On Wednesday, legislators in the Michigan state House introduced a resolution opposing “girl toys” and “boy toys” at fast food restaurants. Sponsored by 14 Democrats and one Republican, the resolution would not make sex-segregated toys illegal, but it would put pressure on fast food companies to stop the helpful designation.
“Food establishments often offer a toy with their meals marked to young children, and in some cases the customer is asked if they prefer a ‘girl toy’ or a ‘boy toy,'” the resolution states.
As if explaining this distinction to aliens from a different planet, the resolution continues, “Often, the designated ‘boy toys’ are action figures or building toys; typically, in primary colors, whereas ‘girl toys’ are often stuffed animals and are usually in a pastel color scheme.”
Then comes the argument: “This is a significant issue as billions of these meals are sold every year and this practice can influence and limit children’s imaginations and interests by promoting some toys as only suitable for girls and others only for boys,” the lawmakers worry.
“While some food establishments claim to have abandoned this practice, many stores in Michigan continue to offer gender-classified options to customers,” the resolution adds (emphasis added).
The nanny state lawmakers then cite a 2015 study from the Association for Psychological Science finding that “boys are more likely to play with toys that develop spatial intelligence and reasoning than girls. These skills are especially important for success in academic and professional domains, including science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).”
Indeed, boys tend to gravitate toward objects more than people while girls tend to do the opposite. This helps explain why, on average, boys and men tend to do better in STEM and why, on average, girls and women have higher emotional intelligence and empathy.
This generalization is not a hard and fast rule in both toy preference and life skills. Many girls prefer “boy toys,” and vice versa. However, the vast majority of boys prefer “boy toys” and the vast majority of girls prefer “girl toys,” which makes the practice of sex-segregated toys useful.
Yet the nanny state Michigan legislators would come down from on high and tell fast food restaurants exactly how they should distribute toys.
“If a customer desires a toy, it should be one of his or her choice without classification by gender,” the legislators wrote. “Customers should simply be offered the choice of toy. (Example: Would you like a Transformer or a My Little Pony?)”
In summary, the resolution calls on the Michigan House of Representatives to “urge food establishments and franchisees in Michigan to stop gender classification of toys offered in its kid’s meals.”
Adding yet more of a veneer of seriousness to this push, the resolution concludes by ordering “that copies of this resolution be transmitted to the CEO of the boards of directors of the major fast food chains in Michigan.”
According to the legislators, it is a problem that McDonald’s merely offers “boy toys” and “girl toys,” and therefore these lawmakers must dictate exactly how fast food restaurants offer toys in kids’ meals.
As a side note, many girls who prefer “boy toys” or boys who prefer “girl toys” may question whether or not they are truly girls or boys. A boy’s preference for “girl toys” does not make him a girl and vice versa. So when it comes to the gender confusion that supports the transgender movement — convincing many boys and girls that they really belong in the opposite sex — moving away from these hard and fast categories may be helpful.
However, it remains true that most boys prefer “boy toys” and most girls prefer “girl toys.” Rather than opposing sex-segregated toys, it might be a good idea to push the message that whatever toys you prefer, that does not change your biological sex.
Yet the movement against “boy toys” and “girl toys” is nothing new. Three years ago, Target removed the blue and pink colors from their toy aisles after a Change.org petition opposed them.
It remains to be seen just how popular this resolution — pushed mostly by Democrats — will be in the Republican-dominated Michigan House of Representatives. In any case, it would seem Michigan has bigger problems than sex-segregated toys at McDonald’s.
Follow the author of this article on Twitter at @Tyler2ONeil.
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