Nanny State of California
As bad as our local editorial pages are, even they aren’t this damned woke.
For those who can’t stomach leftie opinion pieces, let me summarize: The editors of this once-mediocre-now-awful newspaper admit that a new law requiring retail stores to heap traditional girls and boys toys together in a confusing mishmash of plastic is one more example of California turning into a “nanny state.”
Yet the writers are quick to do an about-face and conclude that AB1084 is worthwhile since it was passed by the state legislature and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
This is well-meaning legislation that is intended to break down gender stereotypes. It was inspired, at least in part, by the daughter of a staffer working for the bill’s author, Assemblyman Evan Low, D-Silicon Valley. The girl wondered why some toys seemed to be off-limits to girls.
What a load.
There’s nothing well-meaning about a state law that tells a retailer how his merchandise must be displayed. It’s the height of micromanagement. Fact is, there’s a marketing science to product placement: high or low on a shelf, on an endcap, near the check-out register, etc. Dictating where and how some toys must be sold interferes with a business owner’s right to maximize profits.
Instead of imposing this nonsense bill on every large retailer in the state, did it not occur to Assemblyman Low to simply tell his staffer to inform that daughter that no toys are off-limit to girls? Just because a toy is located on an aisle that isn’t bathed in Barbie pink does not prohibit girls from selecting said toy? And boys are not zapped with electric cattle prods if they dare to stroll down the doll aisle.
Besides, there’s nothing wrong with gender stereotypes. While it’s true that many misguided parents are grooming their toddler boys to someday lop off their penises and pretend to be girls, most of us hope for a more routine trip through childhood and puberty for our offspring. And, try as one might, it can prove pointless to try to direct girls to toy trucks and boys to baby dolls and glitter.
Most kids naturally gravitate toward what I prefer to think of as gender-appropriate toys.
Oh, and it’s worth pointing out that since only females can have babies (oh boy, here come the wokesters) is it any wonder that little girls sometimes display nurturing qualities that come with pretending to be mothers? Their first foray into this experience is often rocking a baby doll.
There’s nothing wrong with that, by the way.
Sure, there are boys who want to play with Barbies and girls who want to play with trucks. Most girls with brothers and boys with sisters have played with toys that are traditionally associated with the opposite sex. What’s the big deal?
In a rare moment of self-awareness the beard tuggers at the Bee did wonder why the law is necessary:
The irony is, some retailers were already starting to head in a gender-neutral direction when the the Legislature decided to step in. Assembly member Low acknowledged as much in a 2021 interview with the Sacramento Bee: “As much as I’d like to think of this as watershed legislation, this is something the industry is already doing. We’re just trying to play catch up,” he said.
If the industry was already doing it, why do we need a law?
Why indeed? The editors know the answer: California doesn’t need this law. It’s pure virtue signaling.
If nothing else, California is very good at virtue signaling.
In the next breath, however, the Bee reverts to meddling, as the editorial page numbskulls wonder why the legislature doesn’t go after toy manufacturers instead of retailers:
And why just focus on retailers, while ignoring toy manufacturers that are still churning out toys that perpetuate gender stereotypes, instead of evolving to reflect 21st century reality? For instance, how about making more dolls that appeal to boys — and not just G.I. Joe? And do Hot Wheels really have to be gendered? Can’t packaging be redesigned to give off less of a masculine vibe?
Sure, pass a law requiring all toys be packaged in dull gray boxes, unattractive to everyone. That’ll fix this non-existent problem.
Toy laws: One more reason - to add to thousands of others - that I’m glad I don’t live there.