Toys R Us to drop 'boys' and 'girls' labelling

[Stronger]

Retailer commits to more 'inclusive marketing' after meeting with Let Toys Be Toys.

Toys R Us is looking to work closely with the Let Toys Be Toys consumer campaign group, agreeing to become more inclusive in its marketing of toys to girls and boys.

The news follows a meeting last week between TRU's UK board members and Let Toys Be Toys, with the group believing it marks a major change in the UK toy sales landscape.

TRU will draw up a set of principles for in-store signage meaning that, in the long-term, explicit references to gender will be removed and images will show boys and girls enjoying the same toys. TRU also promised to start by looking at the way toys are represented in its upcoming Christmas catalogue.

MD Roger McLaughlan said: "We very much enjoyed meeting Let Toys Be Toys. We will work with the Let Toys be Toys team to ensure we develop the best plan for our customers."

Megan Perryman, Let Toys be Toys campaigner, added: "We're delighted to be working so closely with a major toy retailer and believe that there is much common ground here. Even in 2013, boys and girls are still growing up being told that certain toys are 'for' them, while others are not.

"This is not only confusing but extremely limiting, as it strongly shapes their ideas about who they are and who they can go on to become. We look forward to seeing Toys R Us lead the way to a more inclusive future for boys and girls."

Other retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Boots, The Entertainer and TK Maxx have agree to banish 'girls' and 'boys' signs from the aisles following intervention from Let Toys Be Toys.

http://www.toynews-online.biz/news/read/toys-r-us-to-drop-boys-and-girls-labelling/040859

I think this is fantastic news, what are your thoughts?

[Trenton_]

I think this is fantastic news, what are your thoughts?

The bathrooms too?

[xXl0sth0peXx]

This is wonderful. :3

[Luminous]

Wow, this is amazing!
The bathrooms too?

No, just the toys, please just the toys, I'm sure there are family bathrooms

[Synyster Shadows]

This is nice to hear

[britishboy]

what, whats the point of it? I dont get it?

[Tarannosaurus]

This is great!

what, whats the point of it? I dont get it?

It's so children don't feel forced to become stereotypes of their gender, i.e. "all the girls in the ads are playing with dolls, I should be playing with a doll, not a toy race car".

[britishboy]

This is great!



It's so children don't feel forced to become stereotypes of their gender, i.e. "all the girls in the ads are playing with dolls, I should be playing with a doll, not a toy race car".

thats just silly!

[Tarannosaurus]

thats just silly!

No, separating toys by gender is silly. Why should a car be a 'boy' toy and a doll a 'girl' toy?

[britishboy]

No, separating toys by gender is silly. Why should a car be a 'boy' toy and a doll a 'girl' toy?

because they are boys and girls toys? lol they can do whatever but my opinion is that they will lose trade

[Tarannosaurus]

because they are boys and girls toys? lol they can do whatever but my opinion is that they will lose trade

No they're not, both boys and girls play with them. I know I played with my brothers' toys and they played with mine. On the contrary, I think it will create a lot of positive media attention for them.

[britishboy]

No they're not, both boys and girls play with them. I know I played with my brothers' toys and they played with mine. On the contrary, I think it will create a lot of positive media attention for them.

boys toys are boys toys and girls toys are girls toys when I buy toys for mu kids I will buy them whatever they want, but unless I know otherwise I will buy according age and gender

most girls play with dolls

gender pacific toys advertised with the appropriate gender in mind persuade the viewer to get their parents to buy it

things are going too far now

[Stronger]

boys toys are boys toys and girls toys are girls toys when I buy toys for mu kids I will buy them whatever they want, but unless I know otherwise I will buy according age and gender

most girls play with dolls

gender pacific toys advertised with the appropriate gender in mind persuade the viewer to get their parents to buy it

things are going too far now

They are absolutely not going to far, this is very appropriate seeing as without them labeling toys, a child would be able to get whatever toy they please, a store, people, whatever shouldn't tell a child what toy they can enjoy and what they can't.

