Greens back Barbie boycott campaign ahead of Christmas buying frenzy

The Greens are backing a campaign to boycott gender-based toys such as Barbie dolls and action figurines, warning there could be a link to domestic violence later in life.

The No Gender December campaign urges parents to think carefully before buying children's toys because of what it describes as harmful "gendered" marketing.

Greens senator Larissa Waters said research showed early play-based learning could have a significant impact on gender stereotypes.

"Outdated stereotypes about girls and boys and men and women perpetuate gender inequality, which feeds into very serious problems such as domestic violence and the gender pay gap," she said.

"While such serious problems seem so far removed from choosing children's toys, it's important that we think about this issue, especially when so many children's toys are being bought."

Senator Waters said the Greens had no plans for legislation to ban the practice "at this stage", but wanted parents and retailers to think twice before purchasing certain toys.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott rejected the campaign, saying his philosophy had always been: "Let boys be boys, let girls be girls."

"I certainly don't believe in that kind of political correctness," he told Channel Nine, adding that parents should be able to decide what was in the best interests of their children.

Mr Abbott also took aim at the Greens for promoting the boycott, saying it gave an indication of what things were like for the Government.

"You know, and you wonder why the Parliament's difficult, when you've got people like that with the balance of power in the Senate," he said.

The campaign was being run by the organisation Play Unlimited, which urged people to make a public pledge in the lead-up to Christmas.

"Kids shouldn't learn that certain toys are off limits for them because of their gender," the organisation said.

"There is nothing wrong with pink and princesses for girls as long as they are also free to play with toys that promote the development of other important skills.

"Conversely, there's nothing wrong with boys playing with trucks and building model aeroplanes if they are also encouraged to nurture other aspects of themselves."

It said children needed a broad range of play-based experiences and should be free to decide which toys interested them.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-02/barbie-boycott-campaign-begins-ahead-of-christmas-toy-frenzy/5933308

Waiting for the Greens to back a study that looks into the links between domestic violence and whether you were born.

This has to be the stupidest shit ever. Anyone who thinks they can control the instincts and desires of their children simply does not have children. Generally, they will naturally gravitate towards toys stereotypical to their gender if both groups of toys are placed in front of them.

The issue of domestic violence will not be solved by giving boys barbies and girls trucks. Recently, Barbie has at least tried to promote better role models for its barbie by having barbie play roles such as scientific barbie or lawyer barbie etc.

Men are from mars and women are from venus and so are boys and girls.

This has to be the stupidest shit ever. Anyone who thinks they can control the instincts and desires of their children simply does not have children. Generally, they will naturally gravitate towards toys stereotypical to their gender if both groups of toys are placed in front of them.

Summed up my thoughts and observations on the matter perfectly Munrubenmuz.

I know you are an educated man so I'm not saying this to be a smartarse because you are one of the few on here that I would consider a deep thinker but are you saying it's 100% nature, 0% nurture?

Is there absolutely no wiggle room to guide them towards other interests?

Nothing is 100% nature OR nurture. My thoughts are that people underestimate the natural instincts of children and the ways in which they behave.

It can, for example, often been seen how two children can be parented the same way, by the same parents but because they are brothers (and have slightly different genes) they have different personalities and interests.

I think in general people over-estimate the role of the environment in their children's outcomes later in life. This is however not to say that significant trauma early in life (usually within the first two years) can't have a detrimental effect on children. It definitely can and does but it doesn't change their interests, rather it changes the way they respond to situations, in that they usually have an inability to rationalise stress in their lives.

This story is however trying to create a link between the toys children play with and domestic violence.

Domestic violence is a serious issue but it is not related to gender roles displayed by children.

This is so unnecessary :lol:
Parents will buy their kids what they want, at the very least what they think they want
Having worked at target for 2 years, come Christmas time people will ask you what's been popular for boys and for girls, and for age groups

It was a very clunky analogy by the Greens no doubt.

Do you not think though that a male child brought up in a household where he is told that a woman's opinion has no worth, that girls shouldn't be working in specific roles, that "she deserved it", that women aren't as smart as men, where women are only seem as a plaything for a man that that child wouldn't grow up with a skewed outlook of life?

Girls, here it is-everything you need to know about boys: 1. Boys come from the Stupid Factory. 2. Boys are pretty much smelly and useless. 3. It is possible to have fun with boys, however..... 4. If you decide to keep a boyfriend, he will need to be housebroken.

They will but by conforming to stereotypes the parents help reinforce stereotypes.

Note, and this is important, that I am not saying little Jenny should get a Tonka truck or Mikey gets a Barbie doll.

All I am saying is that who's to say that a little girl might have interests outside of what's in the girls aisle at Target or Kmart.

If they're never exposed to any other interests then they may be missing out on opportunities later in life because those interests weren't ever encouraged or nurtured.

:lol: reaching much?

In the media, how often are fathers presented as bumbling, innefectual blobs of human beings in the media, saveable only by the hero mother who multi-tasks her way through life like a boss?

This is one of the most popular childrens books in Australia.
http://www.booktopia.com.au/boys-are-stupid-throw-rocks-at-them-todd-goldman/prod9780761135937.html?source=pla&gclid=CO2luNjbpsICFUFwvAodRRAALg



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We're constantly bombarded with the message that women are always right and always to be believed to the point where they are beyond reproach. Civil disagreement is now "harassment" or "mansplaining", using facts and logic are oppression.

I won't pre-empt which strawman you will use to counter this, so will await your response :)

A pretty off topic comment but my mum hates listening to and seeing women talk about sport in the media.

It is actually pretty funny how much she can get worked up over it :lol:

Another instance of Green misandry this week was the development of a bill to legislate an increase in superannuation for women to combat the "wage gap". Wage Gap, of course, is that buzz word to deflect away from the fact that women often choose to leave the workforce and become primary caregivers of children, thus bringing the average wage of all aggregate women down compared to men who largely support their partners choices by working full-time+ and earning enough money to feed a family.

It was a very clunky analogy by the Greens no doubt.

Do you not think though that a male child brought up in a household where he is told that a woman's opinion has no worth, that girls shouldn't be working in specific roles, that "she deserved it", that women aren't as smart as men, where women are only seem as a plaything for a man that that child wouldn't grow up with a skewed outlook of life?

Totally agree with what youre saying. Its not misandry, its just trying to create a more fostering environment whereby a little child doesnt feel shunned for wanting a toy that isnt stereotypically related to their gender. Dont think many would have even been given the choice when all theyve been told is little boys play with trucks and little girls play with Barbies. Sure a lot of boys would still go for a truck for example but thats not what this is aimed at targetting.

Usual suspects on this forum getting way to insecure about anything to do with gender equality though.