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Should McDonald's Stop Asking Customers Whether They Want a "Boy" or "Girl" Happy Meal®?
*These pages has not been updated in many years. We've left it online because it continues
to amuse many, including ourselves. We were never offended by this issue (ie: "the nerve of them giving us a girl toy!") -- we just wanted the right to get either of the two toys that were offered...and we had trouble doing just that.
We've updated this page with some interesting links about the McDonald's gender issue that show this is an ongoing issue (hmmm, guess it wasn't just us).*
Past & current issues with McDonald's Toys: Links added 6/09:
2001:
This page was started because we, 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?"
We were 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, we seem to encounter McDonald's employees across the state, that insist on asking whether we 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 ManTM 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?" We were horrified that we had to choose a meal this way. She insisted that we could not order unless I chose either the "boy" or "girl" Happy Meal®. We finally got her to tell us what the different toys were. On a second recent visit to a different McDonald's, the employee asked if we 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, we 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? Children should be allowed to choose either toy, without being made to feel as though they shouldn't.
Latest Update 2002
We rarely go to McDonald's anymore...maybe once a month, but it's not because of this topic. But when we do 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. We are still entitled to our opinion, and it stands the same. If your thoughts differ from ours, that's ok. That's what makes us all different. We don't waste any time, nor any extra thought on this topic. So those of you who think we do, can now rest assured knowing that we don't. :) We still invite you to share your opinions, but please remember that we are not telling others how to feel or what to do -- we're just sharing our experiences and opinions. We are no longer updating this page, but will leave 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®
Contact McDonald's and tell them how you feel about gender discrimination! Ask them to have their employees give the toys as choices, instead of a boy or girl Happy Meal®.
This page is not related to McDonald's Corporation in any way. Happy Meal® is a Registered Trademark of McDonald's Corporation.
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