[britishboy]

They are absolutely not going to far, this is very appropriate seeing as without them labeling toys, a child would be able to get whatever toy they please, a store, people, whatever shouldn't tell a child what toy they can enjoy and what they can't.

I do think your over reacting, boys like action men girls like ponies, few exceptions are not worth losing the ability to target the target market

their competition will benefit hugely

if a boy wants a pony, buy him a pony, im not saying dictate what they have but its fine for companies to target customers

[Jess]

This is fantastic, I'm all for it.

[Stronger]

I do think your over reacting, boys like action men girls like ponies, few exceptions are not worth losing the ability to target the target market

their competition will benefit hugely

if a boy wants a pony, buy him a pony, im not saying dictate what they have but its fine for companies to target customers

Not over reacting, just the truth.

[GypsyGirl]

give kids unisex playthings like play-dough and bubbles uh can't think of anything else lol It's cool they want to stop trying to put labels on toys for 'girl' and 'boy' but making a big deal about it defeats the goal imo. I know it's for attention on their store and whatnot though.. idk too confused to debate about stuff right now haha

[Cygnus]

The bathrooms too?

This made my day :P

[CharlieHorse]

I think more guys buy the my little pony toys than girls anyway...

[Sir Suomi]

Odd I suppose. But I guess in today's world everything is supposed to be "equal".

[littlechief]

The store can stop marketing the toys to specific genders, but it doesn't mean the manufacturers will stop putting boys on what they deem "boy toy packaging" and girls on "girls toys." This is a minor step. A nice one, but one I think could fail...

[britishboy]

Odd I suppose. But I guess in today's world everything is supposed to be "equal".
yay! so now I must buy my son Barbie and my son action men:D
I think more guys buy the my little pony toys than girls anyway...
I don't know id your serious or not but your completely wrong, if your gay you will like it but the majority of guys are straight
Not over reacting, just the truth.
it is over reacting! most guys like buy toys and the same the other way around, its pointless to remove gender pacific advertising, are guys gonna be playing my little pony? is this a gay shop for toddlers? no! it should cater for the majority, it will soon go back on
This is fantastic, I'm all for it.
why? I don't see the point?

[Tarannosaurus]

yay! so now I must buy my son Barbie and my son action men:D

I don't know id your serious or not but your completely wrong, if your gay you will like it but the majority of guys are straight

it is over reacting! most guys like buy toys and the same the other way around, its pointless to remove gender pacific advertising, are guys gonna be playing my little pony? is this a gay shop for toddlers? no! it should cater for the majority, it will soon go back on

why? I don't see the point?

1. No, you should buy them toys they like.
2. Sexuality has absolutely nothing to do with what sort of toys children like.
3. It's not like people are saying boys HAVE to buy dolls etc, just that children should not feel pressurized into buying toys considered 'suitable' for their gender.
4. All I can say is... what the fuck? A gay shop for toddlers? How even... what exactly would one find in a 'toddlers' gay shop'? I'm really looking forward to hearing your answer. Also how on earth is a toddler supposed to know their sexuality?
You're at risk of looking like a moron here, your replies show that you know absolutely nothing about sexuality, gender and sexism.

[Gandalf]

I think this is a great decision from Toys r us, I think it's good to be leading the way with a clear statement like this.

The issue I can see is that society still has a gender divided culture, there will still be toy gender stereotyping in the media but hopefully the move by toys R us will influence other companies to be more forward thinking.

[BookSmart]

I think that's great. I know a little boy who loves pink stuffed animals and dolls and his mom says she's embarrassed by him. I think it's awful that a kid's own mom is embarrassed because her son likes "girl" toys. Hopefully this can help change that.

[CharlieHorse]

I don't know if your serious or not but your completely wrong, if your gay you will like it but the majority of guys are straight

it is over reacting! most guys like buy toys and the same the other way around, its pointless to remove gender pacific advertising, are guys gonna be playing my little pony? is this a gay shop for toddlers? no! it should cater for the majority, it will soon go back on


I am so sorry

I hope you one day realize that you're inhibiting social evolution.

