Tesco removes gender-specific toy sections after little girl complains - Polidicks

[QUOTE=Fatfatfatty;46573356]Saddening that the tumblr level SJW-isms are reaching children[/QUOTE] Same about the quality of posting *cough*

[QUOTE=Snickerdoodle;46573908]Once again, only because gender roles are already so ingrained into society.[/QUOTE] But they've done experiments with monkeys that shows these preferences: [url]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2583786/[/url] Plus toddlers tend to show such preferences too early in development, so it can't all be socially constructed.

[QUOTE=Deng;46573955]But they've done experiments with monkeys that shows these preferences: [url]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2583786/[/url] Plus toddlers tend to show such preferences too early in development, so it can't all be socially constructed.[/QUOTE] It's important to keep in mind that what may be true on average won't necessarily hold for an individual. Attempting to treat individuals as if they must fit the average is what causes all sorts of social problems.

I've never seen people get this mad over toy aisles.

[QUOTE=Thy Reaper;46573974]It's important to keep in mind that what may be true on average won't necessarily hold for an individual. Attempting to treat individuals as if they must fit the average is what causes all sorts of social problems.[/QUOTE] Well if what the experiment says is true, then boys and girls will prefer different toys. So all the parent has to do is get a toy their child desires.

[QUOTE=Deng;46574003]Well if what the experiment says is true, then boys and girls will prefer different toys. So all the parent has to do is get a toy their child desires.[/QUOTE] Sure, but this whole thread is how a child's perception of what is expected of them can impact how they decide to act. Labeling toys as for boys/girls should be unnecessary. However, when it's done anyway, it tells boys they should be getting [I]boy[/I] toys, and girls [I]girl[/I] toys, even when the distinction is arbitrary. Then, years later, you have those same boys and girls - now grown up - arguing on the internet that the distinction is perfectly reasonable.

[QUOTE=Deng;46574003]Well if what the experiment says is true, then boys and girls will prefer different toys. So all the parent has to do is get a toy their child desires.[/QUOTE] Nobody's saying you should force your child to get something that opposes gender rules, they're just saying that if your daughter reaches for a lego set don't slap her hand away and make her get a doll.

[QUOTE=Elspin;46574053]Nobody's saying you should force your child to get something that opposes gender rules, they're just saying that if your daughter reaches for a lego set don't slap her hand away and make her get a doll.[/QUOTE] To be honest does this happen? Actually curious because I assume this is the sort of thing good parents don't do. I mean by this point in time if a girl wants a lego set or a toy spaceship her parents are hardly going to deny that wish and demand she get a doll instead.

tbh I think you guys are overreacting the influence of toys

[QUOTE=Megadave;46573810]Another thing I greatly dislike is how they label a gender a certain "colour", like how everyone bitches if a boy wears pink.[/QUOTE] Know what's kind of funny? It used to be the other way around. Pink, red, and other warm colours used to be for boys. While cool colours like blue green etc. were for girls. [QUOTE=Deng;46573900]Don't boys and girls prefer different types of toys anyways? I mean I suppose it's ok to not label them, but you're still going to end up with children getting the same types of toys that they always used to.[/QUOTE] TBH it's somewhat of a what came first, the chicken or the egg thing. Are these toys pushed onto kids because in general they prefer certain toys for each gender, or do the children prefer these toys only because society tells them to. Answer may well be somewhere in the middle, but at the very least you must be able to admit that telling kids "THESE ARE FOR BOYS ONLY" isn't good for girls who prefer the boy toys.

