Press Release Headlines

Dad Does Demands Toy Industry Stops Issuing Awards That Reinforce Gender Stereotypes

NORTHAMPTON, Mass., Jan. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — In three weeks the Toy Industry Association (TIA) will hold their annual award ceremony and once again present toy awards that reinforce gender stereotypes.  Dad Does, a toy review blog has launched a petition that calls on the TIA to eliminate the Boy Toy of The Year (TOTY) Award and the Girl TOTY Award.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160120/324272

On February 12, 2016 the TIA will kick off Toy Fair in NYC with its Toy Of The Year (TOTY) Awards ceremony.  The TOTY awards are considered the Oscars of the toy industry.  In total, 14 awards will be presented in categories including Best Outdoor Toy, Best Educational Toy and Best Activity Toy.

Unfortunately, the TIA will continue to reinforce gender stereotypes in toys by presenting a Girl Toy Of The Year Award and Boy Toy of the Year Award.  Among the finalist for Boy TOTY Award are three Star Wars toys, a quadcopter, a Nerf blaster, a car garage and a Hulk RC truck.  The Girl TOTY Award finalist include a Shopkins ice cream truck, a Girl Scout cookie oven, a pink Nerf bow and a magical unicorn.

Read More About Why Dad Does Is Calling For An End to Awards That Promote Gender Stereotypes:
http://www.daddoes.com/12519/stop-awarding-gender-stereotypes-in-toys/

Dan Nessel, founder of DadDoes.Com, has created a petition at Change.Org calling on the TIA to do away with the Boy and Girl TOTY Awards.  Nessel states, "It's 2016, what possible good comes from presenting awards for the best boy toy and best girl toy?  Why would the TIA choose to have awards that reinforce gender stereotypes in children?"

Nessel explains that there is a very simple solution to the problem, remove the Boy and Girl toy awards and have the award categories reflect the nature of the toy, not the gender of the child who may play with it.  Nessel concludes, "The TIA got 12 of the 14 award categories right.  Things like Best Activity Toy and Best Educational Toy provide valuable insight to parents who are looking for a specific toy based on their child's interest.  The Boy and Girl Toy Awards are outdated and harmful. The TIA should award fun, not gender stereotypes."

Contact:
Dan Nessel
Phone: (646) 827-9222
Email
http://www.DadDoes.Com

About Dad Does:

Founded in September, 2010, by Dan Nessel, DadDoes.Com has already become a destination site for parents looking for brutally honest, informative and fun reviews.  DadDoes.Com believes that parents care about more than just diapers and strollers – they don't stop eating, drinking and playing just because they become parents.  Parents do see things through a different lens and DadDoes.Com looks to provide information on everything, through that parent lens.  Dad Does is based in Northampton, MA and has been featured in numerous media outlets including Fox News, Grand Magazine, WABC-TV, The Republican and The Gazette.