Christmas Catalogue Causes Indignation In Sweden&Denmark, Not Enough Boys In Make-Up

midget_roxx · Dec 12, 2009 2:32 PM

I've had enough of the lack of interesting threads >:(

So have your seving of interesing threads. Note this has been translated

Christmas Catalogue Causes Indignation
Girls play with make-up and boys with tools and guns. The Swedish state's consumer watchdog (ombudsman) calls Toys'R'Us' Christmas catalogue sexist. Danish sociologist agrees: It forces the kids into gender roles from the fifties.
'Narrow-minded' and 'degrading towards both genders'.
That is the Swedish advertisement-ombudsman's judgement of Toys'R'Us' Christmas catalogue.
And the Danish gender scholar and sociologist Karen Sjorup is in complete agreement.
"It's completely stereotypical and separated into pink pages for the girls, who have to look pretty in make-up and princess gowns, while all the technical toys are for the boys. It's a shame for both sexes," she criticises.
[...]
Another Danish scholar in children's life and learning, Grethe Krag-Müller:
"It's a problem that both girls and boys are prevented from developing all the sides of their personalities," she says.
Karen Sjorup feels that it is very much Toys'R'Us' responsibility to show some proper role models:
"When the little girl has first seen that it's the boys who play with guns, it will be hard for her parents to say no and steer her in the right direction again." [Just kidding that wasn't her actual statement... ~Montemurro]
"When the little girl has first seen the catalogue, it will be hard for the parents to say no and steer her in the right direction again."
But according to Toys'R'Us' retail manager Soren Blangsted, there's nothing wrong with the catalogue.
"We feel that we reflect reality as it is. Kids copy what mom and dad do, and here it's still the women who wear make-up. It's not our responsibility to change society's gender patterns. We're here to sell products," he says.

Source: http://www.metroxpress.dk/dk/article/20 … /index.xml

midget_roxx · Dec 12, 2009 2:38 PM

Why doesn't quoting work >:(?

Stormy · Dec 12, 2009 8:57 PM

Good thread. As for why your quoting isn't working, it's because you have BBCode disabled in your original post.
But anyway...

This is ridiculous. Are they going to sell anything if they portray boys playing with makeup and girls playing with guns? No, and you know why? Because they're traditional gender roles that most kids just follow naturally. Most girls play with dolls and makeup because they like those things. Most boys play with toy guns and tools because they like those things. And there's nothing wrong with that. Genders are not "equal" in the sense they're trying to imply, nor should they be.

I was never into playing dress-up or being a princess when I was a kid; instead, I was more interested in traditionally male-dominated activities. No "sides of my personality" were being left undeveloped because that is my personality. The same would be true for the girls who liked playing princesses - that was their personality. You don't need to try to fit both gender roles to be a fully developed person.

Spyrorocks · Dec 12, 2009 9:43 PM

I'm so offended by the toy's r us catalogue. My brother should love a little pink doll for Christmas. [/sarcasm]

If your so angered at the catalogue don't read it or publish your own. Its really not a big deal, and its not your company.

Aicebo · Dec 12, 2009 9:47 PM

Spyrorocks wrote:

I'm so offended by the toy's r us catalogue. My brother should love a little pink doll for Christmas.

That was pretty funny...you should do that as a joke XDDD

RedDragonX · Dec 13, 2009 12:09 AM

I don't know if I should be laughing my a$$ off at this crud or crying because the human race has become such a group of babies crying about stereotypes and wondering why life isn't fair. Holy crap I played with a little hammer toy when I was 3 years old...I'M FREAKING SO BECOMING A HARDHAT EMPLOYEE NOW.

Simply put....this is bs....

midget_roxx · Dec 13, 2009 8:53 AM

Stormy wrote:

Good thread. As for why your quoting isn't working, it's because you have BBCode disabled in your original post.
But anyway...
This is ridiculous. Are they going to sell anything if they portray boys playing with makeup and girls playing with guns? No, and you know why? Because they're traditional gender roles that most kids just follow naturally. Most girls play with dolls and makeup because they like those things. Most boys play with toy guns and tools because they like those things. And there's nothing wrong with that. Genders are not "equal" in the sense they're trying to imply, nor should they be.
I was never into playing dress-up or being a princess when I was a kid; instead, I was more interested in traditionally male-dominated activities. No "sides of my personality" were being left undeveloped because that is my personality. The same would be true for the girls who liked playing princesses - that was their personality. You don't need to try to fit both gender roles to be a fully developed person.

Excellent. Now how do you get it so I don't have to keep unticking the box when posting a new reply?

Stormy · Dec 13, 2009 8:39 PM

^ Go to your profile and check "Yes" on "Always allow BBCode".

Neotyguy40 · Dec 13, 2009 10:19 PM

Girls play with make-up and boys with tools and guns. The Swedish state's consumer watchdog (ombudsman) calls Toys'R'Us' Christmas catalogue sexist. Danish sociologist agrees: It forces the kids into gender roles from the fifties.

And the sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties, and pretty much this decade too...

