There seems to have been a bit of an uproar in the past couple of years over "gender specific" toys. The idea is that it's somehow putting children into a box for "girl toys" to be pink and "boy toys" to be primary colors. The idea is that it puts children into a box for there to be labels at all on aisles designating "girl" and "boy" toys. The idea is that companies are stereotyping children by providing specific toys marketed at specific genders.
While I see both sides of this argument, I tend to think the answer is much more simple than moms/dads vs big toy companies. I tend to think the answer is that we are simply far too concerned with everything being fair and ideal and politically correct to the point that we're bullying companies into bending to our entitled PC attitudes. Before you get offended (and I'm sure there are some that will), let me explain the theory. You can feel free to agree or disagree because it's simply my opinion on the topic.
Companies base their marketing on what the consumers ask for/show interest in. Companies regularly pay attention to trends and surveys. Basically this means that there was an interest many years ago when this "pink and purple" trend started that directed them towards it. Likely, a group of moms said, "Why aren't there any "girly" toys for my daughter?" Boom! Ask and you shall receive. The companies started provided pink and purple and princess EVERYTHING in order to cater to these moms. Companies don't need to be bullied. They just need to hear your voice. They don't need to be shamed. Companies respond better to market research than public shaming anyway. Instead of focusing on trying to take them down, tell them by buying specific products and COMPLETING SURVEYS ON THE ITEMS. A company's interest is based on profit much more than public opinion.
Another completely valid point is that before these pink and purple toys were available, moms were finding ways to paint and create these toys to make them more girly. That's right, folks, we brought this on ourselves. Moms didn't want their little girls to have to drive around in a yellow and red toddler car toy. No sir. We needed to paint it to make it girly. We needed to add stickers. Think of how Pinterest looks today. There are millions of ideas on how to customize your children's toys to look more girly/boyish, trendy or even to mix in with your décor. People don't want to just dress their daughter in a Batman costume. No sir. We need to make it into a batman costume with a tutu because it's girly. This goes back to the "companies base their marketing on interest." If they see that there is an interest in a specific trend, they will create the product to create (say it with me) profit.
Perhaps the most valid argument for the companies, in my opinion, is this: if polled, most parents could honestly care less if blocks are labeled as boy toys. Are we seriously so sensitive that we have to get upset over this? Are these parents the same over-sensitive tattle tales, as children, that were concerned that someone called them a doody head? Why do you CARE if it's labeled as a boy or girl toy? If your child enjoys it, buy it. If they don't, don't buy it. Pretty simple. Instead of causing a big fuss and shaming a company publically, buy the products you like. If it's in an aisle or category (online) that is gender specific, oh well. Is your child honestly paying that much attention to whether the item in the online cart was under a specific title? Probably not. Why? Because it's doesn't matter to them. It matters to you.
Look, I'm not saying that we shouldn't let our sons play with dolls or our daughter play with legos. In fact, I'm quite inclined to introduce them to a whole slew of toys and let them make their own choice. I don't believe there is anything remotely gender specific about these toys regardless of color, marketing scheme, etc. It's just a color on a toy. It's just a princess picture on a toy. It's not what defines the toy to begin with. I honestly feel like people are hyper sensitive and find reasons to gripe about everything just to make a fuss. Let me let you in on a little secret: your kids mostly likely don't care if the product comes from a "girl" aisle or a "boy aisle." They probably don't care if anyone will ostracize them for playing with it because it's what they like. Generations of kids grew up just fine before there was all of this focus on these toys.
What it comes down to is this: if you don't like the marketing on a product, don't buy it. Find an alternative. No one is forcing you to shop in the pink Lego part of the store. You can buy your daughter a Star Wars lego set and that's just fine. You can buy your son an American Girl doll and that's just fine. You are making it into a far bigger deal than it really is. Stop being over sensitive and worrying about everything being politically correct and the world will be a much more peaceful place.
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