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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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

999 replies

OneHandWavingFree · 19/11/2012 00:06

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?

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MurderOfGoths · 28/11/2012 12:22

Right, I've got the Twitter account set up. At the moment it's linked to my email account, but that is easily changed. PM me for password etc. I'm just trying to hook it up to FB right now

MurderOfGoths · 28/11/2012 12:26

Here's the Twitter account

WomanlyWoman · 28/11/2012 12:29

I am the first follower. I shall have to give myself a prize.

LadyKinbote · 28/11/2012 12:54

thisis - I like your image ideas with the car forecourt etc. Another option is men's / women's aisles in a shop.

MurderOfGoths · 28/11/2012 13:10

Right Twitter will now update with any status updates/pictures/links we put on to the FB account.

I'm going to try and get a Twitter feed to appear on FB, but it's playing up a bit right now. Going to give it a few hours and try again, the errors suggest it's a problem on their end.

And I'm going to send a message to the FB pages inbox with the twitter password so anyone who already has FB admin access can get it that way if I'm not online.

I'll also attach a link and log in to a website that is good for synchronising different social media.

MrsMushroom · 28/11/2012 13:18

Oooh well done! Well done! I am so excited about all this!

Where is MNHQ? Will someone be asking them about their joining in? If they want to etc?

OneHandWavingFree · 28/11/2012 13:32

Facebook Content Creators I am at work and on my phone so can't do this myself, but there is a fantastic 'flow chart' on the Toward the Stars page (we've liked the page so should be easy to find) on 'how to tell if a toy is for boys or girls'. Will someone please share it on our page? Thanks :)

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OneHandWavingFree · 28/11/2012 13:33

Mrs Mushroom, feel free to report the thread and ask!

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Thisisaeuphemism · 28/11/2012 13:43

I'm not sure the link from twitter to Facebook in profile is working. Could anyone check?

MrsMushroom · 28/11/2012 14:02

OneHand done!

OneHandWavingFree · 28/11/2012 14:26

Hi TenTonTruck from one of my all time favourite songs I'm sorry if my posts here gave you the impression that the images you've posted aren't welcome! They are, and very much appreciated too :) We really want as much discussion / posts / interest as possible, from as many people as possible, about the issue of gender segregation in toys.

What I meant to convey (and didn't manage to, particularly well) is that the discussion on facebook and on MN is bound to include discussion about the colour pink, about children's clothes, about multiple versions of the same toys being made because it suits the manufacturer if they 'can't' be handed down from big sister to little brother, etc. And it's good that we might prompt those discussions, because it is all related and all equally important.

But in order to not lose our focus on the actual ask we are making on retailers right now, I think that those of us invested enough in the campaign to be organising it on this thread (and that includes you now, TenTon) should be mindful that we keep bringing the discussion back to the labelling of toys (by words, colour coding of shop aisles, and in-store advertising) by retailers, in their shops, on their catalogues, and on their websites.

Only because we've agreed to target that first, not because we want to ignore (or stifle discussion about) the many other ways in which boys and girls are sold the message that their interests should be predetermined by their gender.

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AndIfATenTonTruck · 28/11/2012 14:33

Oh I didn't think it was unwelcome, just wanted to say I was aware it was off-centre!

ok, off to Costco soon. following on twitter later.

5madthings · 28/11/2012 15:41

can we add cadburys to stupid retailers..who are now selling girls/boys selection boxes!! its chocolate ffs when did some choclates become girls and some boys....bangs head on keyboard...

nickelbabeuntiladvent · 28/11/2012 15:49

what!!
that means that my entire family is going to be gender-divided this christmas!
my parents always buy everybody the exact same selection box.
now look what's going to happen. :(

nickelbabeuntiladvent · 28/11/2012 15:49

and it also means sister will have an argument between her tow, as she's got one of each, and of course they're going to want the same.
(and i'll be stuck with DD having a fucking pink one i suppose)

PeggyCarter · 28/11/2012 16:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsMushroom · 28/11/2012 16:12

Boys Selection Box contains Twirl, Picnic, Curly Wurly, Crunchie, Wispa, Double Decker, Dairy Milk.

Girls Selection Box containing dairy milk caramel, buttons, flake, twirl flake, crunchie, wispa and wispa gold.

So cadbury's evidently think that....I dunno'...erm....boys don't like Wispas? Girls can't have curly wurlys because...erm...they're silly?

What the actual?

The girls pack isn't particularly pink...it's got one pale pink star on it....but the contents are different.

MrsMushroom · 28/11/2012 16:14

You'll notice that the boys chocolate is rather more substantial...chunkier type bars like the Picnic and Double Decker....the girls get more airy fairy and less substantial things....wispa, flake, buttons.

HalloweenNameChange · 28/11/2012 16:15

I'd be very curious about the calorie content of both boxes. I suspect the girls box will containty "dainty" chocs and be lower in fat

HalloweenNameChange · 28/11/2012 16:16

xpost mushroom!
Also wern't cadburys the one to come out with the womens choc bar that can be closed for later consumption..because women find one whole candy a but hard to deal with in one sitting Hmm

GrimmaTheNome · 28/11/2012 16:25

They seem to think girls like air more than boys. Nickel, don't panic, I think they still make ungendered normal selection boxes. Though frankly I'd be inclined to switch to another brand.

MrsMushroom · 28/11/2012 16:25

Lol! They've not seen me with a family bar then have they!

MrsMushroom · 28/11/2012 16:26

I've emailed Cadbury's and linked them to this thread and the one in Feminism. The Let Toys be Toys thread.

MrsMushroom · 28/11/2012 16:27

I certainly won't be buying one of those. I'll get them Lindt things instead.

Imagine! Lindt producing a pink reindeer for Christmas...for the gels don't you know!

AndIfATenTonTruck · 28/11/2012 16:42

I have just had an interesting bimble around Costco. Posting results later on fb, here and I might tweet one now... (which will totally out me, but heyho

And I have had an idea for something rather more ... um ... activist. Going to think about it before posting. May go to OTBT just in case the PR companies at some point cotton on to this.