California law seeks 'gender neutral' toy aisles

Girls and boys are different.

I am pro choice, but we must recognise and embrace our changes.

After all that’s what makes this world such special, diverse and beautiful place.

Don’t let extreme perspectives and the “equality” utopia blind you from reality.

Embrace it instead and enjoy it.

Extremes were never good, and we now live in an increasingly, and dangerously bipolarised world.

California leading the way in insanity.

If a store wants to make a gender neutral toy aisle, good for them. But trying to enforce them by law is just intrusive.

"We need to stop stigmatizing kids and putting them in a box by dictating what they should like based on outdated gender stereotypes," Low told AFP.

They’re just toys. They don’t limit your freedom unless you let them. This is how you know when people are too obsessed with woke culture.

I also find it very offensive that condoms and tampons are in different aisles, they should make a law asap. Not to talk anout that nonsense with clothes and shoes being gender segregated, the horror

Ok, enact the law. Watch retailers start to charge a higher stocking fee citing “premier and priority” placement for these items, resulting in higher priced products versus their “gendered” counterparts. This will pave the way for neo-gender activists to push a “pink tax” like complaint as these toys may come with less features and higher prices to make up the margins of arguably a niche market…..

Or don’t, enact a policy that incentivizes companies to produce more gender diverse products and retailers to carry such items. Allow the stores to cary the items in what ever configuration works for them.

The price difference between boys and girls children's products is ridiculous and very much should be illegal. The same product just different colors if that and they cost different prices. These companies are crooked. They play these marketing games angling for every extra cent then can squeeze out of you. I hate having to shop and give my money to these crooks. Nothing but dishonest scum in their corporate offices but we are all stuck having to patronize them or make everything on our own (but even then you have to buy the raw materials from crooks out to take every cent from you they can). There are times when I almost think stealing from them isn't immoral at all. They sure as h3ll aren't shy about stealing from us!

"Some laws were made to be broken." - Abraham Yoda

Ok, enact the law. Watch retailers start to charge a higher stocking fee citing “premier and priority” placement for these items, resulting in higher priced products versus their “gendered” counterparts. 

Ah, a little secret few understand. The big chain stores rent shelf space to product makers who are responsible for stocking the shelves in these stores. This is especially true in grocery stores. On may isles it is employees of the companies who make the products who stock those shelves. The store rents them out to the highest bidder, which in turn makes it very hard to impossible for up and coming new companies to outbid the major manufacturers for shelf space. This is one of the ways major producers in connivance with retailers restrict competition and maintain their oligopolies. All of this should be illegal but instead is normal practice. If you wonder why prices are high, this is part of the reason.

"Britten asked her mom while shopping why certain things in a store were 'off limits' to her because she was a girl, but would be fine if she was a boy."

So who told the kid certain things in the store were off limits to her? I can’t imagine the store had a policy of ‘no girls allowed in this section, no boys allowed in that section’. The shop just wants to sell stuff, and that works best if things are easy for the customer to find: dolls in the ‘play house’ section, toy soldiers in the ‘play war’ section, apples in the fruit section.

The onus is surely on parents, not the shops.

No one ever told my kids any bit of the toy section was off limits to them. When he was little, my son loved playing house, my daughter was a total tomboy who nevertheless loved everything pink and frilly. They both grew up into fine adults.

Just let the kids get on with it, let them play with whatever they want so long as it isn’t dangerous. They’ll be fine without legislation telling them what they can and can’t enjoy.

For a country that at every opportunity shouts from the rooftops about its freedoms, there certainly does seem to be a love of in-your-face, we-know-better-than-you legislation curbing freedoms…

Anyone ever seen the Barbie dolls from the 60's? They were all anatomically correct when you took off the clothes if you get what I mean. I hate where the world is going. Gender neutral???

When logic and common sense are thrown out the window. You get AMERICA!!!!!

Just let the kids get on with it, let them play with whatever they want so long as it isn’t dangerous. They’ll be fine without legislation telling them what they can and can’t enjoy.

That sounds so easy but big toy makers market to the sexes differently. They see different demand curves for boys and girls toys and set prices based on what they think parents will pay, which in turn is affected by how much their kids will nag them for a given toy and that is often driven by the ads the kids are bombarded with on various forms of social media and TV that kids are well known to watch. People in these companies are paid a lot of money to study what they think kids want their parents to buy, advertise to the kids and then price based on what they think the demand will be. It is all designed to get parents to part with their money and the more money they part with the better. Half the time the kid stops playing with the toy soon after you buy it (been there done that too many times, we took the kids skateboard to punish him and hid it, it's been a year and he has never even asked where it is or if he could have it back !). The toy company made their money and that is all they care about. They create a demand for their toys through marketing.

