by Ruth Moss
I love Wilkinsons, most of the time. And not just because it’s one of the only shops that’s actually open in St Helens town centre on a Sunday!
But when I popped into the Wilkies in Huyton Village during my lunch break yesterday, to look for a cheap Friday present for my little boy I was very disappointed.
Yes, there were signs for “boys’ toys” and “girls’ toys” in separate aisles; girls’ toys were all pink and based around child-rearing (dolls and doll accessories), cooking and cleaning. A pity, as my little boy – like all young children – is at that stage where he longs to be just like the big people in his life, and a microwave oven and kettle would make his little eyes light up! But obviously, since they’re “girls’ toys” I clearly can’t buy them for him. I mean, that might fuck with gender stereotypes!
The boys’ toys were a mixture of trucks and diggers (which my little boy also loves) and action figures. There were also a few Doctor Who models – this really grieved me as a life-long (yes, I do mean life – I was there for the McCoy years) fan; is Doctor Who still seen as the preserve of males?
I didn’t get him anything in the end. I couldn’t bring myself to spend money in a place that pandered to such ridiculous gender stereotypes. Anyway, I’m writing a strongly-worded letter which will include the word “boycott”.
I guess I’ll just have to find somewhere else to shop on a Sunday now!
Besides, £2.99 for a plastic kettle with realistic boiling sounds – there’s got to be a suspicious reason why it’s so cheap, right?
December 13, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Try Woolies, i believe everything is everywhere, no distinguishable divides between Male and Female items, more like a blend of ‘everything must go, to everyone and anyone’
December 13, 2008 at 9:31 pm
argos is just as bad,but i am trying to boycott them anyway due to their selling of pink,fluffy playboy stuff which is clearly not being marketed at 18-30 year old heterosexual men.i have bought most of the kid’s presents from tesco,who have their toys arranged by brand or type such as ‘make believe’,for the toy kettles and ironing boards.yet despite my best efforts,my darling 5 year old son still comes out with ‘yuck,thats a GIRLS toy’ when we are in shops,even though he happily plays with dolls and prams at home.i tell him there is no such thing as girls toys and boys toys,that he can play with what he likes with the exception of toys which are not suitable for children such as ‘bratz’-now they are truly yuck!
December 13, 2008 at 9:37 pm
[quote]Besides, £2.99 for a plastic kettle with realistic boiling sounds – there’s got to be a suspicious reason why it’s so cheap, right?[/quote]
Absolutely, although perhaps not suspicious, just all-too-common.
Good for you for deciding not to bother. My son is 3 next month, and loves to play with his toy kitchen, to clean, to play with his train set and his dumpers and diggers. He had a baby doll at one stage, but this seems to have been ousted by a cuddly giraffe recently.
December 17, 2008 at 10:35 am
As an update, I received an email from Wilkinsons Head Office this morning, apologising for the layout of their Huyton store! It didn’t say they were going to change it, however… but I’ll keep you posted!