WTF: Discovery Store and Gender Bias

[roseembolism]

 
 
From Melissa McEwan's science blog Shakesville, we get this disturbing bit of information about what the Discovery Store thinks about Toys for Girls and Boys.

I mean seriously, what the HELL are they thinking?  No wait, I know what they're thinking: girls like crafts and fashion, boys like cool active stuff and discovery.  Science is unfeminine, is the thinking, and gender traits are both broad and absolute.

And a larger question: Is it just me, but does it generally appear that tools and other "masculine" items marketed to girls and women are generally shoddy?

Please forward this around.  This could use some comment from the public. 
 
Thanks to James Nicoll: I found out about this from his blog.

Comments

[palecur.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they're in the checkout lines at OSH -- 2-ounce tiny hammers with pink flower-print vinyl sheathing. Kind of heinous, though I'd be tempted to buy full-size useful tools with frou-frou flowers, just for the amusing contrast.

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

I think of that as sort of a patronizing attitude on the part of the tool makers. "Oh women will want to use tools, but we can't make them use MENS tools- we'll put some flowers on this cheap crap and the ladies will love it, bless their little hearts.