Target Removing Gender-Based Signage from Stores

By MARC TORRENCE (Patch National Staff)

Target will be removing gender-based signs in certain sections of the store, along with color indicators in the toy section.

While there isn’t a Target in Medfield, there are a pair nearby town. There is a Target in Westwood, located at 221 University Ave., and a Target in Framingham located at 400 Cochituate Road.

The changes, announced on the retail giant’s website, will happen “over the next few months” as the team works “to identify areas where we can phase out gender-based signage to help strike a better balance.”

The company pinned down a couple of specific areas where the signs will definitely be removed, like kids bedding and toys. In the toy section, Target will also remove gender identifiers in the toy section like its pink, blue, yellow and green paper on shelves.

“We never want guests or their families to feel frustrated or limited by the way things are presented,” a post on Target’s website said. “Over the past year, guests have raised important questions about a handful of signs in our stores that offer product suggestions based on gender.”

Arguably the most outspoken complaint came from Abi Bechtel on Twitter, who noted toy signage that separated “Building Sets” from “Girls’ Building Sets.” It was retweeted nearly 3,000 times:

“We heard you, and we agree,” the Target post said.

Already there was backlash beneath the post in comments from Facebook. One woman said she won’t be shopping at Target again:

I won’t be spending 1 dime in Target anymore. WTH is wrong with them and parents? Now girls aren’t allowed to be girls and boys aren’t allowed to be boys? Why does everyone have to cater to gays? Are they not going to be happy until everyone is gay? Any parent who supports this is nuts and they’re in for lots of problems with their kids. There is NOTHING WRONG wirh being straight!!!!

Another called it an attack against “traditional human values”:

Boycott is the answer. They just don’t get it. this is an attack against traditional human values. No more Target for my entire family. Even when they reverse this nonsense, and they will, we are done with them. We won’t give our hard earned money to a company that will cave to a few while offending the majority that made them. It’s a sad sign of the times.

But others were encouraged by the change:

Thank You Target!! My favorite store!!!

Let kids play with toys and not be assigned strict gender roles!!

Let us know what you think in the comments. Are these changes too much? Or a step in the right direction for Target?

Read the full post on Target’s website.

Image via Wikimedia