5 ms·

There is significant scientific evidence for differences between men and women, both psychologically and physiologically. For one, if I may, mental illness stri

There is significant scientific evidence for differences between men and women, both psychologically and physiologically. For one, if I may, mental illness strikes differently in men and women. In other news, it seems that women have been overmadicated for a long time because medical studies have ignored differences, for different reasons, one being the fear of sexism accusations. And while it's silly to be offered only pink dolls, I do think that little girls and little boys have different preferences which are not instilled by their parents, but rather emerge from their own psychology. I find it very hard to believe that all of our passions and preferences have a source in somebody telling us that we should be this or that way. Like me starting to play guitar, mathematics, physics or now being a programmer and entrepreneur. It's things I just happened to like to do. There's been little encourgements. I think there's a danger in fighting an wheel mill by enforcing a culture of uniformity because "girls need to learn about science too". I hate it when the world is accused of pushing pink on girls while everyday, on the streets, girls and women dress nicely in hundreds of colours and variations while men just wear t-shirts. I think that girls and women can manage this, and they're not as easilly to manipulate as some might think.

xvedejas 11y ago
Even if men and women are different, I'm not certain that prescribed gender categories for toys is really aiding that anyway. Isn't it more convenient for both genders to not miss or avoid a toy because someone has labeled it as not belonging to their gender?
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
- cristianpascu 11y ago
  I don't know. You can look at it ethically, or statistically. First option is really difficult and you can not please everyone. Second... if consistently boys/girls want a certain kind of toy, parents will look for that type of toy for their girl/boy.
- PopeOfNope 11y ago
  On the other hand, most consumers buy toys for children based on gender. How difficult does Amazon want to make it to find a toy for your niece or nephew? Not being able to filter for one or the other is an inconvenience. Now, if they have data that suggests nobody used those categories, that's one thing, but removing it for political reasons is another.
  - mc32 11y ago
    The other filter people use a lot when searching for toys is age. They could remove the ages filter too, and expose you to all toys without any distinction. Just a toy firehose. I don't think the gender filter is helpful, but maybe it is to some people. But then it's Amazon's property, so I don't care about it, so long as they don't remove the gender filter for adult clothing.
mcv 11y ago
Of course there are individual differences in toy preferences, but why not simply let people voice them themselves, rather than shoehorn them into a straightjacket? It's not about enforcing a culture of uniformity, it's about fighting it. It's about making all toys accessible to everybody.
- cristianpascu 11y ago
  I agree, there shouldn't be clean cut boundaries, but I believe that socially things tend to settle naturally, even if not in the same way for everyone. It's culture, not physics.
  - mcv 11y ago
    Trying to meet expectations is a big part of culture, unfortunately. Just look at how many people are unhappy about the role society expects them to fill. Consider why coming out is so hard for many people. Things don't settle naturally the way they should; it often takes a struggle to free people from cultural expectations.
- PopeOfNope 11y ago
  > rather than shoehorn them into a straightjacket? Them who? Children don't buy their own toys. Adults buy them. Adults can make their own decisions to ignore the gender filter. By removing the option entirely, you're making it more difficult for your paying customers.
meritt 11y ago
> There is no gender equality when it comes to what a child needs. A child needs the smile of a mother as much as they need the smile of a father. And one can not replace the other. [https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6003444 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6003444] At least you're consistent in your beliefs but I still disagree with you.
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
taurath 11y ago
How much of it is self-enforcing simply by peer groups though? I certainly wouldn't say there isn't a psychological/neurological component at work here - I'd guess that there is a proclivity for boys to choose a ball over a doll. However, I can't think it would be as much as what we see today - the environment plays the largest role I would guess, especially since after the "roles" are established experimentation with "non-role-appropriate" toys are probably highly discouraged.

xvedejas 11y ago

Even if men and women are different, I'm not certain that prescribed gender categories for toys is really aiding that anyway. Isn't it more convenient for both genders to not miss or avoid a toy because someone has labeled it as not belonging to their gender?

deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
cristianpascu 11y ago
I don't know. You can look at it ethically, or statistically. First option is really difficult and you can not please everyone. Second... if consistently boys/girls want a certain kind of toy, parents will look for that type of toy for their girl/boy.
PopeOfNope 11y ago
On the other hand, most consumers buy toys for children based on gender. How difficult does Amazon want to make it to find a toy for your niece or nephew? Not being able to filter for one or the other is an inconvenience. Now, if they have data that suggests nobody used those categories, that's one thing, but removing it for political reasons is another.
- mc32 11y ago
  The other filter people use a lot when searching for toys is age. They could remove the ages filter too, and expose you to all toys without any distinction. Just a toy firehose. I don't think the gender filter is helpful, but maybe it is to some people. But then it's Amazon's property, so I don't care about it, so long as they don't remove the gender filter for adult clothing.

mcv 11y ago

Of course there are individual differences in toy preferences, but why not simply let people voice them themselves, rather than shoehorn them into a straightjacket? It's not about enforcing a culture of uniformity, it's about fighting it. It's about making all toys accessible to everybody.

cristianpascu 11y ago
I agree, there shouldn't be clean cut boundaries, but I believe that socially things tend to settle naturally, even if not in the same way for everyone. It's culture, not physics.
- mcv 11y ago
  Trying to meet expectations is a big part of culture, unfortunately. Just look at how many people are unhappy about the role society expects them to fill. Consider why coming out is so hard for many people. Things don't settle naturally the way they should; it often takes a struggle to free people from cultural expectations.
PopeOfNope 11y ago
> rather than shoehorn them into a straightjacket? Them who? Children don't buy their own toys. Adults buy them. Adults can make their own decisions to ignore the gender filter. By removing the option entirely, you're making it more difficult for your paying customers.

meritt 11y ago

> There is no gender equality when it comes to what a child needs. A child needs the smile of a mother as much as they need the smile of a father. And one can not replace the other. [https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6003444 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6003444] At least you're consistent in your beliefs but I still disagree with you.

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

taurath 11y ago

How much of it is self-enforcing simply by peer groups though? I certainly wouldn't say there isn't a psychological/neurological component at work here - I'd guess that there is a proclivity for boys to choose a ball over a doll. However, I can't think it would be as much as what we see today - the environment plays the largest role I would guess, especially since after the "roles" are established experimentation with "non-role-appropriate" toys are probably highly discouraged.