In Time for the Holidays, One Toy Store Nixes Pink and Blue
With the holidays fast approaching, many folks will find
themselves standing in the aisles of a toy store faced with one
big question: boy or girl? The majority of big-box toy
stores–and even many local ones–tend to organize their aisles
based on gender. Eye-searing pink pervades the girls’ section,
which is packed with dolls, princess attire, plastic jewelry and
play ovens. The boys’ section, full of muted blues and browns,
boasts much more active toys: cars and trucks, sports equipment,
science kits. Stacked somewhere in the middle are the gender-
neutral board games.  The color scheme is no accident. In fact,
the division of toys based on stereotypical gender codification
is extremely intentional. These stores spend a significant
amount of money on consultants who help them create toy aisles
that will boost sales and who believe that pink and blue will do
so.  I’ve written previously on the negative impact of such
stringent gender divisions in the