Gender roles and toys?

[abcdefgh12345678]

Yes there is a debate about whether Toys R Us is going too far in their catalog in Sweeden. It shows kids, both male and female playing with various toys, and in many cases in opposite-from-expected gender stereotype. For example, it shows boys playing with kitchen sets and girls playing with Nerf guns. Here's a pic of the latter.



Do you think it's ok for toy companies to have catalogs with some gender reversals? Or do you think something to the effect of "Hope this ideology stays in Sweden, and NEVER comes to the US, cause on that day I'll shoot myself." or maybe "I'll NEVER let my kids play with opposite gender toys, cause I don't want them to become homo."?


Please reply and let me know what you think about this situation, and possibly if you have ever played with toys aimed at kids opposite your gender.





PS: Unrelated to the topic at hand, I have another question that I can't figure out. What currency is represented by the symbol :- and why are their so many of them (a few HUNDRED) needed to by a plastic Nerf gun.

[GameGeeks]

We already know you're sexist and homophobic. There isn't much discussion to be had past that.

[Ranshiin]

Why am I not surprised VG posted the picture of the girl playing with NERF, and not a picture of the boy learning something that'll become genuinely useful for him during the 'between high-school and married' phase of a teenage college boy's life?


inb4VGdenyinghefappedtothis .


edit

 

Also girls aren't allowed to play with NERF guns? seriously? Tell that to my sister; she'll beat your arse with one because that's what she used to do to every kid in my village every. single. summer. when we all broke out on the NERF guns or the water guns.

Actually, tell that to my sister and she'll just straight up beat your arse. And good luck hitting her back.




Relevant screenshot is relevant.

[Ωmega]

Just gonna leave this here and say that I think Sweden has the right idea

[DeathBlade/13.666]

Problems with your video, @MaruDashi .

1. Question about the commercials at 0:38, You simply have never noticed them before. Things have always been like that. It wasn't until recently that Lego produced a Pink Lego Block. >.>;

2. "Limited at how to react to and solve problems..." at 1:43. AND?! That's exactly how we resolve things. Don't like it, then resolve them for us.

3. At 4:00 Ad makers spend $17 billion, They obviously know how to spend they're money wisely. Use rough and tumble words to target boys, and soft and pretty words to target girls. Don't hate because it works.

4. In the end, the only reason I feel that children are so heavily influenced by the media these day is the fact that many parents and even sitters, just plop the kids down in front of the TV instead of actually having some activities with them. Plus the video and most people are negating the fact that most of these "gender-based roles" have been that way for millennia. Sorry to bust people's bubbles, but Boys constructing stuff didn't start at age 5 with a brand new lego set. It started eons ago when Men started building homes and towns. This idea of women being homemakers isn't a new one. It's a very old one. Again, it's gone almost unnoticed until the 20th Century. Sure there are exceptions, but those are few and far between.

Otherwise the video is very accurate and true.

[Ωmega]

Problems with your video, @MaruDashi .

1. Question about the commercials at 0:38, You simply have never noticed them before. Things have always been like that. It wasn't until recently that Lego produced a Pink Lego Block. >.>;

2. "Limited at how to react to and solve problems..." at 1:43. AND?! That's exactly how we resolve things. Don't like it, then resolve them for us.

3. At 4:00 Ad makers spend $17 billion, They obviously know how to spend they're money wisely. Use rough and tumble words to target boys, and soft and pretty words to target girls. Don't hate because it works.

4. In the end, the only reason I feel that children are so heavily influenced by the media these day is the fact that many parents and even sitters, just plop the kids down in front of the TV instead of actually having some activities with them. Plus the video and most people are negating the fact that most of these "gender-based roles" have been that way for millennia. Sorry to bust people's bubbles, but Boys constructing stuff didn't start at age 5 with a brand new lego set. It started eons ago when Men started building homes and towns. This idea of women being homemakers isn't a new one. It's a very old one. Again, it's gone almost unnoticed until the 20th Century. Sure there are exceptions, but those are few and far between.

