Play time in the children's department: Do kids need gender-specific toys?
Parents groups differ on whether Australia wants or needs gender-neutral toy departments, after US Target eliminated separate girls and boys sections in their retail stores in favour of a general children's department.
By KELSEY HAYMES
Australian intersex organisations and parental groups are in disagreement as to whether a move towards gender neutral signage in retail stores is necessary is Australia.
The issue comes after Target Corporation in the United States decided to change the fit-out and signage of their children’s departments to be gender neutral.
It was a change pushed by parents and social media users, who argued having gender-specific products at Target were “unnecessary”.
So far the change has affected only Target stores in the US.
Founder of Australian United Sole Parents Network Kerry Arch said the move would just add another unwanted complication for children.
“If all this political correctness continues, we’re going to have a bunch of children growing up that will be so confused,” she said.
“Let kids be kids. Let boys be boys and let girls be girls.”
Advocacy group Organisation Intersex International president Morgan Carpenter disagreed, saying the gendering of children’s products should be minimised.
“There’s a very clear and definite trend to gender products … it didn’t exist 40, 50 years ago to the same degree, and it needn’t exist again,” he said.
Mr Carpenter said the main focus of parents should be on their children’s happiness.
“So long as they’re happy and they’re playing with toys that are appropriate for their age, we should welcome the fact that they can experiment and try out different things.”
Target Corporation in the United States declined to comment.
