Breaking Down Gender Boundaries One Toy at a Time

We went to the Wee Cycle Children's Consignment Sale in Boone last weekend. It was a good one, it always is. We managed to avoid buying a bunch of stuff we don't need, which was great, and got some really cool stuff we did need, which is even better!

One thing we got, for the bargain price of $5, was a vehicle toy that Monkey can sit and on propel himself with his legs on either side, or he can stand behind and push it while he walks. He is in that phase of LOVING the push toys, and will soon figure out that he loves the sit-and-ride toys, so we snatched it up. It makes sounds and plays songs, and it was in very good shape. Jackpot!!

But here's the funny thing I didn't notice until we got it home and had it for a few days...this toy is not only totally unsure of what kind of vehicle it is (its sound effects/buttons are related to race car, fire truck, police car, antique car, and circus car), but it has all these "boy" buttons for things like fire engine sirens and revving engine noises, and then the 'windows' of the vehicle have a bunch of cartoon girls doing things like applying lipstick and brushing their hair. See below...

From a distance, looks pretty normal.

Odd hodge-podge of buttons...

And we have little girls and cute pets driving...?

Is the duck helping her comb her hair? Are they in love? Why is the vase of flowers in the car?

I think it's really great that this toy breaks down gender boundaries, and squashes the stereotype that girls won't like fire truck noises or boys won't comb their hair...but it still leaves me with a lot of questions...