Comments on: Sometimes A Toy Is Just A Toy, And Then… http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/2008/12/03/sometimes-a-toy-is-just-a-toy-and-then/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sometimes-a-toy-is-just-a-toy-and-then This isn't going according to plan... Mon, 21 May 2012 12:13:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: teendoc http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/2008/12/03/sometimes-a-toy-is-just-a-toy-and-then/comment-page-1/#comment-3111 teendoc Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:52:36 +0000 http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/?p=573#comment-3111 Hi Sam, I think the difference is that generally we all need to vacuum at some point (unless we are Paris Hilton), so no issue with cleaning toys, though I do get the sexism inherent in his getting her that toy. But somehow the maid's cart jangled in a different way because it seemed more about let's pretend careers/jobs. I wouldn't want Zizi to have the Let's Pretend Prison Guard Playset even though that is a reasonable and viable job to have. There's just something that isn't working for me. Now she gets to pretend that she is Dr. Elmo-Zara! :-) Hi Sam,

I think the difference is that generally we all need to vacuum at some point (unless we are Paris Hilton), so no issue with cleaning toys, though I do get the sexism inherent in his getting her that toy. But somehow the maid’s cart jangled in a different way because it seemed more about let’s pretend careers/jobs. I wouldn’t want Zizi to have the Let’s Pretend Prison Guard Playset even though that is a reasonable and viable job to have. There’s just something that isn’t working for me. Now she gets to pretend that she is Dr. Elmo-Zara! :-)

]]> By: Sam http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/2008/12/03/sometimes-a-toy-is-just-a-toy-and-then/comment-page-1/#comment-3110 Sam Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:21:42 +0000 http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/?p=573#comment-3110 Catching up a little (and avoiding work, apparently) and this post reminded me of an attorney friend of mine who on her 3rd Birthday bought her a miniature Red Devil vacuum cleaner. He was a perpetual bachelor in his fifties who tended to date exotic dancers, which might have added to my perspective on the gift. I mentioned to him that I thought the gift was not exactly politically correct and he was dumb-founded at the concept. He didn't get it. Thankfully Samantha had a ball with it, and I can report now, that at the age of 19, she rarely EVER touches a vacuum. <abbr><em>Sams last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/samdevol/zGIU/~3/506357348/" rel="nofollow">It’s a lie.</a></abbr></em> Catching up a little (and avoiding work, apparently) and this post reminded me of an attorney friend of mine who on her 3rd Birthday bought her a miniature Red Devil vacuum cleaner. He was a perpetual bachelor in his fifties who tended to date exotic dancers, which might have added to my perspective on the gift.

I mentioned to him that I thought the gift was not exactly politically correct and he was dumb-founded at the concept. He didn’t get it.

Thankfully Samantha had a ball with it, and I can report now, that at the age of 19, she rarely EVER touches a vacuum.

Sams last blog post..It’s a lie.

]]> By: teendoc http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/2008/12/03/sometimes-a-toy-is-just-a-toy-and-then/comment-page-1/#comment-3101 teendoc Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:41:59 +0000 http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/?p=573#comment-3101 Alexandra, so great to hear from you after so long! Thanks for your comments. I appreciate that you understand what I worked to convey in this post. And humorously enough, Zara's great-aunt Marsha (also a physician) decided to follow in Mummy-dearest's footsteps and give her an Elmo doctor's kit for Christmas! Now I've got to convince the kid that medicine is not the route to go into anymore! (just kidding!) Hope you stay around! Alexandra, so great to hear from you after so long! Thanks for your comments. I appreciate that you understand what I worked to convey in this post. And humorously enough, Zara’s great-aunt Marsha (also a physician) decided to follow in Mummy-dearest’s footsteps and give her an Elmo doctor’s kit for Christmas! Now I’ve got to convince the kid that medicine is not the route to go into anymore! (just kidding!)

Hope you stay around!

