INDEPENDENT SURVEY
Is categorising of toys by gender necessary?
It’s something of an emotive topic currently, as illustrated by the amount of responses Toy Shop UK’s survey generated this month. Independent retailers tell us their views on the ‘dolls for girls and trucks for boys’ debate
IT’S A subject which has recently created a bit of a stir, thanks to campaigns from the likes of Pink Stinks and Let Toys be Toys, but what do retailers themselves actually think about categorising toys by gender in their stores? The majority of those Toy Shop UK canvassed for opinion thought that it was useful (43 per cent), although just ten per cent less (33 per cent) said that it was unnecessary. Just four per cent thought it was essential, while 19 per cent firmly believed that it was wrong. So, a mixed bag then, with most of those who voted for ‘useful’ saying it was because it made things easier for the consumer. “Lots of customers want guidance on what appeals to the different genders,” points out Carey Conway from Crafts 4 Kids. Matt Booker from Automattic Comics and Toys agrees: “I do rack the girls toys together and the boys together – it just makes it easier to point customers in the right direction.” Those who voted for ‘unnecessary’ were happy to leave customers to make up their own minds, however, while some chose to categorise by product
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
type, rather than gender. Linda Ladley from
EcoToyStore says: “We focus on how it develops a child rather than whether a girl or boy should play with it.”
Victor Tan ABC Zone, London “Since our children are bombarded with gender stereotyping in their every day life anyway, it is more useful to categorise toys by gender. Not essential, but very useful for the time conscience parent.”
Liz Royal Activity Chest, Chalfont St Peter “Although we believe it should not be necessary, we are often asked to recommended gifts for children and the customers usually gives us the age, then gender, ie a six year-old girl. They may then add that she is a ‘girly girl’, so we head to the pink creative things! Our shop display tends to be by product type rather than gender specific.”
Matt Booker
Automattic Comics and Toys, Corsham “I do rack the girls toys together and the boys toys together – it just makes it easier to point customers in the right direction.”
Mark Gwynne Avon Toys, Leamington Spa “Children of any age should be able to determine what toys they want to play with, rather than being pushed in a certain direction by adults. I remember my younger brother playing with a dolls pram when we visited friends, since as a family of boys we didn’t have such toys in the house. Now in our shop we have girls with model railways and enjoying Scalextric and playing Magic The Gathering at our weekly events. It is unnecessary and wrong to pressure children of any age to adopt the norms, ideals or stereotypes of older generations.”
DO YOU THINK CATEGORISING TOYS BY GENDER IS…
4% = Essential 43% = Useful
33% = Unnecessary 19% = Wrong
(* results based on 69 votes) 24 May
www.toynews-online.biz
Victoria Barker Babies Playthings, Sunderland “There should be no stereotyping of toys for children. Construction toys are valuable for developing motor and problem solving skills regardless of the gender of the child. Likewise, dolls help to develop nurturing, caring and empathy for children regardless of their gender.”
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