This page was started because I, like many parents, feel that McDonald's Corporation is doing our children an injustice. It's enough that society stereotypes boys and girls, but must McDonald's further promote it? Why must they ask if customers want a Happy Meal^® for a "boy", or a Happy Meal^® for a "girl"?

I was told by a McDonald's Home Office Customer Satisfaction Representative, that "none of their toys are meant to be gender-restricted", and that their "employees have been specifically trained to ask customers which of the two toys offered that week they would like, and not whether they would like a "girl" or a "boy" toy". Well, somewhere along the line of their training, employees have forgotten what they were supposed to be asking. Time and time again, I seem to encounter McDonald's employees across the state, that insist on asking whether I want the Happy Meal for a boy, or the Happy Meal for a girl. Do you feel McDonald's employees should be phrasing the question this way?

On a trip to a McDonald's during the Hello Kitty^®/Action Man^TM promotion, the employee at first refused to tell us what the two different toys were. She finally yelled, "Well, what do you have, a boy or a girl?". I was horrified that I had to choose a meal this way. She insisted that I could not order unless I chose either the "boy" or "girl" Happy Meal^®. I finally got her to tell me what the different toys were. On a second recent visit to a different McDonald's, the employee asked if I wanted the "boy" or the "girl" Happy Meal^®. I already knew what both toys were, so I answered that I preferred the "Action Man". By the way, I have a daughter :-).

Do you feel that McDonald's should make sure that their employees do not ask customers whether they prefer the "boy" or "girl" Happy MealHappy Meal^®, or do you disagree? Whether you have experienced gender discrimination or not, I ask you to post your experiences so we can alert McDonalds to your opinions. Teaching gender discrimination allows our children to think that they are not entitled to one type of toy. Should our children be made to feel like they do not have the opportunity to have one toy or the other, because they're either a boy or a girl? Our children should be allowed to choose either toy, without being made to feel as though they shouldn't.


Post your Happy Meal^® experiences!

Current

Click here - SeniorWomen.com discusses the gender issue!

We rarely go to McDonald's anymore...maybe once a month. The main reason is more financial, not because of this topic. When we go, the employees still ask if we have a boy or girl. I still feel, "what's the difference? Just tell us the toys that are available." Unfortunately, I don't think they will ever change...and that's fine. I am still entitled to my opinion, and it stands the same. If your thoughts differ from mine, that's ok. That's what makes us all different. I don't waste any time, nor any extra thought on this topic. So those of you who think I do, can now rest assured knowing that I don't :). I still invite you to share your opinions, but please remember that I am not telling others how to feel, but sharing with others how I feel. I will no longer be updating this page, but am leaving it online due to the interest of many.

2002 Happy Meals

Click here for 2001 toys.

• September 13 - October 3, 2002: Happy Meal^® toys: Walt Disney's "Beauty & The Beast" Enchanted Toys
  
• June 14 - July 11, 2002: Happy Meal^® toys: Walt Disney's "Lilo & Stitch" Surf-Bobblers
  
• May 24 - June 13, 2002: Happy Meal^® toys: Walt Disney's "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh"
  
• May 2002:Happy Meal^® toys for Battle Bots
  
• Happy Meal^® toys for April 5 - April 25, 2002: Matchbox^®, Madame Alexander^®