HASBRO GENDER NEUTRAL EASY BAKE OVEN CONTROVERSY

December 18,2012:

OH no. I just read that there is a girl. M. Pope, upset at HASBRO because they do not make EZ Bake Ovens that cater to boys.WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!! Are you serious?????? And now HASBRO had a scheduled meeting with her TODAY. Ok, so I have been trying to meet with HASBRO for like 20 years ( since I was like 5) and then a girl complains about the toys not being gender neutral and she gets to meet the executives of HASBRo?? Are you serious??? This is CRAZY.

Let's talk about this story so you guys can get caught up and then I will tell you the facts:

A little girl named McKenna Pope went to the store to buy an Easy Bake oven for her brother. When she went, all she could find were pink and purple ones. As a result she was like,” Oh no, Hasbro doesn’t make Easy Bake Ovens for boy”. That’s not fair she thought. She then created a PETITION on Change.org , for HASBRO to make Easy Bake Ovens for boys. And now all of a sudden she is this hero for standing up for gender equality, etc and she will be meeting with HASBRO today. Ridiculous.

This story is ridiculous. And I will tell you why.



Being the toy fanatic that I am, these are the FACTS:

1. Yes there are more boys than girls in America. This is a fact. I have conducted Census studies, and yes, there are more boys than girls and for YEARS I have been telling toy makers that they need to focus on boy toys because they are a larger market. I have sent them my yearly Census reports. I have sent the reports to Hasbro and Mattel, and of course, they have NEVER responded to me…ever. But the report is something I always send to them, after I do my analysis. In fact, my report is actually copyrighted, you can find it in the U.S Copyright office.

Look at this file from the Census website and look at the 2010 data on page 4. http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-03.pdf The data shows that for the ages 0-19, there were more boys than girls in America. Period.

2. Easy Bake Oven—Let’s talk about the FACTs of the EASY BAKE OVEN: The EASY BAKE Oven has EVOLVED over time…tremendously. The Easy Bake oven has been around since the 1960s, and has come in a VARIETY of colors. Any one who knows their toys WELL, knows this. It is a FACT. The Easy Bake oven did not turn PINK until like the mid 1980s, early 90s. Fact 2: there are SO MANY VERSIONS of the EASY BAKE OVEN—there is the original Easy Bake Oven, there is the REAL Meal Oven, there is the oven with the stove top, etc etc. These versions come in SO MANY COLORS… so MANY!!

Now in the mid 2000, the REAL MEAL OVEN was created, by HASBRO. This was created by LAMONT MORRIS, a product designer at HASBRo, an African American man. A man I REPEATEDLY talk about on this website- like over and over and over again. The REAL MEAL OVEN was grey ,blue, purple and it had a boy and a girl on the COVER of the packaging. It was a NEUTRAL Easy Bake Oven. It was great.

And now we have the newer “Easy Bake “ Ovens.

People , get your facts STRAIGHT!! HASBRO HASSSSSSSSSSSSS made gender neutral EASY BAKE OVENS—ALWAYS. Who says boys can not bake in a purple oven—it is society who teaches boys that purple is a girls color. Aren’t there male basketball teams that have purple jerseys?? You see, this whole gender biased “dilemma” is so SILLY!!!! Purple is a NEUTRAL COLOR. PERIOD!!

Fact 3. Let me tell you something else about HASBRO. Do NOT forget that HASBRO created the Creepy Crawler Easy Bake oven. This oven was marketed differently and it was like the oven FOR Boys—marketed FOR BOYS, the way Mattel Hot Wheels are marketed for BOYS. Why doesn’t MATTEL make HOT WHEELS for Girls? Should I start a petition for that? Why doesn’t Mattel make more ethnic looking dolls? Why doesn’t HASBRO make a Glo-Worm that looks more like a guy in the face? Why doesn’t Mattel use girls in their hot wheels advertising? Why doesn’t MATTEL make I CAN BE dolls for boys? I mean, I can go on and on and on and on if you need me to.

I am actually doing a report on Hasbro and whether or not their toys are gender friendly, regarding the packaging, for my PhD program. Email me if you want to see it or would like to discuss it further. And I will also be talking about this at a conference in D.C in 2013 that I submitted an abstract for like 3 months ago--what a coincidence.

Summary: This petition is very silly because Hasbro does a GREAT job at creating gender neutral toys.And they know they do. So why they would want to appease the girl and have her come to headquarters is beyond me. Why haven’t I been invited to HASBRO headquarters? I am the one doing the Census reports and doing the detailed gender equality research on their products?

