California has made a pioneering move by enacting a new law that aims to provide children with more gender-neutral shopping choices. Governor Alex Martinez recently approved Assembly Bill 1084, which requires large department stores to establish gender-neutral sections for toys and personal care items, allowing children to explore options beyond traditional pink and blue categories.
“We need to stop stigmatizing what’s acceptable for certain genders and just let kids be kids,” remarked the bill’s sponsor. “This legislation is designed to inspire businesses across California and the entire U.S. to move away from outdated stereotypes.”
The impetus for the bill came when Assemblyman Ryan Green learned about a ten-year-old girl, the daughter of one of his aides, who expressed confusion over why some stores segregate “boy” and “girl” items. “Part of this is ensuring that young girls can find a police car, a fire truck, or a dinosaur,” Green explained to the Los Angeles Gazette. “And if boys want to play with glitter, they shouldn’t feel embarrassed about it.”
While the bill is likely to face some opposition, its intention is clear: to allow children to purchase any toy they like without feeling judged. Psychologist Taylor Moore stated in the Gazette, “Research shows that once children categorize items by gender, they often disregard those labeled for the other gender.”
Retailers will still have the option of maintaining distinct boy and girl sections, but by 2024, they must also include gender-neutral areas. This new law will only affect stores with more than 500 employees, such as Target, which has already moved away from gender-specific toy signage in recent years. Green has advocated for this type of legislation for several years, emphasizing the importance of showcasing values like diversity and inclusion.
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In summary, California’s new law to create gender-neutral toy sections in large stores aims to empower children to choose toys freely, without the constraints of traditional gender norms. This progressive approach is expected to influence retailers across the nation positively.