Campaign Against McDonald's Happy Meal® Gender Discrimination - Happy Meal Toys for 2001
 

Please visit our Sponsor

| Discuss Gender Discrimination in our Community Forums! |


Should McDonald's Stop Asking Customers Whether They Want a "Boy" or "Girl" Happy Meal®?


Below you'll find the toys offered for 2001, and any comments when we visited McDonald's.

2001 Happy Meals


Happy Meal® toys for May 18 - June 14, 2001: Hello Kitty®, Action ManTM

Happy Meal® toys for June 15 - July 10, 2001: Atlantis The Lost Empire

Happy Meal® toys for August 1 - August 30, 2001: BarbieTM Figurines, Hot Wheels® cars

    August 16: We went through the drive-thru, and I noticed that McDonald's had 2 different types of toys. We spoke to the cashier through the speaker - we asked for a Chicken Nugget Happy Meal, with the Hot Wheel. The cashier asked, "Do you want a BOY or a GIRL meal?" We responded again, "Hot Wheels please." Again the cashier asked, "Do you want a BOY or a GIRL meal?" Again we responded, "We'd like the Hot Wheels car." Again she repeated her question a little LOUDER, putting emphasis on the gender - "Is this for a BOY or a GIRL?" My husband yelled his answer a little louder this time -- "I said I want a Hot - Wheels - CAR." Finally, she must have gotten it. But I came to the conclusion that employees must have been taught this...I mean, it IS programmed in their computers as a "boy" or "girl" meal. But come on...do they not understand "Hot Wheels" or "Barbie" ? Another thing that doesn't make sense...if THEY are the ones who are connecting the Hot Wheels with being a BOY TOY, you would THINK that they would be able to know which meal a HOT WHEEL toy is for!!

    Sometime between August 16 and August 20; We sent an email to McDonald's Corporation.

    August 23: We received a call from Sandy, a McDonald's Representative, who apologized for the way McDonald's employees have been handling this issue. To quote her, she said, "There appears to be a breakdown in the training somewhere." She said she would share my recent email with the appropriate people.

Happy Meal® toys for September 7 - September 27, 2001: LEGO BionicleTM, Diva StarzTM

    September 20: When we ordered through the drive-thru, we weren't even asked which toy we wanted. When we got to the window I asked which toys were with the Happy Meals®, and we were told that the LEGO BionicleTM toy was for the boys and the Diva StarzTM was for the girls. I asked the girl why the LEGO toy was a "boy" toy. She responded, "I don't know." I'm sure LEGO would not approve of marketing their products to only one gender.

    September 20: Thought about contacting The LEGO Group about the current McDonald's/LEGO campaign.

Happy Meal® toys for September 28 - October 18. 2001: Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Happy Meal® toys for November 2 - November 29: ©Disney/Pixar's Monsters, Inc.


Happy Meal® toys for November 30 - December 27: Toys "R" Us Animal Alley Minis.


Email this page to your friends!



| Go Back |



This page is not related to McDonald's Corporation in any way. Happy Meal® is a Registered Trademark of McDonald's Corporation.