]]> By: alexandra/Infertile Gourmet http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/2008/12/03/sometimes-a-toy-is-just-a-toy-and-then/comment-page-1/#comment-3099 alexandra/Infertile Gourmet Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:21:10 +0000 http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/?p=573#comment-3099 Wow. I completely see your point regarding what you choose for your daughter to play with. I looked at the cart and something sat funny with me. Now, I am not one of the hyper sensitive parents to the messages that toys can give because I had them and I turned out fine sort of reason.....however I do think about the meaning. Some triggers of mine are that all dolls are not in the same color. I also try not buying just gender specific toys. Because I do not want to give Scarlett the message that she is and must be a "girl". Nor do I want her to think of color as one is better than the next. So having said that I respect each trigger being different for all people. Your reasons make quite a story! As you said, nothing is wrong with being a janitor. laborer, etc. but there is something grossly wrong with saying that someone can only do..... whatever the only could be. I admire and respect the strength it takes for people to break whatever sterotypes we fall into. Damn, stereotypes drive me batty. The point I clearly seeing you trying to make is that our dreams should not be limited. Our children deserve and always have deserved the right to dream every dream. I have. I am so grateful for having my dreams and desires. Rambling sorry but I enjoyed your insight and your thought. Sorry I have not been commenting or visiting but for some reason my computer would never load your page and today with Mozilla it did! Wow. I completely see your point regarding what you choose for your daughter to play with. I looked at the cart and something sat funny with me. Now, I am not one of the hyper sensitive parents to the messages that toys can give because I had them and I turned out fine sort of reason…..however I do think about the meaning. Some triggers of mine are that all dolls are not in the same color. I also try not buying just gender specific toys. Because I do not want to give Scarlett the message that she is and must be a “girl”. Nor do I want her to think of color as one is better than the next. So having said that I respect each trigger being different for all people. Your reasons make quite a story! As you said, nothing is wrong with being a janitor. laborer, etc. but there is something grossly wrong with saying that someone can only do….. whatever the only could be. I admire and respect the strength it takes for people to break whatever sterotypes we fall into. Damn, stereotypes drive me batty. The point I clearly seeing you trying to make is that our dreams should not be limited. Our children deserve and always have deserved the right to dream every dream. I have. I am so grateful for having my dreams and desires.

Rambling sorry but I enjoyed your insight and your thought. Sorry I have not been commenting or visiting but for some reason my computer would never load your page and today with Mozilla it did!

]]> By: Flicka http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/2008/12/03/sometimes-a-toy-is-just-a-toy-and-then/comment-page-1/#comment-3059 Flicka Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:45:56 +0000 http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/?p=573#comment-3059 I'm just catching up with all your posts now. And I get it. I get how what looks like "just a toy" to some can come fully loaded with messages to others. Thanks for sharing your story and for helping me to see through your eyes. This is why blogging is so enriching for me. I’m just catching up with all your posts now. And I get it. I get how what looks like “just a toy” to some can come fully loaded with messages to others. Thanks for sharing your story and for helping me to see through your eyes. This is why blogging is so enriching for me.

]]> By: Deathstar http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/2008/12/03/sometimes-a-toy-is-just-a-toy-and-then/comment-page-1/#comment-3052 Deathstar Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:19:44 +0000 http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/?p=573#comment-3052 Well said. You have really given me some serious things to think about. You are an awesome mum. The things you have said will stay with me. Well said. You have really given me some serious things to think about. You are an awesome mum. The things you have said will stay with me.

