Target Introduces Gender-Neutral Toy Aisles and Children’s Sections

Early this year, some Target shoppers shared their frustrations at the toy aisles when they encountered ridiculous signs like these:

Annoying pic.twitter.com/09wPwk3nei

— ashe dryden (@ashedryden) March 2, 2015

Don’t do this, @Target pic.twitter.com/cfh3cp5Nqa

— Abi LocalMom Bechtel (@abianne) June 1, 2015

The signs above, which implicitly stated that building toys and LEGOs are, by default, for boys caused Target to face a lot of backlash over social media. Good news: Target listened to the critiques and is now implementing gender neutral signage in toy aisle, kids bedding, and children’s books! The toy shelf back-walls will be replaced with wood panels and their team is looking for other areas of their store to implement changes.

Clothing, they said, will maintain gender-based language to represent sizing differences. A Target spokesman also stated that their online store will maintain the gender references since it’s a popular search term. On the new arrangement, Target said:

We never want guests or their families to feel frustrated or limited by the way things are presented.

Target making an active efforts to make their store more inclusive instead of making excuses, or just taking the sign down and calling it a day, are really admirable and I hope other stores will take note.

(via Star Tribune)

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