Anyways, at the end of the day, perhaps the little girl and her family are going to leave the HASBRO headquarters with a car full of free HASBRO toys. Good for them. And perhaps a lifetime of refillable Easy Bake oven toys-good for them again. But people, make sure you know the FACTS before you start judging toy companies. And P.S little girl, if you get an extra HASBRO toy you don’t want, you can always feel free to send it my way.

Toys R Us announces $150 tablet for kids

Toys R Us announces $150 tablet for kids By Hayley Tsukayama, Published: September 10 Source:

A prominent company jumped in to the 7-inch tablet competition Monday, but it wasn’t Apple, Microsoft, or HP — it was Toys “R” Us. The toy retailer announced the introduction of the Tabeo, a seven-inch, Android-powered tablet for kids that will cost $149.99. The device is aimed solely at younger users, complete with specialized browser controls, pre-loaded educational apps and a curated app store to give kids access to a limited number of programs. Not that it's all about hitting the books. Rovio’s “Angry Birds,” Imangi Studio’s “Temple Run” and Halfbrick’s “Fruit Ninja” are also included on the tablet, in addition to games such as “Cut the Rope,” “Collapse!” and “100 Floors.” The tablet will run a version of Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and will have the ability to connect to the Internet over WiFi. The tablet will only be available from Toys “R” Us stores or the company’s Web site. It will go on sale Oct. 21. To keep it kid-proof, the tablet also has a lime-green bumper to go around the outside, which should protect it when “dropped from low heights or bumped into other objects.” The curated app store, the release said, has 7,000 free apps and “thousands” available for purchase. The tablet has 4GB of RAM and an expandable microSDHC memory slot. Parents can limit the amount of time their kids can spend online, set access for specific days of the week or hours of the day, and can get e-mail alerts if their kids find some way around the limitations. The news release lists “nearly 10” (in other words, nine) educational apps meant to teach kids about the alphabet, science and math, plus additional apps focused on subjects such as photography and cooking. Toys “R” Us is not the only company that has put measures in place to monitor how children use tablets. At its recent Kindle Fire announcement, Amazon said that it would put stricter parental controls into place on its tablets, allowing parents to set up profiles that limit how long their children can use the device. After the Toys “R” Us announcement Monday, shares of the LeapFrog Enterprises — which makes smart tablet-like toys for kids to help them with reading, math and other subjects — fell dramatically as investors worried about how the company would keep pace with a toy store behemoth such as Toys “R” Us. As of 1:30 p.m., LeapFrog shares were down more than 7 percent to about $8.50 per share.

Backlash for Disney's first Latina princess By Cindy Y. Rodriguez, CNN updated 6:42 PM EDT, Fri October 19, 2012

(CNN) -- Move over Pocahontas and Mulan, Sofia está aquí. Disney's first Latina princess, featured in the movie "Sofia the First: Once Upon A Princess" has received backlash as well as support from the media outlets, especially the Latino community. Is Disney's new princess a milestone for Latinos or a culturally irrelevant character? Disney's spokeswoman provided a recent statement to CNN to help clarify what exactly makes "Princess Sofia" Latina: "The range of characters in 'Sofia the First' -- and the actors who play them -- are a reflection of Disney's commitment to diverse, multicultural and inclusive storytelling, and the wonderful early reaction to 'Sofia' affirms that commitment. In the story, Sofia's mother, Queen Miranda, was born in a fictitious land, Galdiz, a place with Latin influences. Miranda met Sofia's father, Birk Balthazar, who hailed from the kingdom of Freezenberg, and together they moved to Enchancia, where Sofia was born." "Sofia the First" is a television movie and series set to debut November 18 on the Disney Channel and Disney Junior, aimed at children ages 2-7. Sofia is a regular little girl whose life changes when her mother marries the king. Ariel Winter from "Modern Family" will voice Sofia and Sara Ramirez from "Grey's Anatomy" will voice Queen Miranda. When news first hit in December 2011 that Disney was going to introduce their new and much younger princess, there was no mention of Sofia's Latina background, let alone that her mother was from "a place with Latin influences" until this week. Yet this week, Disney announced that Sofia was indeed Latina. During a press tour, a blogger asked why Sofia's mother, Miranda, had a darker complexion than her mother, leading to the big announcement of the Hispanic background: "She is Latina," said Jamie Mitchell, Disney's executive producer, during a press tour to Entertainment Weekly in an article published on Tuesday. According the the vice president of Disney Junior original programming, "We never actually call it out." "It's sort of a matter-of-fact situation rather than an overt thing." However, this isn't the first time there is controversy surrounding one of Disney's princesses. In 2009, "The Princess and the Frog" received criticism from parents and the media for being set in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, it's voodoo references and Disney's first African-American princess, Tiana, falling in love with a Caucasian prince. Most agree Princess Tiana was a step in the right direction but many said there was still work to be done. Some Latinos applauded Disney's new milestone and welcomed her with open arms on Twitter stating, "#Disney comes out with its first "#Latina Princess." Its about time. It is 2012. #Hispanics" and "#Disney finally comes out with a #Latina princess" Some criticized what they saw as a lack of cultural signifiers or ethnic identity in the Sofia character. "If Disney were truly to finally step out and directly cater to the Latino community that has been crying out for decades for a Latina princess to represent our girls," said Ana Flores, blogger for Spanglishbaby, "She would be as Latina as Tiana is black or as Pocahontas is Indian-American." Alex Nogales, president and CEO for the National Hispanic Media Coalition, a nonprofit organization that promotes Latino equality in the entertainment industry, believes the Latino community needs more heroes right now that are very identifiable. "Latinos are taking the blame for everything that is wrong with America. This is not a time to pussyfoot around. If you're going to promote this to the public, and Latinos in particular, do us a favor and make it a real Latina." Source: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/19/showbiz/disneys-first-latina-princess/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