For a country that at every opportunity shouts from the rooftops about its freedoms, there certainly does seem to be a love of in-your-face, we-know-better-than-you legislation curbing freedoms…

People are too often chumps in the market place and this allows big companies to skin you every single time you go to the grocery store, the toy store, the gas station, etc. But if any level of government figures out the games these companies play and tries to stop them from skinning their constituents, these very same people cry their freedoms are being taken away. Wake up to the ways these companies manipulate price and quantity to maximize their income at your expense. We do not have competitive markets in most major consumer markets and the higher prices these oligopolies and monopolies extract above what they could charge if the markets were truly competitive represents a massive wealth transfer from consumers to producers.

"first world problemming" much? Wake up and smell the coffee. They solved all their other problems, social and race injustice and THIS ONE become their highest priority? Not looking forward to the ruined generation they're producing over there.

Most businesses ARE “pro-choice”: The consumer chooses to shop there, or not. -

Most aisles ARE “pro-choice”: Parents choose to look there, or not.

“Evan Low said he was inspired to frame the legislation by the daughter of a woman who worked in his office.” -

Evan Low was ‘promising’ for work he’s done for both AsianAmericans and Silicon Valley based businesses. But with all the small businesses that were devastated by the pandemic & Cali-govt reactions, THIS is the best HE can do for Californians ??

-“Low said he was inspired to frame the legislation by the daughter of a woman who worked in his office.” -

So much for his media predictions of “Presidential” aspirations in 2024.

Britten asked her mom while shopping why certain things in a store were 'off limits' to her because she was a girl, but would be fine if she was a boy."

I was not aware the toys sections had access control. Must be a new thing, I guess.

People are too often chumps in the market place and this allows big companies to skin you

You have the freedom not to be a chump.

 The toy company made their money and that is all they care about. They create a demand for their toys through marketing.

No one is forced to buy anything. If you don’t want to buy your kid a particular toy, for whatever reason, Just Say No.

And mean it.

What’s next? Take down ALL the directional signage that designate different departments: “Women’s, Men’s, Girl’s, Boy’s, Toys, Tools, Hardware” ?? -

I can’t understand that discussion. When I remember my childhood, we just played with all toys that were available, and everyone , boys and girls, was equally capable to play with toy soldiers, puppets, cars, model kitchens, cowboys, Indians, peeing dolls or tanks and robot cars. Likes and not-so-likes were of course a bit gender distributed , but everyone also played with all other toys. The differences were all made at home, by the parents, promoting their will and choice or degree of freedom. But not at kindergartens, pre- and elementary schools and their after school activities. That means, even if for example provided only with male play friends and toy soldiers everyone could play then with girls and puppets at school if he wanted. And vice versa, a girl only equipped with puppets could play with guns and boys after school. Personally, I am very sure, that this only an adult’s discussion and the children know and find a way one day to the toys they really like and want most.

Why? There are no boy or girl aisles.

Anyone here offended or feel excluded by these labels?: “Women’s, Men’s, Girl’s, Boy’s, Cosmetics, Toys, Guns, Knives, Ammo, Kitchenwares, Cutlery, Tools, Toiletries, Toilet Paper, Hardware”?

- “Some people are just uncomfortable shopping in certain sections for fear of being seen and ‘labeled’ as “A, B,...” -

What’s next? Take down ALL of these convenient, directional signage that designate different departments, entrances, exits, firecapes as not to offend certain sensibilities”?

If legislation like this continues dictating how businesses merchandise their products, where will it stop?

Not the only issue @Gaijinjland 9:30a, of inclusion & representation. In last month’s ‘news’ of missteps with Barbie, Mattel apologized for Olympic Barbie “not looking Asian enough”.

*@Gaijinjland 9:30a:** “Anyone ever seen the Barbie dolls from the 60's? They were all anatomically correct when you took off the clothes if you get what I mean. I hate where the world is going. Gender neutral???” *

From the article:

*- “This year, toy-maker Hasbro announced the Mr Potato Head brand would be getting a makeover "to promote gender equality and inclusion," and would be known simply as "Potato Head." -*

It’s only going to get worse.

By doing this, they are in fact applying gender roles to toys which only contradicts themselves.

Sounds like this guy is the compulsory one doing the mandating, dictating and demanding.

They should call it the ‘Evan Low Even Law’.

What a joke!

its simple blue and pink make a purple-ish shade of colour, every child can now play according to the parents wishes.

