The first time I remember ever getting into trouble in school was in Kindergarten: the teacher had split up the toys and decided on days when girls could play with these, and boys could play with those — and I refused to follow the rules. I kept playing with the “boys’ toys.” And I didn’t understand why there should be a split between boys and girls. I was mystified about why I was getting into trouble. And to tell the truth, I still really don’t get it.
Case in point: I was looking at a really cool toy store called Firebox: great toys, cool gadgets, neat puzzles, office warfare toys. I’ve called them Britain’s Best Kept Toy Secret, because no one I know has ever heard of them, but their stuff is fantastic. I signed up for their affiliate program, and went about some research on what keywords they use to sell their own stuff — and got a nasty shock. Of the 185 keywords supplied by the program I was using, 38 (20%) were about men or boys. “Great toys for boys,” “boys toys gadgets,” “boy stuff,” “mens toys,” “toys for guys,” “toy for men.” How many of these 185 terms mentioned females? Two. Only two.
This got me riled, just a bit. Why is it that if it’s dolls or kitchen sets they’re “girls’ toys,” and if they’re gadgety or fun or include R/C they’re “mens’ toys?” There are guys into cooking and girls into gadgets; why the gender assumptions?
So I’m going to do things a little differently. I’m going to recommend toys and gadgets that I and my friends would play with; and I’m starting with the 20Q. This little ball is the neatest toy I’ve seen in a long time. It plays 20 Questions with you! You think up a word, and it asks questions until it guesses — and it’s scarily accurate! The guys at Firebox could only trip it up with swearwords; and when they played using the word Firebox, it came up with Hotbox, which is eerily close.
This is a great toy — it inspires thought, can be played with by yourself or in a group, and it’s only $12.95! Not bad for a toy that laughs at you when you’re slow and cheats if it doesn’t get the answer in 20 questions (it gives itself 5 more). And if this isn’t your cup of tea, Firebox has a wide range of all sorts of toys, tools, USB gadgets, R/C, and gag items. Go take a look!
