Parents shouldn’t get to decide whether their child wants to play with the G.I. Joe action figure or the Barbie doll, the decision should be left to the child.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom passed a bill on Oct. 9 mandating major retail stores to include a gender-neutral toy aisle for children.
Assembly Bill 1084 will force retailers that employ more than 500 people to have non-gendered toy sections starting in 2024, according to an Oct. 11 Washington Post article.
The bill is helping children feel less pressured to conform to a certain gender stereotype and allows them the freedom to express themselves from a younger age.
To limit a child to a toy section that matches their biological sex is not only wrong but unfair and damaging to a child’s developing interests.
However, one of the biggest issues when discussing gender-neutral toys is gender dysphoria.
Gender dysphoria is a mental health disorder where adults or children experience intense emotional distress because they feel they were born as the wrong gender, according to the Child Mind Institute website.
The Child Mind Institute also specified being transgender or gender non-conforming is not a mental disorder. Gender identity isn’t the issue, the turmoil that comes from being unable to express that identity creates those detrimental symptoms.
It’s crucial for children to express themselves early on as gender dysphoria can affect a child as early as 7 years old, according to a June 16, 2020 Cedars-Sinai article.
Cedars-Sinai is a nonprofit academic healthcare organization that provides a wide range of community benefits, according to its website.
A 2016 Cedars-Sinai study found 73% of transgender women and 78% of transgender men first experienced gender dysphoria by age 7, according to the same website.
AB 1084 will help children feel comfortable in their own skin and encourage them to play with toys they’re interested in.
The bill will not ban male and female gendered aisles but will add a gender-neutral aisle that applies to childcare products and toys but not to clothing, according to an Oct. 10 KTVU article.
This is a step in the right direction to help end gender dysphoria and let children have a feeling of independence and security from a young age.
People who have gender dysphoria have a higher rate of suicide than the general population, according to The Recovery Village website.
About 32%-50% of people with gender dysphoria attempt suicide in their lifetime.
The Recovery Village is a drug and alcohol rehab program that delivers comprehensive treatment for substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders, according to its website.
Many children who have issues with gender at an early age struggle later in life with mental illnesses as they deal with the fact that society won’t accept a child’s right to choose who they want to be, according to a Jan. 17, 2018 Research Digest article.
If a girl is drawn to cars and building toys then she’s labeled from a young age as a tomboy and if a boy is drawn to dolls then it’s seen as girly.
This could be extremely damaging to a child's mental health and sense of self.
However, gender-neutral toys help avoid depression and further struggles in their adult lives.
Gender-neutral aisles not only help children explore themselves but also help parents give children freedom to choose who they are.
This could build healthier relationships and futures for their children.
However, some Republican leaders believe AB 1084 isn’t beneficial for kids and the government shouldn’t tell parents how to shop for their children, according to an Oct. 9 Associated Press News article.
The government isn’t telling parents how to shop, it’s expanding gender paradigms that are pushed by society and allowing freedom for kids to express themselves.
In fact, for parents who believe their child should choose what interests them, starting with a gender-neutral toy section is beneficial.
This law will help many children explore who they are as an individual.
The way children perceive their place in the world based on their gender matters.
We should be more sensitive to the experiences of others in order to build a more inclusive society.
