Democrats in the California Assembly introduced a new bill which would end gender separating toys in the stores. This could happen soon, LifeSiteNews reports.
Democrat Assemblyman Evan Low introduced the bill which aims to have stores stock children’s stock in “gender-neutral” isles. The idea is that similar items are often marketed the same way for both boys and girls.
As a result, when the stores separate them into gender-oriented aisles, this makes it more difficult for the consumers, Low argues. Plus it “incorrectly implies that their use by one gender is inappropriate”.
If you think about it, Low has a point. Stuffed animals for example are great toys for both boys and girls. Yet many stores stock them in the girls’ section.
On the other hand, we haven’t seen someone being stopped from buying a toy just because of the type of aisle it’s placed on. Low, though, says he has other observations which drove him to propose the bill.
“I was inspired to introduce this bill after 8-year-old Britten asked, ‘Why should a store tell me what a girl’s shirt or toy is?’” Low declared in a press release. “Her bill will help children express themselves freely and without bias. We need to let kids be kids.”
“Toy aisles are fine since most stores already do that and most are for anyone anyway,” said consumer advocate Grace Wayne. “But many people are upset about clothing aisles. “Children’s underwear is different for a certain reason, like adult underwear, and there are significant differences in clothing even at a younger age,” consumer advocate Grace Wayne explained. “It has nothing to do with clothes color or designs but more about shape and structure of it […] children that young may not be prepared to learn about certain parts of gender differences and other similar problems.”
So, the debate will certainly be quite heated. The idea is sound on paper, but the execution of it will be vital. Some changes seem very needed in order to find a common ground.
