Should Toy Stores Be Gender Neutral? [POLL]

NEW YORK — In a couple of years, large retail stores in California will be required to display products such as toothbrushes and toys in a gender-neutral way.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the new law recently which will go into effect in 2024.

The new rules will get rid of the tradition of marketing gender — think pink and blue ways — to young children. It is also meant to challenge gender stereotypes and support LGBTQ+ communities.

Retailers can continue offering some toys and child-care goods in traditional boy or girl sections, but stores with 500 or more employees have to sell some of the goods outside of sections specifically labeled by sex, the Los Angeles Times reported.

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The retail industry has gradually begun moving away from marketing children's products by gender stereotypes.

In 2015, Target eliminated girls and boys toy sections, the LA Times said.

Opponents of the legislation argued that businesses shouldn't be burdened with another regulation because the retailers have a hard enough time already, The Washington Post reported.

And then there's the argument that having stores regulate gender is a violation of free speech and will impose the government's viewpoint on retailers.

Toys that are likely to be in the gender-neutral section when it is created will likely be anything made of Legos.

The Danish company announced Monday it pledged to eliminate gender stereotypes from its toys — including labeling products "for boys" or "for girls," The Washington Post reported.

Lego also said it would offer more diverse characters and roles so no child will feel unwelcome or not represented.

Now it's your turn to weigh in on the issue. Vote in our unscientific poll and tell us what you think in the comments.