]]> By: AdrienneG http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/2008/12/03/sometimes-a-toy-is-just-a-toy-and-then/comment-page-1/#comment-3048 AdrienneG Sat, 06 Dec 2008 03:43:02 +0000 http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/?p=573#comment-3048 I agree with you 100% My great grandmother cleaned White folks houses to make a living, and did not have the opportunities that my grandparents and parents had. She would have rolled over in her grave if I limited my aspirations to cleaning hotel rooms. Even people I have met in my life who clean for a living aspire for more...I know this woman who cleans houses so she can put herself through college. She knows she doesn't want her children aspiring to be housekeepers either. I totally agree with you on this Liana. I wouldnt get a janitor cart for my son to play with and think its no big deal. No, its perfectly okay in 2008 to aspire high for your children when your child is a child of color. White parents of White children aspire high for their children all the time and no one blinks an eye about it. BTW I looked up the meaning of Zara and it is of Arabic origin and means "radiance", so go ahead and continue to believe your child is about brilliance. :) I agree with you 100%

My great grandmother cleaned White folks houses to make a living, and did not have the opportunities that my grandparents and parents had. She would have rolled over in her grave if I limited my aspirations to cleaning hotel rooms.

Even people I have met in my life who clean for a living aspire for more…I know this woman who cleans houses so she can put herself through college. She knows she doesn’t want her children aspiring to be housekeepers either.

I totally agree with you on this Liana. I wouldnt get a janitor cart for my son to play with and think its no big deal. No, its perfectly okay in 2008 to aspire high for your children when your child is a child of color. White parents of White children aspire high for their children all the time and no one blinks an eye about it.

BTW I looked up the meaning of Zara and it is of Arabic origin and means “radiance”, so go ahead and continue to believe your child is about brilliance. :)

]]> By: Suzanne http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/2008/12/03/sometimes-a-toy-is-just-a-toy-and-then/comment-page-1/#comment-3043 Suzanne Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:04:02 +0000 http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/?p=573#comment-3043 As I commented on your previous post it totally occurred to me that my reaction was going to be influenced by my upbringing just as yours is by yours. As much as we try to understand and empathize, a white person (like me) will never really understand what it is to be black in this country. When my friend tells me about experiences of blatant racism that she has experienced, it's very difficult for me to comprehend that there are people that backward and stupid. I, thankfully, was raised better than that and my daughter will be too. As I commented on your previous post it totally occurred to me that my reaction was going to be influenced by my upbringing just as yours is by yours. As much as we try to understand and empathize, a white person (like me) will never really understand what it is to be black in this country. When my friend tells me about experiences of blatant racism that she has experienced, it’s very difficult for me to comprehend that there are people that backward and stupid. I, thankfully, was raised better than that and my daughter will be too.

]]> By: Julie http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/2008/12/03/sometimes-a-toy-is-just-a-toy-and-then/comment-page-1/#comment-3042 Julie Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:49:17 +0000 http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/?p=573#comment-3042 You know, after reading this post and the comments on Anti-Racist Parent I'm going to withdraw my previous reply. I can't possibly imagine what you have faced as a woman of color so I think I was out of line. As far as Barbie and her ilk - hopefully she'll gravitate towards other types of dolls and it'll be a non issue. It took me forever but I found a fantastic Latino Cabbage Patch boy doll for Dylan and he just adores his "baby". You know, after reading this post and the comments on Anti-Racist Parent I’m going to withdraw my previous reply. I can’t possibly imagine what you have faced as a woman of color so I think I was out of line.

As far as Barbie and her ilk – hopefully she’ll gravitate towards other types of dolls and it’ll be a non issue. It took me forever but I found a fantastic Latino Cabbage Patch boy doll for Dylan and he just adores his “baby”.

]]> By: luna http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/2008/12/03/sometimes-a-toy-is-just-a-toy-and-then/comment-page-1/#comment-3039 luna Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:11:53 +0000 http://lianaandmason.com/dollhouse/?p=573#comment-3039 I find it a shame that you'd even have to explain the reasons behind your opposition. . I find the thing offensive, and I'm curious how it is marketed, what demographics are targeted. while so many kids toys are just toxic plastic junk, this one was especially troubling. although I didn't think it required any justification, thanks for your eloquent articulation. I find it a shame that you’d even have to explain the reasons behind your opposition. . I find the thing offensive, and I’m curious how it is marketed, what demographics are targeted. while so many kids toys are just toxic plastic junk, this one was especially troubling. although I didn’t think it required any justification, thanks for your eloquent articulation.

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