OAN’s Brooke Mallory
4:05 PM – Wednesday, December 27, 2023
In 2024, a new law requiring “gender-neutral” toy sections in major retail establishments in California will go into effect.
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Traditionally, the pink girls and blue boys sections are typically seen in most toy sections.
However, the new California law will mandate big-box retailers employing 500 people or more, like Walmart or Target, to have a “gender-neutral” toy area at the beginning of the year.
“My hope is this bill encourages more businesses across California and the U.S. to avoid reinforcing harmful and outdated stereotypes,” said Congressman Evan Low (D-Calif.). He added that he was “incredibly grateful” to receive Governor Gavin Newsom’s approval and signature.
“We’re not [negatively] affected by the law, but I say, Yay! It’s not called woke; it’s called American freedom,” said Helen Dean, a progressive business owner who runs the Toy Safari in Alameda, California.
According to Dean, Barbie dolls were designed “with all kids in mind” many years ago. Although, she complained that the box is now a bright pink color, geared specifically towards girls.
“If you look at the packaging, you can see the evolution going from kids playing with toys to, ‘Hey, we’re going to sell this to a little girl, and this is what she is going to want, and we know,’” she continued.
“The way we are feeding their minds and the materials we are choosing to use is narrowing their ideas and the ability to negotiate the world for them,” said Angelica Guerrero, a toy consumer who spoke to reporters.
However, a section for boys and girls is still applicable under the new law.
The legislation merely adds a gender-neutral area where toys that would be appealing to all genders are arranged side by side in an aisle with comparable goods that were previously promoted for either girls or boys.
Any store that breaks the new legislation faces a $250 punishment for the first offense and a $500 fine for the second offense.
Members of the California Family Council responded to the news, saying “enough is enough” and that Sacramento should start concentrating less on toys and “more on issues like immigration, homelessness, housing, and drugs.”
“It’s a little crazy. Sacramento seems so content on breaking down the distinctions and differences between men and women, boys and girls. It’s not enough that we are having general-neutral bathrooms, we’re even having to extend that to the toy section,” said Jonathan Keller, president and CEO of the California Family Council.
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