AFRICAS ANSWER TO DORA THE EXPLORER

WRITTEN BY: MARK TUTTON, CNN

BINO FINO WEBSITE:http://binoandfino.wordpress.com/

CNN) -- Move over Disney -- a Nigerian animator has produced an educational cartoon to teach youngsters about African culture.

Tired of African children watching only imported cartoons that didn't reflect their lives, Nigerian animator Adamu Waziri decided to do something about it.

His creation is "Bino and Fino," a cartoon aimed at three to five year olds, about a brother and sister who live with their grandparents in an unnamed African city.

"I want to create a brand that's as good as Dora the Explorer, Charlie and Lola, quality wise, made in Nigeria, that is educational, and also shows positive aspects of Nigerian/African culture, not just to Nigerian or African kids but to kids everywhere," says Waziri.

The pilot episode celebrated Nigeria's Independence Day and looked at the issue of colonialism. The cartoon has also had segments teaching the numbers one to 10 in the Nigerian Igbo and Yoruba languages.

He adds that he wants the program to "teach kids and show that the stuff you see on TV of starving people isn't the only thing (in Africa) -- you have a middle class here who have the same aspirations as everybody else."

See also: Meet the Afropolitans

Bino and Fino isn't the only children's cartoon produced in Africa. "Tinga Tinga Tales," for example, is made in Kenya for the BBC, while "Jungle Beat" is produced in South Africa and has been shown internationally. But both cartoons, like many set in Africa, tell stories about the continent's exotic animals. Waziri was determined to do something different.

"I said I'm not going do African folk tales, animals -- that's what you get in (animated movie) 'Madagascar' -- we don't want to do that," he says.

"We want to show a couple of kids in a middle class life, which I know isn't the reality of all the kids in Africa, but let's show that reality -- the reality of people using laptops, phones, going to school, doing their daily business -- no talking ants, no dancing 'jinga jinga' music -- just a cartoon of life."

Two full-length "Bino and Fino" episodes have been shown on a channel on Sky TV in the UK, where Waziri says it has been well received. The next step is to attract the funding and sponsors needed to get the cartoon aired in Nigeria.
Stop waiting for Disney to do it, do it yourself.
Adamu Waziri, creator of "Bino to Fino"

It takes Waziri and his core team of four a month and a half to produce a single episode of Bino and Fino, which is just eight minutes of animation. His says the slow turnaround is off-putting for sponsors in Nigeria, where feature-length Nollywood movies are often produced in a matter of weeks.

See also: Nigerian blockbusters for internet generation

Waziri adds that when it comes to entertainment, some Nigerians have a mindset of "West is best," but he is determined to change people's minds by showing it's possible to make a credible homegrown alternative to imported programs.

He believes that it's not enough for Africans to complain of being underrepresented in foreign cartoons, or misrepresented by international media -- they must also do something about it.

