a campaign idea which single line that stands alone, grabs attention, is positively engaging, and comprehensible. The one that comes closest to meeting these criteria is "let toys be toys". It is also clearly a call to action rather than something which could be mistaken for an advertising strap line, so more consistent with a lobbying campaign.

I haven't read properly all the ideas in the middle of the thread, but can I also suggest a YouTube montage of positive/ negative images or retail/reality would work well with a VoiceOver explaining the campaign?

you can still be let toys be toys and have a hashtag of #itsatoything. with the explanation in your twttier profile about the fb page and the mission.

lettoysbetoys is still only13 characters. itsatoything is 11 characters.

I like It's a Toy Thing, but agree it needs the follow-up (girl/boy) bit to really work, at least until it's been introduced so people know what it's about.

The more you have to explain something, the less effective it is as a communication device. Unless people are already very engaged with it, they won't bother with the explanation, they just won't give it the brain-space

Though of better hashtag for Let Toys be Toys - #LTBT

Also thought of 'Let Kids be Kids' #LKBK (or did someone already suggest that)? But think Let Toys Be Toys is better.

I think I like the word LET because it's not a demand it's kind of relaxed, it suggests giving children the freedom to do their thing. (Also suggested It's a Toy Thing to OH, he still prefers Let Toys be Toys).

Okay, so I think we should give the name thing another day to give LURKERS the chance to weigh in and to give a few frequent posters on this thread a chance to make up their minds! :) Can we say 8pm is the deadline, so that we can give people who might be working a chance to check in, but still launch the thread and the name (if different) on Facebook in time for some evening traffic?

The main contenders are:

Equal Play (possible tagline: Let Toys Be Toys):

Arguments in favour: would make a good hashtag / less ambiguous / short, sharp, to the point.

Arguments against: might put people off by sounding too 'strident' / some ambiguity in regard to whether it's about gender, race, disability, etc. / existing campaign on Facebook, though small and in Australia.

Votes I've counted for Equal Play (please correct me if I've gotten your vote wrong): 5: Goths, Somerset, Grimma, Kinbote, feelathome.

Let Toys Be Toys (tagline, or part of main name: For Girls and Boys):

Arguments in favour: resonates with 'let boys be boys' / less militant sounding / doesn't sound like a 'threatening' ask / it's a direct ask, not just a related phrase / useful phrasing for targeted campaign (i.e. 'Tell Boots to Let Toys Be Toys').

Arguments against: ambiguity - let them be toys as opposed to what? educational tools? etc. / doesn't lend itself as well to a hashtag / might overstate or mis-state the issue - is anyone actually keeping toys from being toys, even if they are being segregated inappropriately?

Votes I've counted for Let Toys Be Toys (again, feel free to correct me): 3: trishawisha, MrsDevere, Himalaya

It's A Toy Thing (tagline, or part of main name: Not a Girl or Boy Thing):

Arguments in favour: When the full name is used, it's the least ambiguous and most to the point / good hashtag / catchy without relying on another phrase (equal pay or let boys be boys) / might appeal to kids themselves.

Arguments against: Loses clarity when full name isn't used, and full name is too long for a hashtag.

Votes I've counted for It's a Toy Thing (correct me as above!): 6: ashes, PuddleJumper, Casey, euphemism, InigoMontoya, OneHand.

aufaniae and RikersBeard - you so effectively argued both sides of the argument for two or more names, that I didn't know where to put you! Let us know!

:o am landing in favour of LTBT

can I count as a vote for Let Toys be Toys please?
(as I made it up )

I am coming back to Let Toys be Toys as well

How about ...

Let Toys Be Toys ? for girls OR boys

We could use the It?s a toy thing (not a girl or boy thing) as part of the marketing text

My main concern with ltbt is, as one hand summarised, as opposed to what?
No one is stopping toys being toys, are they? plus it's got an element of 'things are ok as they are' about it.

Lurkers - please contribute - (I lurked for three years before I posted, is that a record)

If the word 'equal' makes people anxious, how bout really alienating them: stop toy segregation. Now! (not really)

ashes - I like the 'Or' too
TIAE - as opposed to what? For me it's - as opposed to gender specific toys.

For me, it's let toys be toys, something to play with as opposed to something which defines my child as one gender or another. I don't think toys vs learning tools is an issue, since they are the same thing. I can't think of a toy which has no educational value whatsoever.

Its akin to Let girls be girls which works ok, people understand that it means let them be girls as opposed to prematurely sexualised, rather than let them be girls as opposed to boys.

Let's Play Fair

?

Sorry guys!

I've just seen this thread, and I think it's a fab idea. Well done to all the brains behind the idea/s :)

I think I prefer Let Toys be Toys for the same reason as RikersBeard. They are all very catchy and memorable though.

Please do help out and do a survey or two, so we can collect all the data together and be able to say which stores do what, who is worse, who is better etc...

The thread with the relevant links is here

If you want to do the survey more than once you have to clear the cookies on your computer to get a clean version.

Thanks!

I think "it's a toy thing, not a girl thing or a boy thing, but a toy thing" is great and we could use it in a meme or ad of some sort.

But for the campaign name, I vote for "Let Toys be Toys".

"My main concern with ltbt is, as one hand summarised, as opposed to what?"

I saw it as letting them be just toys, rather than girls' toys, or boys' toys.

Someone mentioned a youtube montage (sorry can't see it now), good idea - reminded me of a video I saw, yeeeaaars ago on the subject of gender socialisation which ended with flashing images of kids toys, cards and so on with the words KILL KILL KILL coming up against the boys stuff and CARE CARE CARE coming up with the girls stuff, - there was less emphasis on sexiness for girls back then, (talking about early 90's). Maybe we could do something along those lines as part of this.