'Let Toys Be Toys' Organising Thread - Part 2

[OneHandWavingFree]

"Let Toys Be Toys - For Girls, and Boys" is a campaign started by a group of Mumsnetters, to convince retailers to categorise their toys by theme or function, rather than gender.

We're inviting everyone to 'like' us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter (@LetToysBeToys) and join us right here for discussion and collaborative decision-making about the next steps of our campaign.

Himalaya has been hard at work compiling the information gathered by our fantastic LTBT Mystery Shoppers, and we will be agreeing right here how the surveys will be ranked, which retailers we will be targetting with our message, and how we will go about it.

If you think that girls and boys should feel free to play with whatever toys that interest them most, and that they shouldn't walk into a toy store and feel pressurised to conform into archaic gender roles and stifling stereotypes, please join in the discussion!

[nickelbabylyinginamanger]

OHWF - that's not a problem: what happens is that a Tweet goes out "i posted.... photos on facebook" and then a link to the album. so then followers can click the link and see what it's all about.
they're used to that happening like that, so don't worry!

[WomanlyWoman]

survey links:

high street stores

online and catalogues

[nickelbabylyinginamanger]

withthedude - i agree re: Harrod's - it isn't gender neutral at all.
when you look at the displays, the themes are still very obviously boys versus girls, and yes, the staff wear pink for ladies and blue for men, even though they say "they're just nice colours" - funny that "green" or "purple" or "red" or "yellow" didn't feature in that, then...

[nickelbabylyinginamanger]

yes, thank you,. feeling better :)
still very tired and rundown, but not sick , so that's an improvement!

[ashesgirl]

BBC Breakfast are getting in touch with us

[LaGuerta]

Just spotted this thread.

THANK-YOU

I have been grumbling about this ever since I became a mother.

[AndIfATenTonTruck]

oh wow ashes!!! superb!

[nickelbabylyinginamanger]

LaGuerat - it was one of the reasons I didn't find out what sex DD was - refused to gender stereotype the baby before it was even born!

[nickelbabylyinginamanger]

LaGuerta even (one-handed typing)

[nickelbabylyinginamanger]

see, i thought it was an American thing (by your original thread OHWF)
this is an american store

[MurderOfGoths]

Hey everyone, I'm about. Sorry to vanish. DS's hospital appointment was just for an allergy test, so nothing worrying. Unfortunately DH and I suffer with mental health problems and have been struggling the last few days.

[BiscuitCrumbsInBed]

This is brilliant - toys being listed for 'boys' or 'girls' online or in shops really gets on my nerves. Very impressed that people are doing something about it - thank you!

[nickelbabylyinginamanger]

hope you're feeling a bit more positive now Goth
(only if DS doesn't have hayfever, in which case i retract the and proffer and instead)

[Himalaya]

Ah, finally found the new thread. I thought it had all gone quiet

[UptoapointLordCopper]

Hello! Just saw this. Are we still doing surveys? Do I just fill in the form? Can I do online shop?

[nickelbabylyinginamanger]

yup, still doing surveys.

there's a list of needs and don't needs up the thread ^
(by ConsiderCasey)

yes, just fill in the form as it says - if you do more than one you have to clear your cookies to be allowed back in.

[Arkady]

I got all keen to post pictures of DS1 playing with his selection of domestic drudgery toys, tea sets, baking etc. Then I remembered that it would be no help at all as he's got long hair and gets taken for a girl all the time. Arse.
Will look round more see if I can find some of his mashups - trains having tea parties, cuddly toys in pushchairs holding a digger etc.

[Arkady]

Will try to do survey for local independent department store tomorrow to give it credit for actually getting it right. No signs anywhere, everything by theme.
Will depend on everyone stopping bloody vomiting though, so can't promise.

[Himalaya]

Yes please more surveys. I am working on the data crunching but can add more data as it comes it. It helps if we have a few responses for each store, so the average is more reliable.

[nickelbabylyinginamanger]

does he look more boylike if his hair is tied back?

[Himalaya]

So......

Unless something much more newsworthy happens in the next 24hours we are going to be on BBC Breakfast tomorrow morning.

We have an informal 'media swat' team of onehandwavingfree, ashesgirl, Aufaniae, MurderofGoths and me....and one of us will be on the telly.

There may be more media requests after that (I think there is a sweet spot between the Swedish catalogue story and xmas - and we have to go for it now, even if we are not quite ready...)

Anyone else who wants to join the media team put your hand up!

[nickelbabylyinginamanger]

blimey!

[MurderOfGoths]

I'd volunteer except I'm in Buckinghamshire and have bright green hair. Not going to help us look less radical really