Spain: Toy advertisements may no longer be pink or blue

The umbrella organisation of Spanish toy manufacturers has committed to rules against gender-specific toy advertising vis-à-vis the left-wing government in Madrid. The two sides signed an agreement that for the first time explicitly bans the portrayal of girls in “discriminatory or derogatory” ways in advertising, according to the Ministry of Consumer Protection.

The aim is to “promote a pluralistic, egalitarian and stereotype-free image of minors”, the ministry wrote. Therefore, the portrayal of girls with gender-specific references would be banned. Advertising for toys related to personal hygiene, housework or beauty, for example, should not be aimed exclusively at girls, and those representing drive, physical activity or technology should not be aimed specifically at boys, it said.

The new code contains no less than 64 standards that are to apply to toy advertising in the future.

The “undesirable” messages signalling two genders must also not be incorporated into advertising by “implicit” references, such as the classic colours pink for girls and blue for boys. In addition, the advertising must be designed to be understandable to minors, and it must show what advantages the product could promote – such as creativity, physical and mental development, sociability and empathy.

Toy advertising will thus become “more egalitarian, honest and supportive”, claimed Consumer Protection Minister Alberto Garzón. This is important for the protection and development of children. “Sexist” advertising has been banned in Spain since 2004.

In a video published by his ministry in 2021, animated toy figures were seen calling for a “strike” to “eliminate sexism and gender roles”. In the video, two dolls – one female and one male – complained that toys were “pigeonholed” and claimed their right to play “with 100 percent of boys and girls”. At the end, they cry out for “equality”.

German public broadcasters go for grooming

In a video screened on Wednesday in Germany, the topic was: “Gender-neutral upbringing: is it good for children?” The reporter asked the young family at the breakfast table what it was like when the little girl chose her own gender-neutral name.

The little girl is silent, but the father’s enthusiasm for gender theories is given ample room. He speaks for his daughter: “You can contradict me, but Nova often says that Nova doesn’t want pronouns.” It is quite unlikely that a young child would understand “pronouns”.

But with such an attitude nowadays, one catapults oneself into the avant-garde of the woke elite. The “gender-fluid” educational grooming by her parents gives Nova the choice not to be a girl. She is instead faced with a passive-aggressive father who has imposed the time-consuming selection of genderless tights, pajamas, sweaters and pants as well as at least five versions of her name. Her mother even translates “queer” children’s books that deal with transsexuality into German for Nova.

Teacher: Nova is sometimes overwhelmed

The ARD and ZDF public broadcasting network is aimed specifically at young people between the ages of 14 and 29 with an annual tax-financed budget of 45 million euros. Their reporter must have guessed that a good report needs a critical voice. So he actually visited Nova’s kindergarten teacher Angela, who offered two minutes of reality.

The educator described how Nova was sometimes overwhelmed with decisions in the daycare center. “I am sure that children also need adult guidance, instruction and orientation.” Sometimes it is important “that someone says: Come on, that’s good for you, I decided that for you,” said Angela.

Regardless of whether Nova feels that she is a girl, her “gender-neutral” upbringing helps children who are transgender according to her parents. That is very important to the father, because “trans children have a really difficult childhood and youth and experience a lot of violence”.

The final word goes to Nova. When the reporter asked her what her favorite color was, the four-year-old replied, “Pink and pink!”