How Products Perpetuate Sexism (...Oh Yes, I'm Going There)

Why is it that we associate the color pink for girls and the color blue for boys? Why do we walk the aisles of Toys R Us and Walmart and find the "boy" toys and the "girl" toys. Why do we order a happy meal for our children and siblings and ask them if they "want a boy toy or a girl toy?". 

​Have you ever noticed how absolutely ridiculous this concept is?

I was at McDonald's the other day. (Don't judge, you know the fries are alright when you're on the run and need a treat). When I was in the dinning room waiting, I looked at the toys for this month's Happy Meal. "Boy Toys", Teen Titans (an action cartoon on Cartoon Network), "Girls Toys", little Sweet Tarts change purses (?) in the shape of hearts with cute quotes. Seriously? It's February of 2017 and this is RIDICULOUS. 

Raising Our Daughters with Sexism
​- And We're Blind To It

It's your niece's/cousin's birthday. You're looking for a gift  that she'll adore. Something to make the mother of the birthday girl pat you on the back. Something to make the birthday girl exclaim in joy and proudly show off her gift to her guests. 

You start with online shopping but decide to hit the mall. You'd rather see what's in stock and what's trendy with the kids.

You enter the aisles in the stores and find yourself surrounded by the shelves with toys targeted to girls. You see rows of baby dolls, toy kitchens and plastic food, and even mock vacuums and brooms.

Think of that. Visualize that. 

Baby dolls. Toy kitchens. Plastic food. MOCK VACUUMS AND BROOMS.

Are you f***ing kidding me?

But... you enter the "boy" aisles. You see the contrast in toys. You find trucks, action figures, and toys that promote action and adventure.

Promote action and adventure.

Have you recognized how SEXIST this is?

"Little Tina gets a Barbie play-set with the shopping mall and ultimate shoe collection and Bobby gets to build and use his creativity with Legos!".

​We're starting our kids out in a sexist culture and as parents, we don't even recognize it.

Brands Taking Steps Forward

As times change and we recognize the stupidity of what is gendering products, brands and companies are striving to change how we see products. Target has moved forward to changing the gendered aisles to descriptive aisles ("Not "girl toys" but dolls and play-sets. Not "boy toys" but action figures and play sets").

Mattel's Barbie is empowering children by having president Barbie, CEO Barbie, as well as Barbies that are petite, curvy, tall and have different hair textures and styles (YOU GO BARBIE!).

​My favorite new toy set is called “Project MC2”. These toys are targeted to girls but the toy sets are science inspired. Girls are praised to play with these dolls that combine scientific experiments with play. I love how this line of toys is promoting girls to focus on their careers and NOT shopping.

Barbie

Project MC2

In Comparison...

We can't forget about the controversial move BIC made by introducing "Pens for her". Ellen DeGeneres famously mocked it on her Talk-show stating, "thank GOD women have pens now". We get it, BIC, you want to make cute styled pens (I love stationary, I'm guilty). But labeling with gender is out and unacceptable!

Bordering that, Lego came out with a line of toys for girls ("Lego Friends") that featured stores, girl figures, and more. The toys were brightly colored and featured "pretty" details. I love the idea of a brand normally targeted to boys trying to say "hey we're a toy for both girls and boys!" 

Lego has continued their efforts and has recently introduced the new DC Girls Lego sets which bring action and adventure, and female empowerment, into the lives of young girls.

Bic for Her

Lego

Break The Rules, Buy "Opposite Gender" Products (?)

A little TMI, I have always struggled with finding the right antiperspirant. I tried sprays, roll-ons, gel, powders. Teen Spirit, Dove, Degree, Secret - you name it, I tried it. Every girly, flowery, pretty scent and brand, I tried. Deodorant had to be reapplied throughout the day and I had to leave one at home, one in my backpack, and one in my purse.

But one day, I left my deodorant at home and traveled towns away. I had no deodorant and thought I would surely die. My ex-boyfriend told me to just use his, Arm & Hammer "Fresh" scented. I looked at him puzzled, "this is for boys" I thought. The scent, the packaging, the ads - yup, why would this product even work for me?

​Well, I was WRONG. The one deodorant that last all day as keeps me fresh with no reapplication needed is a MALE PRODUCT.

A Wrap Up

Listen, I can't offer a solution to this issue. Where do you start to create a change in an issue so ingrained in a culture and roots?  The first step is recognizing there is an issue. I present to you this blog post to show you what I see and my realizations in hope to create awareness.