'Narrow-minded' and 'degrading towards both genders'.

I guess it could possibly be 'narrow-minded' to an extent, but degrading? It's only degrading by people who think that sterotypes don't exist...

"It's completely stereotypical and separated into pink pages for the girls, who have to look pretty in make-up and princess gowns, while all the technical toys are for the boys. It's a shame for both sexes," she criticises.

Newsflash: I have just received reports that there are, infact, sterotypes between boys and girls.

"It's a problem that both girls and boys are prevented from developing all the sides of their personalities," she says.

As much as I disagree with what she said before, I must agree with this statement. Media is preventing genders from developing both a masculine and feminine personality. Though what do they expect? It's natural for boys and girls to go into separate groups.

Karen Sjorup feels that it is very much Toys'R'Us' responsibility to show some proper role models.

No. It's Toys'R'Us' responsibility to sell toys that are dangerous to kids younger than 3 years of age, and boring to kids over 9 years of age.

"When the little girl has first seen the catalogue, it will be hard for the parents to say no and steer her in the right direction again."

What the heck? Parents are the ones who naturally point boys and girls in their own directions. I can bet almost all parents who design their child's room will either be feminine or masculine depending on the gender.

"We feel that we reflect reality as it is. Kids copy what mom and dad do, and here it's still the women who wear make-up.

While I never usually agree with major companies, I must agree with them on this. Everyone has been taught since they were a child, that boys and girls do different things. They just divided up the catalogue into sections that make it easier for boys and girls to search through the toys they would (most likely) enjoy.

"It's not our responsibility to change society's gender patterns. We're here to sell products," he says.

Yes. Yes it is you greedy idiots. I just wish those other people would understand that.

Spyrorocks · Dec 13, 2009 10:56 PM

I like how straight forward they are, "we are here to sell products".

Ghakimx · Dec 13, 2009 11:02 PM

Yes, I wholeheartedly agree with them. There is just NOT enough make up! How the devil am I going to fulfill my dream as a girl? Sheesh. Stupid Toys 'R Us.

midget_roxx · Dec 15, 2009 3:03 AM

Neotyguy40 wrote:

As much as I disagree with what she said before, I must agree with this statement. Media is preventing genders from developing both a masculine and feminine personality. Though what do they expect? It's natural for boys and girls to go into separate groups.

It's their job to complain and since safety standards have risen so much they are just nitpicking

Yes. Yes it is you greedy idiots. I just wish those other people would understand that.

Hardly greedy. They're a company and thier entire purpose is to make money. By them making more money does that make them more greedy?

Spyrorocks · Dec 15, 2009 6:35 AM

Unlike every non-profit company, they need to make money, and to that I say good on them for making such a successful business.

Stormy · Dec 15, 2009 7:16 AM

^ Exactly. Wanting to make money in a business doesn't make someone "greedy," especially not in a situation like this when they clearly place making a profit over the stupid complaints in that article.

#1 Dec 12, 2009 2:32 PM

Christmas Catalogue Causes Indignation In Sweden&Denmark, Not Enough Boys In Make-Up

#2 Dec 12, 2009 2:38 PM

Re: Christmas Catalogue Causes Indignation In Sweden&Denmark, Not Enough Boys In Make-Up

#3 Dec 12, 2009 8:57 PM

Re: Christmas Catalogue Causes Indignation In Sweden&Denmark, Not Enough Boys In Make-Up

#4 Dec 12, 2009 9:43 PM

Re: Christmas Catalogue Causes Indignation In Sweden&Denmark, Not Enough Boys In Make-Up

#5 Dec 12, 2009 9:47 PM

Re: Christmas Catalogue Causes Indignation In Sweden&Denmark, Not Enough Boys In Make-Up

#6 Dec 13, 2009 12:09 AM

Re: Christmas Catalogue Causes Indignation In Sweden&Denmark, Not Enough Boys In Make-Up

#7 Dec 13, 2009 8:53 AM

Re: Christmas Catalogue Causes Indignation In Sweden&Denmark, Not Enough Boys In Make-Up

#8 Dec 13, 2009 8:39 PM

Re: Christmas Catalogue Causes Indignation In Sweden&Denmark, Not Enough Boys In Make-Up

#9 Dec 13, 2009 10:19 PM

Re: Christmas Catalogue Causes Indignation In Sweden&Denmark, Not Enough Boys In Make-Up

#10 Dec 13, 2009 10:56 PM

Re: Christmas Catalogue Causes Indignation In Sweden&Denmark, Not Enough Boys In Make-Up

#11 Dec 13, 2009 11:02 PM

Re: Christmas Catalogue Causes Indignation In Sweden&Denmark, Not Enough Boys In Make-Up

#12 Dec 15, 2009 3:03 AM

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#13 Dec 15, 2009 6:35 AM

Re: Christmas Catalogue Causes Indignation In Sweden&Denmark, Not Enough Boys In Make-Up

#14 Dec 15, 2009 7:16 AM

Re: Christmas Catalogue Causes Indignation In Sweden&Denmark, Not Enough Boys In Make-Up

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