As of January 1, 2024, all stores in California must have a section dedicated to "gender-neutral toys." This is part of Governor Gavin Newsom's new law, which was introduced in 2021 and will go into effect in just a few weeks. This regulation also stipulates that any store that fails to comply can be fined between $250 and $500.
As the text of the bill reads, retailers will have to comply with the regulation "regardless of whether they have been traditionally marketed for either girls or for boys":
Keeping similar items that are traditionally marketed either for girls or for boys separated makes it more difficult for the consumer to compare the products and incorrectly implies that their use by one gender is inappropriate.
This is not the only change that retailers will have to implement. As The New York Post found out, the legislation also requires these establishments to carry "childcare items." These products are defined as those that are manufactured to "facilitate sleep, feeding children, relaxation, or to help children with sucking or teething." These types of items are recommended for children 12 years of age and younger.
A variety of opinions on California's new law
Rep. Evan Low introduced Assembly Bill 1084 in 2021. According to the Los Angeles Times, he did so in an effort to make it possible for children, regardless of gender, to find all types of products:
Part of it is to make sure if you’re a young girl that you can find a police car, fire truck, a periodic table or a dinosaur. And then similarly, if you’re a boy, if you’re more artistic and want to play with glitter, why not? Why should you feel the stigma of saying, ‘Oh, this should be shamed’ and going to a different location? Children have a very unique way of saying things that provide some common sense. I think it’s important that we as a state are demonstrating our values of diversity and inclusion.
Not everyone agrees with the new regulations. The president of the conservative lobby group California Family Law Council, Jonathan Keller, is a case in point. He issued a statement on the organization's website stating his opposition to the new law:
Activists and state legislators have no right to force retailers to espouse government-approved messages about gender. It’s a violation of free speech, and it’s just plain wrong.
Another example is the Pacific Justice Institute. They told the Washington Post that Low's new law will "impose a de-gendered ideology and viewpoint on retailers."
This approach is both paternalistic and also communicates to Californians a disconnect with the real-world challenges of parenting in an increasingly dangerous and less free society.