Otherwise the video is very accurate and true.

In regards to #1, she did two videos on that too-




The idea is that it shouldnt be rough and tumble for boys and soft and frilly for girls. Girls can be rough and boys can be frilly, but the market tells us "no, boys should be rough and kill things and girls should be cute and bake cakes". Yes, its been around for a while but norms -do- change [fun fact: the color pink used to be a 'boy' color]. And yes, while parents let commercials ween their children [in a sense] the idea is that commercials should cut out the gender role crap and just market toys to *all* children, just like parents should encourage boys to be creative with baking and maybe knitting and let girls be more aggressive by letting them play with nerf toys and such

[DeathBlade/13.666]

In regards to #1, she did two videos on that too-




The idea is that it shouldnt be rough and tumble for boys and soft and frilly for girls. Girls can be rough and boys can be frilly, but the market tells us "no, boys should be rough and kill things and girls should be cute and bake cakes". Yes, its been around for a while but norms -do- change [fun fact: the color pink used to be a 'boy' color]. And yes, while parents let commercials ween their children [in a sense] the idea is that commercials should cut out the gender role crap and just market toys to *all* children, just like parents should encourage boys to be creative with baking and maybe knitting and let girls be more aggressive by letting them play with nerf toys and such

Fair enough, but still. I mean come on, it's not like back in the early days when boys and girls up to about a toddler's age were dressed in dresses. It has more to do with society than commercialism. Marketing is only following the social trends and always has. If you want the commercials to change, then change society and/or the social image. OR you can do the epic thing and raise your children (Should/when you decide to have any) differently and not let them get sucked into commercials on the boob tube (a.k.a. TV).

[abcdefgh12345678]

Picture was FREAKING AWESOME cause it had a NERF GUN!

Also, why you call me VG?


Also one of the comenters on one of the news sites with this posted a link to this other similar news story:
http://www.autostraddle.com/a-five-y...r-panic-65863/

LOL

[Ranshiin]

Also, why you call me VG?

I quote fact.

And you're still stupid.

[blueangel06661]

I quote fact.

And you're still stupid.

Fact indeed.

Anyhow am I the only kid around here who was absolutely girly. Played with barbies, had many dresses for dress up. But still liked to go outside and roll around in the dirt and play with toy trucks and cars. I played with whatever I wanted too. I also shot BB guns frequently at targets. Yeah, imagine a small girl shooting a BB gun for fun when I was too small for a real one.

[abcdefgh12345678]

I quote fact.

And you're still stupid.

Where's your proof that I'm VG?

[Ranshiin]

Where's your proof that I'm VG?

I think the stupid threads you're posting say enough, don't ya think?

Also the fact that you obviously know EXACTLY who he is, despite being a 'new member'.

/case

[abcdefgh12345678]

Also the fact that you obviously know EXACTLY who he is, despite being a 'new member'.

I don't know nor did I ever say I know who he is. I just see you calling me VG. And I'm telling you I don't know who he or she is, nor do I know what makes you think I'm this person. Nor was this thread stupid. I don't know why you said this thread was stupid.

[nrL]

0/10, that's not even radical

Presenting us with such common and not-at-all unbelievable opinions is not like you at all.
are you running out of steam?

But don't get discouraged!
Have some tea with biscuits, and try again later!

[Xeyuzio]

You guys are so bias, even if it is VG555 I thought this topic was good to discuss until Mac burned it down. None of this would have happened if someone such as myself made this thread.

I hope this becomes a more occurring thing. When I have my kids I plan to let thrm pick out there own clothes and toys, my son could be wearing a dress and playing with barbies and I would still love them, same with my daughter if she chooses to sear and play with more masculine things.

[Ranshiin]

You guys are so bias, even if it is VG555 I thought this topic was good to discuss until Mac burned it down. None of this would have happened if someone such as myself made this thread.

I hope this becomes a more occurring thing. When I have my kids I plan to let thrm pick out there own clothes and toys, my son could be wearing a dress and playing with barbies and I would still love them, same with my daughter if she chooses to sear and play with more masculine things.