And I hope that one day, you'll come to not judge others like they've judged you. The world will be a much happier place without people who label others the way you do.

This is not just about the "target customer". It's about the way society labels others. Walls are built to separate people, when we should be bringing down those walls to make a more unified social community. The removing of the gender labels of the toys are an effort to make everyone happy and equal.

Please take a few minutes to read all the responses to this thread. You'll find that almost everyone has a similar opinion on the subject.

[Croconaw]

That's good to hear. I hate labels.

[sqishy]

Nice to see gender labels being removed. They are not needed in toys.
Yes! :D

[Tze-]

1. No, you should buy them toys they like.
2. Sexuality has absolutely nothing to do with what sort of toys children like.
3. It's not like people are saying boys HAVE to buy dolls etc, just that children should not feel pressurized into buying toys considered 'suitable' for their gender.
4. All I can say is... what the fuck? A gay shop for toddlers? How even... what exactly would one find in a 'toddlers' gay shop'? I'm really looking forward to hearing your answer. Also how on earth is a toddler supposed to know their sexuality?
You're at risk of looking like a moron here, your replies show that you know absolutely nothing about sexuality, gender and sexism.

Oh hun you're late the to britishboy party. He's much more than at risk.

[Foamy]

tl;dr I'm not for this

If you'll notice what I did there, I'm being captain obvious and saying that you're reluctant to this change. You are also heavily stereotypical, believing in more or less conservatively. While your opinion that you stated before, to let the child choose his/her toy, your beliefs in that there has to be "boys toys" and "girl toys" is extremely conservative, and frankly, kinda sexist. Toys r us is trying to eliminate gender discrimination by removing the stereotyped ads that feature girls with dolls and ponies and boys with skateboards and action figures. If we want our children to grow up in a still-sexist society where men are the kings of the household and the breadwinners we would not be doing this. We are doing this so our children may one day live in a discrimination-free environment. While that will take a lot of time to accomplish, we need to get it started. Plus, removing the gender labels from the toys will also teach kids not to make fun of other kids that may want to play with a toy that was once associated with the opposite gender.

[Jess]

yay! so now I must buy my son Barbie and my son action men:D

I don't know id your serious or not but your completely wrong, if your gay you will like it but the majority of guys are straight

why? I don't see the point?

Just because you're gay doesn't mean you automatically like My Little Pony. Just because you're straight doesn't mean you don't (or do). Just because you like My Little Pony doesn't automatically mean you're gay. Gays and straights can both like it, girl or boy.

How do you not see the point? This is removing the sexist assumption that all little girls like dolls and all little boys like cars and action figures. All toys should be for both genders.

[teen.jpg]

Haha, cash cows they are. Great marketing. And it's a good change as well.

[Dalek-Todd]

I guess this is good.

[britishboy]

Just because you're gay doesn't mean you automatically like My Little Pony. Just because you're straight doesn't mean you don't (or do). Just because you like My Little Pony doesn't automatically mean you're gay. Gays and straights can both like it, girl or boy.

How do you not see the point? This is removing the sexist assumption that all little girls like dolls and all little boys like cars and action figures. All toys should be for both genders.
its not sexist, most boys like action men most girls like cute things

whats the point of replacing what I said?
Oh hun you're late the to britishboy party. He's much more than at risk.
at risk of what? being too awesome:P
I am so sorry

I hope you one day realize that you're inhibiting social evolution.

And I hope that one day, you'll come to not judge others like they've judged you. The world will be a much happier place without people who label others the way you do.

This is not just about the "target customer". It's about the way society labels others. Walls are built to separate people, when we should be bringing down those walls to make a more unified social community. The removing of the gender labels of the toys are an effort to make everyone happy and equal.

oh I have no problems, great friends and family with a beautiful gf, only the commies on here judge me
opposing genders are not the same as you guys think so
1. No, you should buy them toys they like.
2. Sexuality has absolutely nothing to do with what sort of toys children like.
3. It's not like people are saying boys HAVE to buy dolls etc, just that children should not feel pressurized into buying toys considered 'suitable' for their gender.
4. All I can say is... what the fuck? A gay shop for toddlers? How even... what exactly would one find in a 'toddlers' gay shop'? I'm really looking forward to hearing your answer. Also how on earth is a toddler supposed to know their sexuality?

