Dear McDonald's,
Home means a few things to me: my family, my friends, my dogs, my bed, my car, and McDonald's. Being a first-year college student, fall semester meant being away from these things for an extended period for the first time. So naturally, when I went home after six weeks of separation from my beloveds and my little sister asked me to drive her to McDonald's, I leaped at the opportunity. Before I know it, we were in the drive-thru, I ordered her McNuggets, and the person running the drive-thru asks, "Is the toy for a boy or for a girl?" I told him it is for a girl, of course, and as we started to pull forward, my little sister said, "Ugh. It's 2018, and they are still asking that question."
Huh. I haven't thought about the controversy and complexity stirred up by that simple question in years, mostly because I've not ordered a Happy Meal in years. But McDonald's asks that question to little kids every single day, and at that moment, a million memories and emotions flooded back to me. How could I forget? Every time we went through the McDonald's drive-thru when I was a child, I always left with flushed cheeks. The person running the drive-thru would ask the question, and I would have to whisper to my mom that I wanted the girl toy. It only took me until now to realize that I was not in the wrong for wanting a Polly Pocket doll, but McDonald's is in the wrong for reinforcing gender stereotypes.
That question is outdated. No kids deserve to feel like they must be squished into different boxes based on their gender and the toys they must like; the only thing this achieves is a whole lot of skeletons in a whole lot of closets. We don't need to force our kids to be ashamed of themselves, especially not their preference in toys; we should love our kids, and if our son wants to play dolls, let's play dolls with him!
My little sister is right, McDonald's, and she's only twelve. There is a lot to learn from the youth, isn't there? It's a simple call to action. Don't let your employees ask if the toy is for a girl or for a boy. Ask if the child wants a Polly Pocket doll or a Hot Wheels car. Or ask me if I want some extra McNuggets; that'll work, too.
Sincerely,
A Loyal Customer