玩具売り場もジェンダーニュートラルへ　米加州

【ロサンゼルスＡＦＰ＝時事】米カリフォルニア州議会で、デパートにジェンダーニュートラル（性的に中立）な玩具売り場の設置を義務付ける法案が審議されている。（写真は資料写真）
　法案は、従業員数５００人以上のデパートにのみ適用される。女児向け売り場と男児向け売り場を分けることを禁止するものではないが、人形もおもちゃの兵隊も特定の性別向けの表示なしに一緒に陳列される売り場の設置が義務付けられる。
　法案を起草したエバン・ロー議員によると、おしゃぶりや授乳用品も対象となる。
　ロー氏はＡＦＰに対し、「時代遅れなジェンダーに関する固定観念に基づいて子どもに好みを押し付けることで、レッテルを貼ったり、型にはめたりするのをやめなければならない」と語った。
　ロー氏によると、法案を起草するきっかけは、自身の事務所で働く女性の娘、ブリテンちゃんの発言だった。ブリテンちゃんは買い物中、「どうしてお店の中には男の子なら良くて、女の子には『ダメ』なものがあるの？」と母親に尋ねたという。
　支持派は、たとえ同一の商品であっても、女児向けは男児向けよりも値段が高いケースがしばしばあり、不当な価格差の解消にもつながると主張している。
　反対派は、州政府に売り場の陳列方法に口を出す権利はなく、何を選んでいいか分からない保護者にとっては、明確な性別表示があった方が選びやすいとしている。
　法案は州議会下院の最終読会を通過する見通しで、その後ギャビン・ニューサム知事に送られる。成立すれば２０２４年１月から施行され、違反した事業者は２５０～５００ドル（約２万７５００～５万５０００円）の罰金が科される。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/09/08-10:18）

Gender neutral toy aisles could become compulsory in California department stores, under rules being considered in the state's legislature.
The bill will not ban separate areas aimed at girls and boys, but will mandate there must also be a place where dolls and toy soldiers sit side-by-side without being recommended for a particular gender.
The regulations would also apply to pacifiers and feeding equipment, according to California assembly member Evan Low, who drafted the bill.
We need to stop stigmatizing kids and putting them in a box by dictating what they should like based on outdated gender stereotypes, Low told AFP.
Low said he was inspired to frame the legislation by the daughter of a woman who worked in his office.
Britten asked her mom while shopping why certain things in a store were 'off limits' to her because she was a girl, but would be fine if she was a boy.
Supporters of the bill, which would only apply to department stores that employ more than 500 people throughout the state, say it would also help to address an unjustified price differential.
They note that products marketed to girls are often more expensive than those aimed at boys, even if the items themselves are identical.
Opponents say the government has no business telling stores how they should display their goods, and overwhelmed parents find it easier to choose if items are clearly labelled.
The bill is expected to pass its final reading in the state's lower house, before landing on the desk of Governor Gavin Newsom.
If enacted, the law will impose fines of $250 to $500 on stores that do not comply, starting in January 2024.
Sensitivity to gender issues has grown in recent years across the west, and particularly in the United States, where gender neutral toilets are a common sight in liberal states like California.
But it has provoked a backlash from conservatives, who insist gender is rooted in biology, and accuse governments and some companies of pandering to a fad.
Many businesses, however, have pressed ahead with changes to long-standing line-ups.
This year, toy-maker Hasbro announced the Mr Potato Head brand would be getting a makeover to promote gender equality and inclusion, and would be known simply as Potato Head.
Department store Target, with almost two thousand branches across the country, announced in 2015 that it would establish gender-neutral areas in some dedicated spaces for children and the home.