Well yeah. If VG hadn't started this thread I would have taken it more seriously. But of course he DID start this thread, so blame him not me.

[Xeyuzio]

Well yeah. If VG hadn't started this thread I would have taken it more seriously. But of course he DID start this thread, so blame him not me.

That's called being bias.

[Ranshiin]

That's called being bias.

Even though @GameGeeks made the first post, so you're biased in blaming me for burning the thread down?

inb4biasedretort.

Fact indeed.

Anyhow am I the only kid around here who was absolutely girly. Played with barbies, had many dresses for dress up. But still liked to go outside and roll around in the dirt and play with toy trucks and cars. I played with whatever I wanted too. I also shot BB guns frequently at targets. Yeah, imagine a small girl shooting a BB gun for fun when I was too small for a real one.

I dunno, my sister was mega-girly until she was like ... eight or nine. My younger sister was also mega-girly until roughly the same age ... now she's a huge drama queen.

How times change. o_o

[Xeyuzio]

Even though @GameGeeks made the first post, so you're biased in blaming me for burning the thread down?

inb4biasedretort.



I dunno, my sister was mega-girly until she was like ... eight or nine. My younger sister was also mega-girly until roughly the same age ... now she's a huge drama queen.

How times change. o_o

I am not, GameGeeks never brought up that it was VG555, he gave his opinion on the over all thread.

[I A]

Anyone who thinks there should be gender barriers should not go out into today's reality. I always loved "guy toys" when I was little, and even now I never wear skirts or anything.

[Albear]

... and even now I never wear skirts or anything.

So you'd prefer to be naked? Hey, its a neutral state.

 

Just kidding

My sister likes stuff aimed towards both genders, and so do I. Being a fan of MLP Frienship ish magic is one of the ”feminine” stuff I like.

[Jozette]

I hate you mods for this reason you use your power incorrrectly and if people aren't in your tight cricle of "friends" then they get shunned or harassed. WHATS THE POINT OF A FORUM WITH NO FORUMERS? Everytime I log in you guys are bullying the people! Even if this thread was made by megaAnimeFan it should still be respected. Oh yeah @Ranshiin stap almost hashtagging!
I'm sorry for going OT
I was always a tomboy I used to stay away from girls due to the drama if that meant Playing with Boy stuff then okay second why are some toys boys and some girls I played with dolls and nerf guns. Also with new movies like hunger games girls would like to be like katniss.
In reply to the thread

[blueangel06661]

I hate you mods for this reason you use your power incorrrectly and if people aren't in your tight cricle of "friends" then they get shunned or harassed. WHATS THE POINT OF A FORUM WITH NO FORUMERS? Everytime I log in you guys are bullying the people! Even if this thread was made by megaAnimeFan it should still be respected.

Would you like to know a secrete.....

 

Mods are also members....

In fact.. We were members first.. And still are as far as I know..

[Meenah]

If it looks like something I'll like, boy or girl stuff, I gotta have it. I roll that way.

[wolfgirl90]

For me, my opinion is the same as the parent company, TOP-TOY. That the ads are not trying to change gender roles but are rather showing how kids actually play with toys these days. Boys are not the only ones who play with Nerf guns; girls play with them too. Girls are not the only ones who play with a kitchen set; boys play with them too. And to top it all off, boys and girls usually play with these toys WITH EACH OTHER!!





Just like in the ads, when children play each other, even when the sexes are mixed, they play with anything around them. So a boy will pretend to bake and a girl will play with a dragon; they want to play and they will play with anything (hell, kids play with cardboard boxes when given the chance). This isn't a drastic change to gender roles, but rather a true representation of how children really play with stuff.

 

To answer the OP's other question, the ":-" symbol, as anyone could have guessed, is the symbol for the Swedish Krona, which is their currency. One Krona is about 15 American cents, so that's why everything "looks" expensive. In reality, the castle playset is about $98.