Sex-role stereotypes

Press, 11 December 1989, Page 12

Sex-role stereotypes

Sir,—Sex-role stereotyping sells toys, or so one major toy retail outlet would have us believe. The recently received Toy Warehouse Christmas catalogue contains the usual array of toys. However, the ratio of boys to girls illustrated demonstrating these is seven to one. There are 14 boys engaged in various pursuits (bicycling, guitar playing, computer game playing, etc.), while one of the girls is pictured nursing a baby doll and the other peeks out of a “Wendy playhouse.” It concerns us that while there are moves to educate toy buyers about the dangers of war toys, there are no similar warnings of the dangers involved in reinforcing these archaic and negative sex-role sterotypes. Until this blatantly sexist advertising is stopped and “girls’ toys” and “boys’ toys,” as defined by the patriachy, become children’s toys, none of our children will realise full potential. — Yours, etc., HEATHER BIRNIE, HELEN EDGE, JOHN BAKER, PAUL COTTAM. November 27, 1989. [Mr lan Couper, of the Toy Warehouse, Ltd, replies: “An overwhelming majority of the Toy Warehouse’s customers in store expect toys deemed suitable for boys to be grouped and signposted as such; likewise with girls’ toys. Catalogue advertising was treated in the same manner to avoid readers unnecessary delay, particularly during the busy Christmas season. We reflect .. the preferences of the majority of our customers. When it can be shown the majority do not appreciate our stores or catalogues laid out in this manner, we will promptly change.] New Labour Party Sir, — Most electors like myself have little or no faith in the two main political parties — National for its debt policies and keeping Muldoon Cabinet members on its front bench; Labour for departing from and’betraying the party philosophy of caring for all people, irrespective of colour or creed. I wonder if the New Zealand Labour Party will give a free vote to its elected members on contentious issues such as abortion, euthanasia, liquor, gambling, etc. People of Christian faith, and others, would like an answer to this question of morals, and if the party does not allow its elected members a free vote on these issues, its constitu-

tion is on communist lines which are now being rejected in eastern Europe.. Perhaps Mr Jim Anderton could tell us the answer. If a free vote is not allowed, then the party will never occupy the Treasury benches and large numbers of voters will refrain from casting their vote in protest, indicating tha lack of faith in our political parties. — Yours, etc., G. P. BANKS. November 29, 1989. [Mr Anderton replies: “The New Labour Party does not intend to hide behind the socalled “conscience" vote. If your correspondent followed the proceedings in Parliament during the Liquor Reform Bill, he or she would surely have been unimpressed by the shambles which resulted. Liquor sales were limited to those over 20 years old, only to be made available from supermarkets where large numbers of those under 20 work and shop. Why do “people of Christian faith” believe that only issues concerning sex, drink and gambling are matters of conscience? What about economic policies which create mass unemployment, or reduced health services, or user-pays education? What about high interest rates, which used to be considered sinful — usury it was called. Why should the consciences of politicians or political parties be con-

fined to the narrow range of issues listed by your correspondent? Christian belief encompasses the whole person, and so should the policies of political parties. Surely that is more honest, or is honesty no longer a matter of conscience?”]