Does anyone find it offensive when McDonald's employees ask if a Happy Meal is for a "boy or girl"?

Question

Sometimes, there is more than one option for a Happy Meal toy. McDonald's employees are trained to ask which toy the person would like, but I always find that they ask whether the meal is for a boy or girl. I know it is just a minor thing, but it drives me up the wall. And since Happy Meals are just about the only thing I order at McDonald's, I get irked by this all the time. Anyone else find this gender stereotyping irritating?

Answer 1

Just so you know.. when they are taking your order, the computer askes them (when they type in happy meal) if it is for a boy or a girl, so they know what toy to put in the bag...

How would a little girl feel getting a toy car? or a little boy getting a barbie? lol I really dont see the problem.

Answer 2

Nope, but then I would speak out if my daughter wanted the "boys" toy . It's slightly better than assuming and way better than not asking at all. I think they are going for customer service not stereo typing. Let's face it there is no way to do this without offending someone so they go for the least harmless way and leave the rest to you. Is that so bad??? At least they are trying for customer service unlike others who would just give you whatever regardless.

Answer 3

They only ask things like this because sometimes, their toys are more girly, or vise-versa. Like right now, I think they have littlest pet shop/speed racer toys. I don't think a boy would want a littlest pet shop. Then again, they could just have toys like they used to, which were for boys and girls, so I guess its a little gender stereotyping. If it bothers you this much, though, don't eat there anymore. Their food isn't near healthy anyway.

Answer 4

wtf

Answer 5

They just want to make sure they give the correct type of toy, it's to be nice they ask this question, otherwise a little boy may get a barbie doll of some sort.

That's not cool....

Answer 6

Um no its called majority. most girls want to play with a barbie and most boys want to play with cars. If your child wants the opposite toy then say the opposite gender. its not that hard.

Answer 7

No, not at all because they usually have a girly toy... and a boy toy. like barbie and hot wheels. Most of the time the boy is not going to like the barbie, and the girl is not going to want a hot wheels toy.

Answer 8

I don't find it offensive at all. People need to get over being offended over every little thing.  Little girls tend to like playing with certain toys, and little boys the same.  Who cares?  Worry about something important.  Men and women are different.  It's a beautiful thing.  It doesn't mean one gender is better than the other.

Answer 9

Not really. It's the only way to differentiate between the toys. When I was younger if I wanted the other toy I just said I wanted the "boy" meal.

Add: A "girl" toy is a toy that most girls will like, and a "boy" toy is a toy that most boys will like. It's really not a big deal.

Answer 10

Well I don't believe its gender stereotyping. Depending on the movie that mcdonalds is promoting some have gender specific toys. In order to appease all that buy happy meals they have to ask you. If they give a boy a doll. That childs parents may not like it one bit. I have a daughter and though they ask me i dont have a problem. Instead i ask them what the boy toy is and i ask her which one she wants.

be blessed

Answer 11

Not at all.  I have a little girl who is part princess, part tomboy.  I always let her take a look at the toys available and decide which she would prefer.  If she wants the boy toy, I tell the cashier, "It's a girl, but she would prefer the boy toy."  No big deal at all.

Answer 12

no - it doesn't - you are just looking for something to complain about -

they are trying to avoid having a restaurant full of screaming brats throwing tantrums cause they don't like the toy in their meal

perhaps you should design a line of lead free eco friendly toys that are non gender specific - like a stick for example - boys can call it a sword - girls can call it a knitting needle & parents can smack the kids with it

Answer 13

well it depends if your in a drive in i wouldnt be offended ,but if it was in the building i would definitly be offended

Answer 14

Yeah, they need to know what toy to put in, whether they should put in a toy for a boy or a girl.

So, you're saying the should just guess what toy to put in?

I am not following you here.

Answer 15

I'm not offended.

They're taking their best stab at satisfying the customer.

My daughter likes the boytoys, though...

Answer 16

Why are you picking on a minimum wage employee? I'm sure they are just trying to do the job the way they were trained to do it.

Whatever happened to "don't shoot the messenger"?

Answer 17

No.

Just to suit you, you'd like a million little boys to get My Little Ponies and girls to get Action Men??

Answer 18

No, I don't find this offensive.  Boys and girls have different likes and interests.  No doubt a child eagerly awaits the toy he/she is going to get.  I would be very disappointed if the kid was disappointed by getting a toy more appropriate fo the opposite s*x.  No doubt the McDonald employees have been instructed to ask the question in a more neutral way but human nature being what it is and the average McDonald's employee's IQ being what it is, they, no doubt, take the easy way out.

What I find offensive is being stopped at the door of Walmart and treated like a shoplifter when I'm exiting the store.  Irritates the living h**l out of me.

Answer 19

I see your point but I actually prefer them to ask, just for he fact my daughter is very girlie and on the rare occasion we're not asked whether the meal is for a boy or a girl and get the boy toy it means one of us going back to request a switch!

Answer 20

How about refusing the cheap  toy to help our environment.

Answer 21

No, I think it's a good idea for them to ask...I believe that kids can play with all toys, but I still get my son the boys toy...

Answer 22

This is NOT gender stereotyping, it is a legitimate question.

Most boys want a toy oriented for a boy, most girls want one oriented for girls.

If your child has no gender identity issues, then let it go.

If you went to the underwear area in the department store and asked for assistance with a Bra, would you get offended if they asked you if you would like to be Fitted, knowing that nearly 80% of the women out there are NOT wearing a properly fitting bra?

I had a girlfriend who did. I called her a dumbass for it, cos only that morning she was complaining about spilling out of the ones she had.

We went to Victorias secret and got her properly fitted. This done, she went back to the clerk at the counter at Macys and apologised.

Who cares if they ask "For a boy or a girl?" It's NOT a rude question and it serves to get to a positive solution as quickly as possible. If you kids are happy with what they get, then everyone wins.

Answer 23

You shouldn't take offense because you are not finding them politically correct.  They should be asking if you would like a Happy Meal for a boy or girl, not if it IS for a boy or girl.  The truth be know is that more than 50% of the boys Happy Meals are purchased for boys and more than 50% of the girl Happy Meals are purchased for girls.  If your child is by your side, generally they will not ask they will just give the gender proper toy.  Although most parents do not find a problem if their daughter should want a Hot Wheel, a parent, generally the father is not so swayed if his son asks for a Barbie for himself.  On many occassions I have asked for a toy for a child under 3 but usually they just throw anything in not paying attention.  The employees are  programmed to say exactly what they are told to not realizing you need to add some common sense into the equation.

Answer 24

no not really most normal boys want boy toys and most normal girls want girl toys...so i think your just not normal lol..

Answer 25

I don't agree. Like everyone else has said, they want to know if it's for a boy or a girl to make the child happy because I think most girls want the girl toy and boys want the boy toy. If they don't, what's so hard about just saying "It's for a girl, but she wants the boy toy"? It's not like they're going to put up a fight because they want the other toy. I see no problem at all in asking what gender it's for.