[QUOTE=Deng;46574080]To be honest does this happen? Actually curious because I assume this is the sort of thing good parents don't do. I mean by this point in time if a girl wants a lego set or a toy spaceship her parents are hardly going to deny that wish and demand she get a doll instead.[/QUOTE] Well there's not the slightest doubt in anyone reasonable's mind that it [i]does[/i] happen, I mean way stranger things happen than that and especially the pageant culture in some parts of the US force intensely stereotypical roles on young girls. The question of how often it happens though I couldn't honestly answer because it'd be really hard to gather statistics on it

this wouldn't even be a thing if the parent didn't make the girl take a picture next to the dumb sign are we sure it's the girl that complained and not the parent trying to stir shit up

[QUOTE=kila58;46573330]It's a recommendation, not anything saying "no gurlz allowd 2 buy this it3m gtfo". I'd say an over-reaction but whatever.[/QUOTE] But why doesn't it say 'Fun toys for children'? You wouldn't see a sign that says 'You're a cunt' and think that's a recommendation would you? You'd want it taken down. That's my 'trying to scale up an issue from child to adult' analogy.

What the hell is up with her eyes, it looks like she hasn't slept for several days. Was this sign really THAT traumatizing?

In the facebook post of this there was an incredibly angry grown woman who kept calling this 7 year old a feminazi

[QUOTE=Pretty Obscure;46573799]If a little boy goes into a store and grabs a Barbie, it's not going to be the store clerk who tells him he can't buy it because it's for girls, it's going to be someone close to the boy who holds that opinion. Such as a parent or sibling.[/quote] And is it far fetched to think that both of those might be factors? That the siblings/parents who think trucks are for boys and Barbies are for girls have their opinions reinforced by the fact that those toys are in separate sections? Or that the kids might hold those opinions themselves due to gender specific advertising everywhere, and the siblings/parents are the ones reinforcing what the kids think? Just because the store clerks themselves aren't telling children what toys to pick it doesn't mean the kids aren't influenced by how the stores arrange or advertise their products

This is a thing, for a very good reason. Children have been fed that "boys play with boy toys, and girls play with girl toys" bullshit since the advent of fucking toys. Many parents are bull-headed over that. . .working in fast food, I often saw a little boy crying because he wanted a Beanie Baby kids' meal, but wound up chastised by his father. "NO. You're getting the Hot Wheels meal, or you get nothing. I didn't raise a GIRL." The enforcement of gender roles can be a very hurtful thing for children, making them feel as if there's something wrong with them for wanting something outside of the norm. This isn't social justice warrior bullshit. . .this is something that has a real impact on children, and the way they're taught to see the world.

Gender politics aside, Jesus H. Christ that is the most spiteful little girl I've seen. She's one latin chorus away from being a horror movie.

[QUOTE=Gwoodman;46574096]tbh I think you guys are overreacting the influence of toys[/QUOTE] What kids use to develop their interests from a young age don't have an effect on what they aspire to do for their lives? My parents bought me K'nex as a kid and I built to my heart's content. I later decided to get into the engineering track in college. My sister was given barbie dolls and plastic horses because that's the roles the girl/boy sections set up. She's now looking into a life as a daycare worker. There are 21 guys and 2 girls in my engineering LLC as of right now. The influence of gender roles might be why. When was the last time you've seen engineering related toys in the "girls toys" section? I know it may seem ridiculous to question, but the implications may have a pretty damn big impact. At least, more than people often think.

[QUOTE=Deng;46574003]Well if what the experiment says is true, then boys and girls will prefer different toys. So all the parent has to do is get a toy their child desires.[/QUOTE] First, we aren't Rhesus monkeys. Second, and much more importantly: sure, on average a boy may like more action oriented toys, but that's no reason to put up signs saying "BOYS SECTION" and "GIRLS SECTION" as if everyone follows the action. There's no reason not to instead have signs saying "Action figures", "Dolls", "Toy Cars", "Legos", etc. No reason other than being resistant to change just for the sake of disliking change, at least. [QUOTE=Budapi;46573828]On one hand I really don't like that fact that people can't follow their passion because they're being fitted into predetermined gender roles but on the other hand I'm completely okay in my own predetermined gender role and I don't want to see the genders getting mixed up. like seeing boys playing with dolls and wearing dresses really disgusts me for some reason. I guess I've been brainwashed by the patriarchal media and blinded myself to progress.[/QUOTE] how dare someone my gender play with something that I wouldn't play with [QUOTE=EpicRandomnes;46573895]At the risk of being villainized (not like I'm not used to that), you're all a bunch of hypocrites. While I agree with the general consensus of "gendered" toys, a lot of you are saying that a child's mind can easily be swayed in different directions at early stages an develop certain personality traits. Yet at the very same time, the grand majority of you would also at the exact same time say a violent game (eg, CoD) would have absolutely no effect on a child's mind. CoD may not be for kids, but kids play it. TF2, GMod, DOTA 2, Battlefield, etc are all played by kids. So what my question is, is exactly how is this not double-standards? I've seen multiple studies indicate both versions of this, and most Facepunchers just seem to stick with one story and block out anything contrary to their opinion.[/QUOTE] Some kids do play CoD and whatnot, but those aren't advertised for kids, those are advertised for adults or teenagers. I would imagine most "kids" playing those games are just young teens, with some preteens. Not many below 10. The toys we're talking about are generally for people younger than 10.

