Gender-specific toys raise debate

FATHER Christmas could find himself labelled a sexist by giving dolls and tea sets to girls and monster trucks and guns to boys this Christmas.

A debate on gender-specific toys in Australia is raging, with even Prime Minister Tony Abbott weighing in with his view that boys should be boys and girls should be girls.

This comes after Senator Larissa Waters backed a call for “No Gender December” to curb stereotypes around buying dolls for girls and trucks for boys.

The campaign by Play Unlimited wants parents to pledge “there is no place for gender stereotypes under my Christmas tree”.

According to the group, separate blue and pink aisles in toy stores and adverts showing girls and boys playing with specific toys encouraged gender inequality.

South Africa’s Commission for Gender Equality spokesman Javu Baloyi yesterday said the call was well-placed as it had given rise to a debate on moving away from “gender roles and a stereotypical mentality”.

“As a commission we believe the upbringing of a girl child and a boy child as it is now perpetuates stereotypes.”

Gauteng educational psychologist Fatima Adam said parents were entitled to buy toys according to the child’s desires rather than the gender stereotype.

“I am in agreement with the group that says if a girl wants a truck, why not?” she said.

However, toy stores categorise toys by gender and according to lists from Toys R Us, Amazon and local retailers such as Toy Zone, the top toys for girls this Christmas are: merchandise from Disney’s Frozen, loom bands, dolls and digital tablets, while boys want Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles merchandise, Xbox One, Lego and cars and trucks.