Archived Target to remove Gender Based Labeling?

[oath2order]

Nobody is mandating what can be sold to whom.

And nobody ever was doing that.

Is there anyone out there so insecure in their child's gender that they won't buy a toy unless the store color codes and labels it for a specific gender?

I'm surprised you have to ask this.

 

[redstripes]

Okay, so here's the thing. Even without parental involvement, kids will still learn by observation that some things are "for boys" and some things are "for girls". Maybe they noticed the sign on the bathroom door had a blue stick man and a pink stick girl. They certainly noticed it through television when advertisers use certain colors for particular toys. Even manufacturers utilize colors this way. Look at the typical "girl toys" aisle. Nearly all packaging involve pink and sometimes purple.

I just see broad strokes in reasoning here. I have helped kids in item selection for things for "the wrong gender" plenty of times. Often the parents aren't certain how to help but are receptive and very appreciative in any help that can be offered. In these cases it may even be easier for a parent to stand in the beige, yellow, or green aisle with their 6 year old than standing in the pink or blue aisle while they already have a level of confusion as to what their child exactly wants.

 

[dannyy315]

I wonder how long it'll take for us to take the signage down. We still have a sign in the pets section that says "May is National Pet Month".

 

[Retail Girl]

First, the cleaning set...broom, dust pan, whatever...still pink and marketed towards the girls...and in the now unlabeled but still obviously "girl section." Because of course, only girls should learn to clean up and play clean up.

Second, I figured this was coming when I was in one spot and noticed this year that the classic books were no longer labeled on the shelf as "boys classic books" and "girls classic books". This year they were still separated out...two separate DPCIs....right next to each other...but they took off the boy/girl descriptors.

 

[commiecorvus]

First, the cleaning set...broom, dust pan, whatever...still pink and marketed towards the girls...and in the now unlabeled but still obviously "girl section." Because of course, only girls should learn to clean up and play clean up.

Second, I figured this was coming when I was in one spot and noticed this year that the classic books were no longer labeled on the shelf as "boys classic books" and "girls classic books". This year they were still separated out...two separate DPCIs....right next to each other...but they took off the boy/girl descriptors.

It's the book one that pissed me off more than anything.
There is no such thing as a "Boy's Classic" or a "Girl's Classic".
There are classic books period.
The thing is not all books appeal to all people and the divide has nothing to do with gender.
What a person enjoys reading doesn't have to do with topic so much as style, tempo, characters, plot, and so many other elements that labeling a book like that is just wrong.

 

[daninnj]

There's more shots of those trolly Facebook comments here:

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/man-p...s-its-gender-neutral-move-epic-replies-166364

They're all good, but those are the best! HAHAHAHA

 

[Backroom81]

Fucking lol at Aloha Snackbar comment.

I have to wonder, does this mean we are gonna get rid of the pink themed tool set marketed towards women? Because I find that 1000x more retarded than this argument.

 

[signingminion]

Fucking lol at Aloha Snackbar comment.

I have to wonder, does this mean we are gonna get rid of the pink themed tool set marketed towards women? Because I find that 1000x more retarded than this argument.

I love my pink tools. Hubby will use them but it's easy to see from a distance that they are mine...he eats all the good tools otherwise.

 

[Jill of All Trades]

I love my pink tools. Hubby will use them but it's easy to see from a distance that they are mine...he eats all the good tools otherwise.

My husband kept stealing my good tweezers until I dropped $20 on a really nice pair of tweezermans that just happened to be hot pink with purple elephants on them. I do find the pink tools a little offensive, but sometimes we can use stereotypes to our advantage.

 

[The Dude Abides]

My store got at least a dozen calls yesterday about this.

 

[oath2order]

I do find the pink tools a little offensive

Seriously?!

 

[Jill of All Trades]

I think they're pandering to women, which is lame. But I put the blame more on the women who buy that stuff than the people who make it- it wouldn't be manufactured if it didn't sell. I'd be capital O offended if it cost more than the same set in blue, though.

 

[dabeastfromtheeast]

Anyone else noticed that after that dude trolled on Spot's FB, that Target is now releasing an exclusive line of troll figurines? It may just be good timing, but if not, that's a classy as hell PR move.

 

[Backroom81]

I think they're pandering to women, which is lame. But I put the blame more on the women who buy that stuff than the people who make it- it wouldn't be manufactured if it didn't sell.

But does it sell? We've carried that tool set for a few years now and I have yet to pull 1 out of the backroom.

 

[daninnj]

My husband kept stealing my good tweezers until I dropped $20 on a really nice pair of tweezermans that just happened to be hot pink with purple elephants on them. I do find the pink tools a little offensive, but sometimes we can use stereotypes to our advantage.

Shouldn't that be Tweezerwomans? We don't want to have any boys confused and start using them to pluck their eyebrows and turn out gay or anything

 

[daninnj]

Seriously though, the bigger issue of the backlash is that many people still think that being gay and trans is a choice and degendering the toys section will confuse the kids into an "alternative lifestyle."

 

[redeye58]

Yeh, 'cause we've all heard about the roving gangs of gays who do nothing but trying to recruit 'straight' youth into their lifestyle 'choice'.

 

[daninnj]

Yeh, 'cause we've all heard about the roving gangs of gays who do nothing but trying to recruit 'straight' youth into their lifestyle 'choice'.

 

[FlowChick]

Anyone else noticed that after that dude trolled on Spot's FB, that Target is now releasing an exclusive line of troll figurines? It may just be good timing, but if not, that's a classy as hell PR move.

http://www.kare11.com/story/news/na...get-account-answers-facebook-gripes/31706967/

 

[awbuckit]

Fucking lol at Aloha Snackbar comment.

I have to wonder, does this mean we are gonna get rid of the pink themed tool set marketed towards women? Because I find that 1000x more retarded than this argument.

My husband has a MASSIVE tool collection. He got tired of everyone taking and not putting back his tools and now keeps it locked.
He bought me my own tool box and I got to pick it out. He thought I'd go for the pink or lime green one but they were about $100 more so I chose the standard black one. Us women can think past the pretty pink color! BTW, the pink tools are really cheap quality.

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

If it does the job, why care?

 

[redeye58]

My first tool kit was Craftsman.
My dad got it for me when I moved to my first apartment 😀

 

[tgtguy]

Personally, the way I see it...If a boy wants to play with a Barbie doll...more power to him. If a girl wants to play with a transformer...more power to her. Whatever, makes them happy ( that is what a toy is for after all) To each their own.

 

[Backroom81]

BTW, the pink tools are really cheap quality.

Pretty much all the tool sets sold by Target are terrible quality.

 

[tellmeaboutatime]

Honestly this is the biggest non issue I have seen since I have been with Target. At first I thought the backlash was a joke someone started. Then I saw a woman go apeshit at guest service about it. There is no help in the store, its hot as hell and they are worried because of a sign? If Target would have just removed them no one would have noticed. Then again maybe its their way to get the Walmart crowd out?