I was a little girl during the 1990's. I was the kind of kid who had Barbies, but wouldn't turn down a Nerf gun. Growing up, I thought it was rough that nearly anything intended for a girl came in the color pink. I had no idea how good I had it.
A short list of companies that have recently felt the need to market a girl-specific (read: pink) version of their apparently only for boys toys include heavyweights like Lego and Nerf. Lego Friends were released a few years ago to a barrage of criticism. Lego Friends are Lego kits marketed at little girls. Check these disasters out. Not one of the characters is even wearing pants! Most of the building has already been done for little girls who play with sets such as "Sunshine Ranch" or "Downtown Bakery". Nerf has a line of foam-shooting weapons for girls, Nerf Rebelle. My favorite product in this line is the "Heartbreaker Bow." Seriously, Nerf? Boys slay enemies and girls slay hearts? Ugh. Of course, the Rebelle products are decorated with white and pink swirls and stars.
But do you know who is actually taking a step away from the completely unnecessary gender divide? McDonald's. I know, right? After a young girl contacted McDonald's about being asked if she wanted the girl toy or the boy toy in her Happy Meal, McDonald's will now be instructing employees only to ask which franchise toy children would like (i.e. My Little Pony or Skylanders). Three cheers for small steps!
Sure, there are still pretty obvious visual cues as to which gender stereotypes are being represented in Happy Meal toys. The My Little Pony toys are meant to be groomed and admired, while the Skylanders shoot and chop. And sure, the place that is taking baby steps toward eliminating gender-based childhood is the same place selling deep-fried, sugar laden, processed foods to kids, but McDonald's is a massive national company. Perhaps this a sign of bigger things. We can hope.
A short list of companies that have recently felt the need to market a girl-specific (read: pink) version of their apparently only for boys toys include heavyweights like Lego and Nerf. Lego Friends were released a few years ago to a barrage of criticism. Lego Friends are Lego kits marketed at little girls. Check these disasters out. Not one of the characters is even wearing pants! Most of the building has already been done for little girls who play with sets such as "Sunshine Ranch" or "Downtown Bakery". Nerf has a line of foam-shooting weapons for girls, Nerf Rebelle. My favorite product in this line is the "Heartbreaker Bow." Seriously, Nerf? Boys slay enemies and girls slay hearts? Ugh. Of course, the Rebelle products are decorated with white and pink swirls and stars.
But do you know who is actually taking a step away from the completely unnecessary gender divide? McDonald's. I know, right? After a young girl contacted McDonald's about being asked if she wanted the girl toy or the boy toy in her Happy Meal, McDonald's will now be instructing employees only to ask which franchise toy children would like (i.e. My Little Pony or Skylanders). Three cheers for small steps!
Sure, there are still pretty obvious visual cues as to which gender stereotypes are being represented in Happy Meal toys. The My Little Pony toys are meant to be groomed and admired, while the Skylanders shoot and chop. And sure, the place that is taking baby steps toward eliminating gender-based childhood is the same place selling deep-fried, sugar laden, processed foods to kids, but McDonald's is a massive national company. Perhaps this a sign of bigger things. We can hope.
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