Let Toys Be Toys has fallen

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'Jamie’ by @ollypike: “There certainly aren't many books for younger children about transgender identities & this one is told very gently & sensitively” For a range of children’s books with transgender themes see...
https://twitter.com/lettoysbetoys/status/1112454995000131584?s=21

What's the issue here? I assume the language of the book is age appropriate. Or do you object to the fact that gender identity is being discussed even with young children?

As a teacher I have seen many children struggle with their gender identity. It is good that people are talking about it. Whether you agree with it or not it is happening in real life and just because you perhaps feel confident in your gender doesn't mean everyone is.

There are books about issues like divorce and bereavement out there for kids, why not gender identity too?

I genuinely think some people don't grasp the relationship between stereotyping and transgender. And how the latter is entirely dependent upon the former.

It's all part and parcel of pretending transgenderism is about non conformity and/or about LGB(T) rights.

But I never thought let toys be toys didn't get it!

Perhaps an intern has control of their twitter.

There is no such thing as innate 'gender identity'. It's entirely dependent upon inhabiting a stereotype.

The refutation of which, is what this company is founded on.

Bathtime

The company actively campaign to challenging gender stereotypes in childhood. It's right there at the top of their twitter.

So it's odd for them to promote a book talking about 'gender identity' in childhood.

That was really rather beautifully put, Datun.

Maya Forstater, who founded Let Toys Be Toys, is very upset (and rightly so)

I have seen many children struggle with their gender identity
Do you mean they struggle to conform to stereotypes expected of their sex ie male or female ? Many children do. They are simply gender non conforming- not trans.

and just because you perhaps feel confident in your gender doesn't mean everyone is.

I don't have a "gender". I have a sex. Gender is simply sex role stereotypes and societal expectations based on them. It's fine to be "gender non conforming". That's what we need to teach children, not that it's possible to change sex.

I'm surprised that a teacher thinks that toys have a gender, or that a child will be automatically drawn to a doll or dinosaur because of their innate gender identity.

All that has happened is they are playing with a toy, its the adults around them that read secret meaning into it.

I genuinely think some people don't grasp the relationship between stereotyping and transgender. And how the latter is entirely dependent upon the former.

Oh yes.

If anyone dares tell my (small) DD that liking football is a sure sign of being a boy, there will be trouble. And I don't care how many @Bathtime17 type people pull the Dolores Umbridge routine about it.

OK, I'm finding Bathtime's post eye-opening.

I'm not having a pop, Bathtime, but I'd be really interested to know where you're coming from. What do you imagine is the purpose of "Let Toys Be Toys"?

Or is it mysterious and you can't see why the company exists?

Especially as in the US liking "soccer" is an innate sign for a boy of being a girl. It's utter nonsense.

Its April the first, I hope this isn't an ill judged April fools prank.

What's the issue here? I assume the language of the book is age appropriate. Or do you object to the fact that gender identity is being discussed even with young children?

How would that go? Seriously?

Hallo Hannah, you don't feel like you're a girl?

Why?

Because...???

What could possibly be the answer ?

Especially as in the US liking "soccer" is an innate sign for a boy of being a girl. It's utter nonsense.

Good point! I hadn't thought of that.

This happened yesterday though the post is from 2013.

Ironically it doesn't mention identities and the later transitioning TW author doesn't say "that's how I knew" because of the toy preference.

Datun put it perfectly.

This identity stuff has evolved from queer theory. Queer theory was just theory and not even one everyone took any notice of.

It's become a tangible reality, a cult, just like flat earth theory, (but many truly believe it) but one that's ultimately very damaging to perpetuate for children.

Let tots be toys.

Let children be children.

Let toys be toys fb post 31st March www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3547843-let-toys-be-toys-fb-post-31st-march

^this happened.

Let toys be toys that should say.

My own tot is taking half of my mind

They never come back do they? Every time I hope for an explanation but it’s never forthcoming

As a teacher I have seen many children struggle with their gender identity.

No you haven't. Nobody has a gender identity any more than they have a soul. It's a religious belief. I sincerely hope you are not helping to induce dysphoria in children by teaching them that they could be born in the wrong body.

Olly Pike's videos should not be promoted by anybody wishing to be responsible about children. When those with influence do that, they lead parents to believe the Pop'n'Olly YouTube channel is safe for their children. It contains a video encouraging children of primary school age to fill out the GRA consultation using lobby group template answers (Stonewall).

The consultation might well be done but, as a parent, I would be horrified to discover that my kids had been encouraged by anyone to visit a YouTube channel for children that saw nothing wrong with them sending in pre-written answers to a government consultation (an adult activity) with those answers supplied by a highly politicised lobby group.

Because they haven't thought it through, or aren't willing to.

I'd be banned for saying what I see in that video, Lang.

Was it the women and equalities commission which tweeted a link to pop n olly's awful (and factually incorrect) video about intersex?

I've been a teacher since 2001.

I've not seen any children struggle with their gender identity; I've seen two struggle with the narrow constraints that society puts on children through heavily gendered toys and clothes and colours.

And one I knew at school who wished he was a girl so he could play in the home corner without being bullied.

One child I taught was seen by the Tavistock. No dysphoria. Just 'gender non conforming' (and autistic.) it was an extremely clear progression from liking pink stuff and long hair, to upset he "wasn't allowed" (was at home just not at school- but then made me query why the girls uniforms had to be quite so frilly etc) to being told by an older teen sibling (or their mates) he was clearly born in the wrong body.

All the upset was the stuff. The clothes. The colours being "gendered."

Gendered toys creates gendered minds.

(Literally; girls perform lower in geometry than boys when exposed to less 'boys' toys like construction, Lego etc.)

As a teacher I have seen many children struggle with their gender identity the limiting and damaging sex stereotypes forced on them.

Fixed your post. You're welcome.