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Comment by logicalmonster | Hacker News Reader

It is unconscionable in 2021 that stereotypes can still exist. Why are certain aisles in toy stores bright pink and geared towards one group? Why are certain aisles in toy stores geared with toys revolving around shooting things? Everybody should have the choice. We should all do our part. I'm trying to do my part to help achieve TRUE EQUITY in all communities. Did you know that just 2.3% of United States plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters are women? Why is nobody talking about this gross inequality? How many young girls have been discouraged and had their dreams of helping their communities in this way denied? I intend to start local and give my daughter a choice. She will have every right to play with pneumatic and hand drills, impact wrenches, band saws, hand clamps, air compressors, as well as G.I. Joe Action Figures and Polly Pocket Playhouse if she chooses. Lean in and help everybody achieve their true ambitions and calling.

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It is unconscionable in 2021 that gender stereotypical examples to point out gender stereotypes can still exist. Did you know that just 2.3% of United States preschool and kindergarten teachers are men? Why is nobody talking about this gross inequality? Right from the start, when our little humans are the most vulnerable and influenceable, they are denied gender balanced care, examples and behaviours. How many young boys have been discouraged and had their dreams of helping their communities in this way denied?

Not sure if the people below just did not read your entire comment, or if their sarcasm detector is broken.

I like to also point this out whenever someone mentions that only "X" percent of women are <insert male-dominated field here>. 97% of loggers are men, at least they were the last time I looked at that statistic. Grossly unfair to women. We must achieve gender parity in logging. Women have just as much right to be crushed to death by giant multi-ton trees and mutilate their limbs with horrible chainsaw accidents.

Unless there is somebody there blocking a boy or a girl from reaching a certain aisle, stereotypes are no issue. Yes, there are aisle that are predominantly pink and full of princesses, and others that are full of soldiers and weapons, but in the end... who cares ? Assuming that one is about girls and the other is about boys is itself sexist.

For example, ,my daughter loves dressing like a princess and using make-up, despite the mother hating both. On the other side, she really loves playing with trucks, scrapers etc. Shall I nudge her towards one topic or the other so that she will be "gender neutral" ? No, who cares. Whatever she likes is fine.

The ones having social pressure are not the kids, but the parents. "oh my God if I am going to give a doll to my daughter I will be a sexist bad parent". no, really, give her what she likes more,does she likes dolls ? Give her that. Does she prefer being an and engineer ? Good, give her the tools that she asks for, as long as it is what SHE wants, not you want.

If this means confirming some stereotypes.... well too bad, you're supposed to make your daughter happy, not some statician.

(disclaimer: I have a single daughter and probably I won't have any more kid so I guess I'm project on her also what I would like to have from a male kid... still as long as she is happy I am fine, regardless of whatever she wants to do of her life)

Why do you think bright pink aisled are geared towards one group? Everyone can like pink, I'm sure the people working in toystores are happy to sell pink dolls do boys or plastic guns and soldier dolls to girls.

I think there's one expectation in society about what certain groups of people like. (For example, pink dolls are just for girls, boys can't be into dollhouses, or girls just aren't interested in deep sea fishing, or what have you)

But I think everybody should have the opportunity to live their life and choose the toys they wish as I pointed out. As long as it fixes inequalities and leads to true equity, I'm all for it.

I’d bet the lunch I’m about to eat that the bright pink aisle will predominantly contain imagery of girls or toys typically played with by girls.

For it to be geared towards both boys and girls, it would need to be bright pink with equal imagery of boys and girls, and equal amounts of toys played with boys as well as girls.

Come on, it’s like saying barbie dolls aren’t girls toys. I mean, sure, boys aren’t usually incapable of playing with them, but that’s also irrelevant.

Funny enough, the association between pink and girls is quite recent. In the middle ages that was not the case so you it would not be that that strange to have a knight being pink-dressed. (unfortunately I cannot find any reference at the moment, so you have to trust me on this)

The kids don't know it is "geared towards one group", they choose it on their own. As a father of a daughter, like myself, you should be well aware of how this typically works.

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