DON'T READ THIS POST!

[Katherine Brengle]

(Trying out the "Steal This Book" strategy...)

I brought my daughter to Toys R' Us today to get a new carseat. After picking one out, I followed her through the store while she ran around looking at things.

She wandered into the "girl" section (which is on the way to the "boy" section coming from the baby section) and I got a chance to scan the items on the shelves.

Here is a quick break-down of the "toys" being marketed to our daughters:

• Barbie dolls
  
• Assorted "baby" dolls, including one called "Little Mommy" complete with toy versions of real baby care supplies (such as bottles and whatnot)
  
• Dress-up clothes, including cutesy little "princess" costumes, high heels, and play make-up
  
• Kitchen play-sets with stoves and fake miniature food, shopping carts, etc.
  
• And my favorite--a bonafide Mr. Clean mop "play" set--it came with a fake bottle of Mr. Clean, a mop, a sponge, and other cleaning gear
  

The "boy" toys, on the other hand, included:

• Home Depot play tool kits
  
• Assorted trucks, cars, and motorcycles
  
• Toy guns and swords
  
• Action figures
  
• Sports equiptment
  

I was really disgusted. I'm not raising a "little mommy" and if I had a son, I would not be raising a "mini Mr. fix-it" or a "little soldier."

It pissed me off that there is no such thing as a "little daddy" toy-set, but beyond that, the blatant indoctrination of our children is more than a little unsettling.

And we wonder why problems like rape and spousal abuse are so prevalent in our culture--we are teaching our daughters to serve men and our sons that violence is acceptable and that "domestic" work is not to be valued.

Needless to say, I bought the carseat and some sidewalk chalk and left.