Gender-Neutral: Ur Doin It Rong
Dec. 7th, 2024 07:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
AB-1084: Gender Neutral Retail in California
Beginning January 1, 2024, large department stores in California must maintain gender neutral displays of toys and other items for children.
'Full Stasi': Consumers told to snitch on stores that don't have enough 'gender-neutral' toys
"If you do not see an adequate gender-neutral product section in a large retail department store in California that you believe is covered by this law, you may take pictures, document, and file a complaint with our office."
A link is provided to report offenders.
The fine for a first-time violation is $250, which goes to $500 for a second offense.
This is the kind of nonsense that makes people think laws are stupid, and hate feminists or gender-diverse people. Because the law is stupid, abusive, and ruinous to a functional society.
Having gender-neutral toys and materials is great. Many traditional toys (e.g. blocks, marbles, Legos, board games) are gender-neutral unless someone goes out of their way to gender-code them (which many companies do). Things like clothes and plates should be available in neutral colors, solid or with simple patterns (e.g. stripes, dots), as well as gender-coded things that are pink/blue with gender-stereotypical designs on them. Choice is good.
Forcing your choices on other people is not good. It's especially harsh on retailers in a massively sexist society where many companies cender-code everything, and things genuinely designed as gender-neutral are harder to find and often more expensive. Even for adults it's not particularly easy. T-shirts used to be all unisex but modern ones are often gendered -- and in fact, so badly that feminine versions only tend to fit teens. There's rarely enough room in a women's T-shirt for adult boobs. :/
Plus of course, adding a gender-neutral category strongly reinforces the idea that the gendered aisles contain things ONLY for boys or for girls. Children can already get really rigid about that, and this will make it worse.
Another serious problem is the law doesn't define "enough." It doesn't say "at least one storage unit (e.g. a shelf or a bin)," or "at least 10% of the gendered supply." It's deliberately vague, which means anyone can complain that any amount is "not enough."
The most effective way to avoid getting fined, therefore, is to quit selling children's things altogether. Note that the law requires a separate section for gender-neutral meaning you can't just say "all toys are for anyone who wants them." Besides, parents and kids both hate that; it's been tried and the only consumers who like it are the ones who are trying to de-gender everything, which is better served by a specialty store since it's a very minority taste in this culture. Plus it's more work and more expense, precisely because it's unpopular. Manufacturers overgender stuff because people buy it.
You want gender-neutral stuff? That's great. Shop accordingly. But don't use it to bully other people. And maybe don't shop from California.
34 Gender Neutral Kids Clothing Brands
Best Gender-Neutral Toys for Kids in 2024: Play Without Limits
Waldorf toys are generally made for all children, and sorted by age or category (e.g. blocks, stuffed animals) rather than gender. Same with Montessori toys.
Beginning January 1, 2024, large department stores in California must maintain gender neutral displays of toys and other items for children.
'Full Stasi': Consumers told to snitch on stores that don't have enough 'gender-neutral' toys
"If you do not see an adequate gender-neutral product section in a large retail department store in California that you believe is covered by this law, you may take pictures, document, and file a complaint with our office."
A link is provided to report offenders.
The fine for a first-time violation is $250, which goes to $500 for a second offense.
This is the kind of nonsense that makes people think laws are stupid, and hate feminists or gender-diverse people. Because the law is stupid, abusive, and ruinous to a functional society.
Having gender-neutral toys and materials is great. Many traditional toys (e.g. blocks, marbles, Legos, board games) are gender-neutral unless someone goes out of their way to gender-code them (which many companies do). Things like clothes and plates should be available in neutral colors, solid or with simple patterns (e.g. stripes, dots), as well as gender-coded things that are pink/blue with gender-stereotypical designs on them. Choice is good.
Forcing your choices on other people is not good. It's especially harsh on retailers in a massively sexist society where many companies cender-code everything, and things genuinely designed as gender-neutral are harder to find and often more expensive. Even for adults it's not particularly easy. T-shirts used to be all unisex but modern ones are often gendered -- and in fact, so badly that feminine versions only tend to fit teens. There's rarely enough room in a women's T-shirt for adult boobs. :/
Plus of course, adding a gender-neutral category strongly reinforces the idea that the gendered aisles contain things ONLY for boys or for girls. Children can already get really rigid about that, and this will make it worse.
Another serious problem is the law doesn't define "enough." It doesn't say "at least one storage unit (e.g. a shelf or a bin)," or "at least 10% of the gendered supply." It's deliberately vague, which means anyone can complain that any amount is "not enough."
The most effective way to avoid getting fined, therefore, is to quit selling children's things altogether. Note that the law requires a separate section for gender-neutral meaning you can't just say "all toys are for anyone who wants them." Besides, parents and kids both hate that; it's been tried and the only consumers who like it are the ones who are trying to de-gender everything, which is better served by a specialty store since it's a very minority taste in this culture. Plus it's more work and more expense, precisely because it's unpopular. Manufacturers overgender stuff because people buy it.
You want gender-neutral stuff? That's great. Shop accordingly. But don't use it to bully other people. And maybe don't shop from California.
34 Gender Neutral Kids Clothing Brands
Best Gender-Neutral Toys for Kids in 2024: Play Without Limits
Waldorf toys are generally made for all children, and sorted by age or category (e.g. blocks, stuffed animals) rather than gender. Same with Montessori toys.
Well ...
Date: 2024-12-09 03:42 am (UTC)Re: Well ...
Date: 2024-12-09 03:58 am (UTC)Re: Well ...
Date: 2024-12-09 04:30 am (UTC)Re: Well ...
Date: 2024-12-09 04:36 am (UTC)But there's no reason bad actors couldn't take advantage of someone else with good intentions executed poorly. They love doing that.
Re: Well ...
Date: 2024-12-09 05:32 am (UTC)Which of course, applies to the gender-neutral toy sections too.
Re: Well ...
Date: 2024-12-09 05:41 am (UTC)