"People complain that Africa is not represented well in the media," says Waziri. "I understand that, but my point is Nigeria and other parts of Africa aren't poor, you have businessmen, the infrastructure, the ability to link up and make studios, finance it and sponsor it and make the market -- stop waiting for Disney to do it, do it yourself."

lINK TO ARTICLE IS HERE:http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/23/world/africa/nigeria-cartoon-bino-fino/index.html

MR POTATO HEAD TURNS 60 THIS MONTH

CHECK OUT THE ARTICLE BELOW:



TAKEN FROM CNN
POSTED BY:KATE MCLAUGHLIN
LINK:http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/23/the-throwback-mr-potato-head-turns-60/

The Throwback: Mr. Potato Head turns 60

This month marks 60 years of spud-tastic memories for an iconic toy industry staple that remains a household name.

Mr. Potato Head hit the market in 1952 and has been inspiring imaginative play ever since. For many preschool aged children, ownership of a Mr. Potato Head represents a rite of passage as well as the passing down of a tradition from generation to generation.

Mr. Potato Head was the first-ever toy to be advertised on television and remains one of Hasbro's most beloved characters.

By the numbers, over 100 million Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head toys have been sold to date; more than 30 licensed Mr. Potato Head characters have been created; and there are over 350 Mr. Potato Head parts and pieces available. That's no small potatoes!

Not only is Mr. Potato celebrating his 60th birthday, but he and Mrs. Potato Head renewed their vows this year. Thankfully, neither got cold (removable, interchangeable) feet.

Not one to shy away from the limelight (unless it involves a deep fryer), Mr. Potato Head himself spoke to CNN about turning 60.

CNN: First of all, Mr. Potato Head, Happy 60th birthday - and many more! How does it feel to be 60? Are your "small fry" days behind you?

Mr. Potato Head: Thank you very much! I feel 60 years young, and while I'm no longer a small fry, I'm still a kid at heart. This year the Mrs. and I will celebrate with spud-tastic adventures around the globe!

CNN: How did you get your big break into the toy biz? Can you tell us a little about your history?

Mr. Potato Head: I sprouted into the toy business in 1952 and became the first toy ever advertised on network TV. I've had so many great experiences since then, including being nominated for the mayor of Boise, Idaho, starring in Disney-Pixar's "Toy Story," and walking in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

CNN: What is your personal favorite Mr. Potato Head incarnation?

Mr. Potato Head: It's hard to choose, but if I had to pick one, I'd say my favorite outfit is the spiffy groom's attire that I wore to renew my vows with my sweet potato. I share so many happy memories with the Mrs. - I only have eyes for her!

CNN: You've fostered a lot of kids' imaginations and triggered many fits of giggles for any child who has, for example, placed Mr. Potato Head's nose where his head should be. How does it feel to be, in many cases, a source of laughter?

Mr. Potato Head: There is no better feeling in the world than to bring a smile to a child's face, it is spudtacular! I look forward to the next 60 years of silly, giggly fun with small fries.

CNN: How long have you and Mrs. Potato Head been married? Do you have any advice for keeping a relationship strong? Do you two have special plans for your 60th birthday?

Mr. Potato Head: The Mrs. and I have been married 59 years and we're still mashly in love! My relationship advice would be: Remember to have fun! The Mrs. and I are planning to celebrate my 60th birthday all year long by learning new things, traveling across the globe and making new friends. You can keep up with our adventures on my Facebook page.

CNN: What's the most common misconception that people have about you?

Mr. Potato Head: That I'm a couch potato! The Mrs. and I love to travel and stay active, our adventures keep us young.

CNN: What's the most common question you get asked?

Mr. Potato Head: Everyone wants to know which "part & piece" is my favorite - the answer is my smile, it goes with everything!

Here are some additional Mr. Potato Head fun facts:

* 1952's Mr. Potato Head cost $0.98, consisting of parts only - Mom and Dad supplied the actual (real!) potato.
* Mrs. Potato Head was introduced to the world one year later. The couple tied the knot on Valentine's Day 1953.
* In 1964, Hasbro began manufacturing Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head with hard plastic bodies that held the pieces - and has done so ever since - eliminating the need for real spuds.
* Parts are stored in the Tater Tush™ compartment. (Yep, it's trademarked!)
* Those plastic bodies doubled in size come 1974, and have remained roughly the same size ever since.
* Mr. Potato Head got his AARP card in 2002.

What about you? Did you have a Mr. Potato Head(s)? Which one(s) did you have? What are your fondest Mr. Potato Head memories?

