[GypsyGoth]

Originally Posted by Jack_

Hm let's see

- Overwhelming ridicule and rejection (case in point: this thread) from people who refuse to understand or listen to how they feel
- The fact that in most places they can't be legally recognised by what they define themselves as
- A perpetuation of the agonising self-doubt/hate and confusion that they already face as a result of numerous things that have been mentioned in this thread

I've already explained the issues, do I really need to go over this again?

Separating toys into genders socialises children into believing that they are naturally supposed to play with certain bits of plastic because that's what they've been taught to, meaning that there's a risk that any child who deters from that and wishes to play with a toy that hasn't been assigned to their gender could face being isolated, rejected and seen as weird for deviating from what's 'normal'.

Not only that, but the gender roles and stereotypes that are encoded within these gender specific toys are appalling. Teaching boys that they need to 'be a man' and 'man up' by playing with action figurines and cars, that they need to be strong, authoritative because that's what being a man is all about. Teaching girls that they need to play with Barbies and miniature kitchens because a girls appearance is very important and you must make yourself look perfect in order to impress the boys and you need to learn your place which is in the home. It just perpetuates these age old stereotypes which need to be eradicated

I see no actual reason for them to be labelled as boys and girls toys, there's no downsides to those labels being removed whatsoever yet there's no clear benefits for them existing, so why do they need to? What's the issue if we stop doing it? It's not about a 'gender neutral utopia' at all that's a wild exaggeration on your part, it's simply letting kids play with whatever bits of plastic they wish not because they've been socialised into thinking they have to play with this because that's the ~natural thing to do as if you emerge from the womb having any idea about toys anyway.

I actually can't believe that some people seemingly think that toy selection is natural and can't seem to understand that everything about it is socialization, we are near-empty blank slates when we're born you know, we're born into a world of codes and messages and stereotypes which we are taught and that shapes the people we become. You aren't born liking Barbie, Big Brother and onesies

I'm not convinced, I fail to see how having this debate in this thread is ridiculing and rejecting the gender opposed people (?) of the world. And legally recognizing a multitude of new gender roles, that's meant to what, makes things easier for people. Also self-doubt/hate is part of life, having a bunch of new labels won't change that.

Anyway we live in a society, leaving kids as black slates won't benefit the society. And in this society, regardless of if the toys are sold to boys or girls, both genders are allowed and do play with them.

Lastly the downside to not being able to categorize toys as girls or boys, is that we're losing a way to simplify the world.

Having stuff like "Non-binary" or "Pangender" on your passport instead of male or female isn't really what the world is crying out for now is it? Although it kinda does come under the heading of first world problems.