'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!

[ParsingFancy]

Yy, MoG, that was just in response to LadyKinbote's comment that we should make explicit that this isn't about stopping boys playing with cars.

Someone's bound to try that line...

[ashesgirl]

Thanks to all those who have sent pics! Will check when home around 7ish.

[MurderOfGoths]

Oh yes, sorry was just trying to make the point that the best response is that we aren't trying to stop little boys playing with cars, but we are trying to make it so little girls feel they can too.

[ashesgirl]

And anymore welcome! Any of girls we can add? Thanks

[ashesgirl]

Sorry, just seen some of you mentioned girl photos too.

[5madthings]

I have uploaded two of ds3 and two iff dd. :) if you wsnt to add me as a fruend and then you can look at all my fb pics and use any you eant ashes?

[feelathome]

I've up loaded a photo of my dd playing football, hope it helps, she is older than most the ones on there, so not sure if its what you are looking for, but please use is it help.

[WomanlyWoman]

Is the petition ready to share now?

[LadyKinbote]

I love all the Facebook photos! feelathome I was just thinking some older children would be good too!
Another thought - do we need to avoid mentioning Mumsnet seeing as it's not an official campaign? Are we just "a group of mums who met online"? I'm assuming we're all mums?

[Lemonsole]

I've uploaded a pic of my DS (6) pushing his favourite Silver Cross dolls' pram. He has short hair and definitely looks very boyish. He's also at school - and beyond the point at which many find it acceptable (hmphhh) for boys to push pushchairs.

[Thisisaeuphemism]

Lady K, I guess 'parents online' would be better than Mums?

When the media release is ready, we can send it out to areas where campaigners are, so for example, Radio Norwich? or West Sussex? so we can really give the impression of being a really nationwide campaign.

We would need a kind of crib sheet of things likely to be asked and best wording. I imagine, we'll learn a lot from tomorrow's show...

[ConsiderCasey]

I'm sure that one of the questions will be accusing our campaign of being overly PC and not recognising the natural differences in boys and girls.

Also, another would be that we are trying to force boys into playing with dolls which of course it's not about.

[LadyKinbote]

Thisis you're right, parents sounds better. Less militant feminist and conversely also less twee!

[OneHandWavingFree]

Yes I think it's much more likely that we'll be asked "what's wrong with pink and princesses for girls?" as opposed to "what's wrong with boys playing with cars?".

And I think that might be a challenge, not to get drawn into a general discussion on pinkification, the whole princess thing, etc., because while those are related concerns, they are not the focus of this particular campaign and we don't want our message to be lost in a to-and-fro about whether it's okay for girls to want to be princesses.

The emphasis for us needs to remain on the implicit (by colour coding etc) and explicit (by bloody great signs saying "FOR BOYS") ways in which retailers take it upon themselves to decide which toys are acceptable for our sons and daughters to play with.

[5madthings]

Yes we need to get across the idea that we are not anti-pink ir anti.or pro any colour or toy but that we want them marketed in a way that isnt gender specific. Pink is fine and not just for girls.

[feelathome]

I'm happy to be a point of contact for my local press/radio in south Hampshire, but not to actually be on tv or radio. I can send press releases etc and help writing them if its needed.

[LadyKinbote]

I think something along the lines of "yes it's lovely to see a little girl wearing pink and playing with dolls, but if she also likes trains or her brother wants a go with the dolls, then that's fine too! It's simply a case of letting children choose what they want in the shop and not feel anything's off-limits."

[WomanlyWoman]

This is the thing, people seem think it's about trying to dictate choice but actually we're trying to widen the choices, not limit them. It's about freedom.

[AndIfATenTonTruck]

I'm on the edge of London/Watford and happy to be on the media team but I work ft office hours.

Happy for you to use any of my pics on fb (pm me to triangulate who I am irl!)

[AndIfATenTonTruck]

Have we had any response from MNHQ about this? Just in case bbc brekkie ask how the campaign started, wouldn't wish to take the mumsnet brand out of its comfort zone. Although I would be baffled if they didn't align, given their let girls be girls and pink stinks collaborations.

Typing one handed pinned to sofa by exhausted DS btw

[5madthings]

Maybe we can message mnhq even if its just by reporting the thread to point them in tbis direction? also would be good if they shared the campaign on fb and twitter.

[ConsiderCasey]

It would be great if we had a bit of a twitter storm at 7.40 tomorrow sending messages of agreement to BBC breakfast.

[ConsiderCasey]

It's a bit worrying that MNHQ haven't responded. I suppose we have to make sure it's not a mumsnet campaign but one that started here.