Sesame Street in Palestine- Reduced Funding

http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_c2#/video/world/2012/02/06/mckenzie-me-sesame-street.cnn

COOL WEBSITES

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Think Geek:www.thinkgeek.com

SUCK UK: http://www.suck.uk.com/home/

PERPETUAL KID: http://www.perpetualkid.com/

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SPINNING HAT:http://www.spinninghat.com/


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CHILDS OWN

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Ban the Barbie

Ban the Barbie: Police in Iran shut down toy shops selling the U.S. doll in crackdown on Western culture

By Jill Reilly


Banned: Reports said the move is part of a decades-long crackdown on signs of Western culture in Iran

Banned: Reports said the move is part of a decades-long crackdown on signs of Western culture in Iran

Toy shops are being targeted and closed down by police for selling Barbie dolls.

The move is part of a decades-long crackdown on signs of Western culture in Iran, the semiofficial Mehr news agency reported today.

Mehr quoted an unnamed police official as saying police confiscated Barbie dolls from toy shops in Tehran in a 'new phase' of its crackdown against 'manifestations of Western culture.'

Created in 1959 by American toy manufacturer Mattel Inc, Barbie dolls wearing swimsuits and miniskirts are sold in a society where women must wear head scarves in public, and men and women are not allowed to swim together.

A ban on the sale of Barbie dolls, was imposed in the mid-1990s.

Despite the ban, the doll has until recently been openly on sale in Tehran shops.

When the new order, was issued around three weeks ago, reproved hiding the dolls behind other toys to continue selling them but while avoiding being closed down by the police.

In 1996, a government-backed children's agency called Barbie a 'Trojan horse' sneaking in Western influences like makeup and revealing clothes.

Authorities launched a campaign of confiscating Barbie dolls from toy shops in 2002, denouncing what they called the un-Islamic characteristics of the uniquely American doll. The campaign was eventually dropped.
No longer in stock: In this file 2008 photo Iranian shopkeeper Hamid Reza Delband displays a doll at his toy shop, in Tehran, but now toy shops are being shut down for selling the U.S doll

No longer in stock: In this file 2008 photo Iranian shopkeeper Hamid Reza Delband displays a doll at his toy shop, in Tehran, but now toy shops are being shut down for selling the U.S doll

Also in 2002, Iran introduced its own competing dolls - twins Dara and Sara - who were designed to promote traditional values with modest clothing and pro-family stories.

But the dolls proved unable to stem the Barbie tide.

More...

* Britain and France set to push through EU oil embargo on Iran as pressure ratchets up over Tehran's nuclear programme
* Russia warns of a 'very big war' if West meddles with Middle East... as Iran orders Arab neighbours not to cosy up to U.S.

Despite bans on many Western books, movies, satellite TV channels, music, haircuts and fashions, young people maintain their interest in Western culture.

Even channels of Iran's state TV broadcast several Western and Hollywood films every week.
Competition: In 2002 Iran introduced its own competing dolls - twins Dara and Sara - who were designed to promote traditional values with modest clothing and pro-family stories, but they weren't as popular

Competition: In 2002 Iran introduced its own competing dolls - twins Dara and Sara - who were designed to promote traditional values with modest clothing and pro-family stories, but they weren't as popular

Islamists have repeatedly tried to fight what they see as a Western cultural 'invasion' since 1979 Islamic Revolution that ousted a pro-Western monarchy.

As well as banning Barbie dolls in another swipe at the West, Iranians will soon be able to buy toy versions of the U.S. spy drone that it captured in December.
New toy: In another swipe at the West, Iranians will soon be able to buy toy versions of the U.S. spy drone that it captured in December

New toy: In another swipe at the West, Iranians will soon be able to buy toy versions of the U.S. spy drone that it captured in December

Models of the bat-wing RQ-170 Sentinel - which Iran's military displayed on TV after it was downed near the Afghan border - have been revealed by an Iranian toymaker.

Since then, importing Western toys has been discouraged by a regime that seeks to protect Iranians from what it calls the negative effects of Western culture.

In 2008, the Iranian judiciary warned against the 'destructive' cultural and social consequences and "danger" of importing Barbie dolls and other Western toys.

Even so, Iranian markets have been full of Western toys aimed at Iranian children.

One-third of Iran's population of 75 million are under 15 years old.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2089392/Ban-Barbie-Police-Iran-shut-toy-shops-selling-U-S-doll-crackdown-Western-culture.html#ixzz1k8qFb2yM

Source:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2089392/Ban-Barbie-Police-Iran-shut-toy-shops-selling-U-S-doll-crackdown-Western-culture.html