1) I will, no problem
2) most gays and girls like my little pony
2) and how will the adverts look?
4) I like places like Germany street, not overly sensitive LGBT shops, they will lose customers

[teen.jpg]

its not sexist, most boys like action men most girls like cute things

No, but that's how the media wants you to think.

whats the point of replacing what I said?

Because it was wrong.


at risk of what? being too awesome:P

No, at risk of looking like a moron. And weeeell .......

1) I will, no problem
2) most gays and girls like my little pony
2) and how will the adverts look?
4) I like places like Germany street, not overly sensitive LGBT shops, they will lose customers

2. What corner of your ass did you pull that from?
3. Like good human beings.
4. You're kidding ...

[Tarannosaurus]

-_- I thought you'd gone.

oh I have no problems, great friends and family with a beautiful gf, only the commies on here judge me
opposing genders are not the same as you guys think so


I have no problems

You seem to have problems accepting gender equality. You also seem to have problems accepting that some people have different political views.

only the commies on here judge me

how many "commies" do you see in this thread? You seem to do enough judging of your own.

opposing genders are not the same as you guys think so
We're all wrong and you're right? I'm sure a wise and worldly 14 year old like yourself has far more knowledge of the genders than people who have been studying the genders for years and agree the world won't end if we embrace gender equality.
Why do the genders have to "oppose" each other instead of living in harmony and fully respecting each other?

[Tze-]

1) I will, no problem
2) most gays and girls like my little pony
2) and how will the adverts look?
4) I like places like Germany street, not overly sensitive LGBT shops, they will lose customers

Can I just say

[Trenton_]

4. All I can say is... what the fuck? A gay shop for toddlers? How even... what exactly would one find in a 'toddlers' gay shop'? I'm really looking forward to hearing your answer. Also how on earth is a toddler supposed to know their sexuality?

People say they were born that way, so it's logical that a toddler would know. I don't get how they could not know.

In a toddler's gay shop, I'd expect to see some rainbows.

I am so sorry

This is not just about the "target customer". It's about the way society labels others. Walls are built to separate people, when we should be bringing down those walls to make a more unified social community. The removing of the gender labels of the toys are an effort to make everyone happy and equal.


You mentioned bring down the walls. That's a bad idea. High risk of theft if they take the walls down.

Make people happy and equal? You think that will make them majority of people happy? I do not.

No makes people equal because we aren't equal. We're all different, so how is that equal?

[AMGForever]

just from vaguely reading it sounds like this would further confuse a children's gender when or if exposed to homosexuality and relations like it. i would suggest that this shouldn't happen only because of the kids


(out of complete irrelevances why must so many things fall to the gay community )

[Walter Powers]

That's just weird. So there gonna have catalogs with boys playing with Barbies? :0

Seems like a great way to increase bullying.

[Camazotz]

It won't change anything. Boys will (generally) want "boy toys", girls will (generally) want "girl toys"; and if they want the other kind of toys, they can have them.

[Tarannosaurus]

People say they were born that way, so it's logical that a toddler would know. I don't get how they could not know.

Toddlers generally would not even know the meaning of gay and it's usually around puberty that people begin thinking sexual thoughts, so it's rather unlikely that a 2 or 3 year old would know what their sexuality is.



That's just weird. So there gonna have catalogs with boys playing with Barbies? :0

Seems like a great way to increase bullying.

Well actually it wouldn't because if the advertising changes kids will see that it is normal to play with whatever toys they want.

[britishboy]

It won't change anything. Boys will (generally) want "boy toys", girls will (generally) want "girl toys"; and if they want the other kind of toys, they can have them.

