Sexism wasn’t the only reason people were mad with this Tesco ‘girls toys’ sign
A chap called Rob Lowe – not that one – shared this picture of a sign he saw in Tesco because he thought dividing toys along gender lines just isn’t acceptable anymore.
Come on @Tesco. This isn't really acceptable anymore. My daughter loves unicorns and dolls. She ALSO loves robots, dinosaurs, rockets, monsters and lego. Don't make me have to reassure her that this is ok. @LetToysBeToys @letclothesbe pic.twitter.com/7rW2SxigT0
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe84) December 9, 2018
And it prompted no end of debate (and quite a lot of abuse as well, unfortunately).
No ones stopping you buying both.. Or do you have to buy according to signage?
— Sabriel (@SabrielClayr) December 10, 2018
Of course not. That's not the point. It's about the message it sends to young girls and boys. It's symptomatic of problems with gender role definition in society. Small things like this matter.
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe84) December 10, 2018
It really doesn’t matter, at least not to normal people…
— Phil (@POTBO62) December 10, 2018
It might not matter to you, because you might be an adult who can recognise that somebody else's nonsense and needless designation of what is for girls and what is for boys can be ignored, but it matters to children because they don't do that, they just believe the signals.
— Gavin Deane (@GJDeane) December 11, 2018
And there was something else about the sign that people were mad about.
Ridiculous! Mum of 3 girls that also like cars, dinosaurs, superheroes. Yes it does matter – it’s the inherent sexism that girls and women face through their life. “This is just for boys.” 🙄
— Bobbie Gordon (@bobbiesgordon) December 10, 2018
…and that’s leaving aside the missing apostrophe…
— Iain MacDonald (@frugalmac50) December 10, 2018
More concerned about the lack of apostrophes then any other fained outrage. Seriously. Do you think they have patrols on the aisles ?
— Ian (@lonearrangeruk) December 10, 2018
It’s feigned 😂
— Rebecca Mansoor (@MansoorRebecca) December 10, 2018
Plus, how is she supposed to get to grips with English grammar if @Tesco omits the crucial apostrophe indicating the possessive? Perhaps they don't think girls should be worrying their pretty little heads about that.
— Donna Franceschild (@franceschild) December 10, 2018
And even if they put the apostrophe in, it would probably end up in the wrong place. 😕
— cherryaimless (@cherryaimless) December 10, 2018
At first, I thought this was a swipe at the missing apostrophe. Now there are two reasons to rail against this aisle. #aislebedamned
— El Dorado (@EleonoraAnne1) December 10, 2018
Here’s what Rob had to say about it later.
Hmmm. Lots of people very angry on here for some reason. Ironic that so many people are so easily offended about me apparently being offended.
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe84) December 18, 2018
Up for a good debate but not personal abuse. Calling someone you don't know a "child abuser" and "not fit to be a father" is not cool. Maybe that's "what's wrong with the world"
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe84) December 18, 2018
My point: The sign is an example of how girls and boys are told to act in a certain way and this influences their life choices. Not sure why this is an issue tbh
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe84) December 18, 2018
Anyway. Glad this has sparked some debate. Ok that some people don't get the point. Hope everyone has a great Christmas
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe84) December 18, 2018