[QUOTE=Snickerdoodle;46574213]What kids use to develop their interests from a young age don't have an effect on what they aspire to do for their lives? My parents bought me K'nex as a kid and I built to my heart's content. I later decided to get into the engineering track in college. My sister was given barbie dolls and plastic horses because that's the roles the girl/boy sections set up. She's now looking into a life as a daycare worker. There are 21 guys and 2 girls in my engineering LLC as of right now. The influence of gender roles might be why. When was the last time you've seen engineering related toys in the "girls toys" section?[/QUOTE] Cool down my friend, maybe some potassium can clear out this saltiness in you. [t]http://s27.postimg.org/5vx2s8ikz/Untitled.jpg[/t]

[QUOTE=Sally;46574233]Cool down my friend, maybe some potassium can clear out this saltiness in you. [t]http://s27.postimg.org/5vx2s8ikz/Untitled.jpg[/t][/QUOTE] What do you mean "chill down"? I'm simply questioning the impact that toys may have on people's ultimate interests later in life. Edit: Oh it's just this banana image plug in again.

[QUOTE=Snickerdoodle;46574250]What do you mean "chill down"? I'm simply questioning the impact that toys may have on people's ultimate interests later in life.[/QUOTE] personally I think human interaction will have way more influence on a child's development rather than some objects Don't think I don't understand your view, I agree with the fact that there are some people out there that force things into children out there but I wouldn't go as far to say that it's a toys fault or how a supermarket organizes their things

[QUOTE=Gwoodman;46574269]Don't think I don't understand your view, I agree with the fact that there are some people out there that force things into children out there but I wouldn't go as far to say that it's a toys fault or how a supermarket organizes their things[/QUOTE] No one is saying that though. They're saying that it's a reinforcing factor. The fewer factors there are that reinforce gender roles then the less society as a whole will feel the need to try and force them on people.

[QUOTE=Gwoodman;46574269]personally I think human interaction will have way more influence on a child's development rather than some objects Don't think I don't understand your view, I agree with the fact that there are some people out there that force things into children out there but I wouldn't go as far to say that it's a toys fault or how a supermarket organizes their things[/QUOTE] You know, you've got a valid point there. I've never lived in a team community of people and my parents were always working so our toys did have an unusually higher influence on my and my sister than other children may have had. Maybe we're just outliers.

I don't give a shit about the implications of this whole gender-bullshit or anything, but that lil' girl looks fuckin' adorably huffy in that picture.

It's not so much about "oh no, I'm getting something from the girls section" so much as "oh no, what would the other kids say if they knew I was getting something from the girls section". Although that whole "this section for boys/girls" implies "girls/boys stay out", which isn't going to force anyone out on its own, but it certainly isn't helping. It's relatively close to neutral, sure, but it isn't neutral.

she looks like a little shit

Aren't sales of basically anything massively beefed up when companies target specific genders rather than sell generalized products ?

[QUOTE=Gwoodman;46574269]personally I think human interaction will have way more influence on a child's development rather than some objects[/QUOTE] calling it "some objects" is downplaying their influence when there's tons of stuff like kids shows based entirely around toy lines