That's just weird. So there gonna have catalogs with boys playing with Barbies? :0

Seems like a great way to increase bullying.
thank you! finally people with common sense!

You seem to have problems accepting gender equality.
look, men have higher testosterone making them develop muscles easily and makes them more manly, women have lower levels that's a fact! so thats why most males like action men and girls like pink things! I remember growing up and I never thought 'boy I wish I could have my little sisters pink staff' and I doubt my sister ever said 'boy I wish I could have his videogames'

it's the same today, I don't want a dress and no girl I know wants the clothes I wear!

[Walter Powers]

Toddlers generally would not even know the meaning of gay and it's usually around puberty that people begin thinking sexual thoughts, so it's rather unlikely that a 2 or 3 year old would know what their sexuality is.





Well actually it wouldn't because if the advertising changes kids will see that it is normal to play with whatever toys they want.

Lots of kids won't see it that way. The vulnerable kids will think it's okay, and then the bullies who think it isn't will be targeting them. I see no reason why boys can't just stick to transformers and girls to Barbies:

[Kameraden]

I hope I don't see the day where little boys play with pink unicorns and doll-sets.

[James Bond]

Lots of kids won't see it that way. The vulnerable kids will think it's okay, and then the bullies who think it isn't will be targeting them. I see no reason why boys can't just stick to transformers and girls to Barbies:

I agree. I believe there should be a distinct difference between man and woman. Society shouldn't encourage effeminate men, and it shouldn't encourage masculine women. Just how men should dress like men, and women should dress like women. I'm not saying women can't or shouldn't wear jeans or shorts or whatever, but women shouldn't try to dress masculine, while men shouldn't wear things like dresses, or makeup (make up to make it look like they're wearing make up, acting is different, or covering up a scar is different, if a guy wears make up, he should try to make it look like he's not). To be honest, if a guy goes to school wearing a dress, he should expect to be bullied. I'm not saying its right, but by wearing a dress, he's purposely setting himself up to be bullied. When people purposely dress like that, they're purposely asking for negative attention, and they're purposely asking for pity when they're made fun of or mocked. It's a way of seeking attention.

Do I believe cross dressing is wrong? Completely. Do I think people should wear their sexuality like a badge? No, they shouldn't. You shouldn't purposely wear your sexuality like its a badge of honor or anything like that, people who do that once again are attention seekers. It's nonsense when people are proud to be gay, because its just like being proud to be straight. This is a personal pet peeve of mine, when LGBT members shove their sexuality down people's throats, it's just as bad as those who shove religion down people's throats. I'm sick of LGBTers flaunting a rainbow flag. You don't see straight people flaunting a straight flag.

If you're gay, I shouldnt know you're gay unless you're with your partner. If you're straight, I shouldn't know that you're straight unless you're with your wife. If I had a girlfriend, I wouldn't show her public displays of affection, I MAY hold hands with her or give her a hug or a peck on the lips or cheek, but I wouldn't make out with her or anything like that, I'm a very private person.

[SaxyHaloBeast]

I would like to point out something here.

Gender equality is impossible.

Men and women are different genders for a reason. From the genetic difference in chromosomes to the difference in body shape and organs. Gender equality can only go so far. I don't like stereotypes like men have to like cars and women and women like pink, but children do need to know and understand gender difference.

[Celtic.]

This is great!



It's so children don't feel forced to become stereotypes of their gender, i.e. "all the girls in the ads are playing with dolls, I should be playing with a doll, not a toy race car".

....not to be a jerk but who got that deep into that subject?

[Saint of Sinners]

Plenty of cultures around the world had the women do all the manual labour, hunting and other jobs associated with them.

It was only till the late nineteen century till girls became associated with pink. Previously, baby boys were wrapped in pink blankets, while girls in blue.

This shows that gender stetotypes are unfounded, as they contradict themselves.

The only reason most boys wouldn't play with a barbie or girls playwith transformers is that society has drilled into us that it is wrong. Nothing to do with testosterome.

[Celtic.]

Who got that deep into it??!!?!?!?!?!?!!???