This identity problem is a western creation. Identification with the body will always confuse an individual. Because people are not their bodies. People are not their minds or even what they imagine they are which are just thoughts in the mind. People are much more than a body and mind. Awareness of that is what separates humans from apes.

Now that pregnant men is trending among the Left, I wonder how long we get pregnant men dolls or trans dolls.

More insanity.

If I had a dollar for every gender, I would have two dollars and a bunch of counterfeits.

This seems a bit much to me.

Stores can keep their current sections. Just add a basket with a few misc. toys and label it "genderless toy section" and they'll be okay.

I can’t understand that discussion. When I remember my childhood, we just played with all toys that were available, and everyone , boys and girls, was equally capable to play with toy soldiers, puppets, cars, model kitchens, cowboys, Indians, peeing dolls or tanks and robot cars.

Not what I experienced as a kid. Girls and boys tended to avoid each other. "Girls gots cooties" and all that. If you even half way liked a girl you never ever admitted it and you certainly didn't want anyone to see you with her.

Low said he was inspired to frame the legislation by the daughter of a woman who worked in his office.

"Britten asked her mom while shopping why certain things in a store were 'off limits' to her because she was a girl, but would be fine if she was a boy."

That sounds like complete nonsense. What items would be "off limits" just because they are in a different aisle?

Prime example of totalitarian overreach and draconic social engineering.

This idiotic legislator needs to focus on solving existing problems instead of imaginary ones.

That sounds like complete nonsense. What items would be "off limits" just because they are in a different aisle?

I agree. Left-wing extremists use the same ridiculous rhetoric you right-wing extremists use. It's just as ridiculous whichever side uses it.

I wonder if California law will push Amazon use a “gender neutral” category for their item catalogs?

These physical store retail outlets face a never ending onslaught from government edicts. And governments are grasping for gimmicks to extend their survival. Good luck.

Stupidity is never a great sales tactic.

I wonder how this would affect small vintage toy sellers. Technically they may or may be not a retailer depending on if and how they want to carry reissues or limited products, and products required for adherence to the law didn’t exist in mass at the time.

Britten asked her mom while shopping why certain things in a store were 'off limits' to her because she was a girl, but would be fine if she was a boy."

The mother obviously lied to her daughter. She either told her that certain things were off limits (lie) or she told this story which never happened.

No wonder people are leaving Californian in droves. Extreme liberal politicians focus time, energy and taxpayers money on idiocy like this while, homelessness, substance abuse abound and the cities drown in decay and filth.

Adam and Eve dolls with their genitals air-brushed out?

This is tail wagging the dog stuff.

Glad I don’t live in such a loony place.

Extreme liberal politicians focus time, energy and taxpayers money on idiocy like this 

The way in which they are liberal is with respect to what they do with other people’s money and lives, I guess.

Not sure what is genuinely “liberal” about this sort of wacky stuff.

bakakumaSep. 4 09:41 am JST

When logic and common sense are thrown out the window. You get AMERICA!!!!!

No, you get American liberalism.

Bubonam Justin KayceSep. 4 08:02 pm JST

Seriously? A LAW is required for this? California is the epitome of ridiculous laws and regulations. One could enjoy more freedom in Iran at this point. 

Exactly!  That is why I would support Larry Elder for governor. He would not put up with this baloney.

StrangerlandToday 05:11 am JST

That sounds like complete nonsense. What items would be "off limits" just because they are in a different aisle?

I agree. Left-wing extremists use the same ridiculous rhetoric you right-wing extremists use. It's just as ridiculous whichever side uses it.

Criticizing the left? Are you feeling OK?

Criticizing the left? Are you feeling OK?

Oh, I'm a left-of-centrist. I've criticized extremism on both sides for years.

Binary thinkers, both extremists on the left as well as extremists on the right, have a hard time comprehending this, as their mental synapses lack the ability to process anything beyond 'us' and 'them' and can't comprehend a nuanced opinion. It's a very American thing, this binary thinking, that their culture forces them to do to being a binary culture. Unfortunately with the proliferation of American media around the world, some of this thinking has managed to bleed out to the lesser intelligent people world wide. But you don't see it anywhere nearly as much as America.

Anyways, yeah I condemn all extremists. It's too bad that America is fracturing into two different groups of extremists.

1984 toys

This is Maoism in America. Government forcing a private business to make a political statement or risk being put out of business for non-compliance. When will the California state government force businesses to give all customers a free little red book? it’s no wonder their politics is in chaos out there on the far Left coast.

More proof that California needs a Republican governor.

California has gone bonkas

More proof that California needs a Republican governor.

As much proof as that Texas and Florida need a Democratic governor.

Extremes are never good on either side.