I loved Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars when I was little. I had a whole display case for them and everything, even this exact rug (pictured above) where I would drive them around and make up stories. Racecars, convertibles, trucks, even a little garbage truck that could slide his garbage door up and down. I loved the ones that you could pull back and they’d drive across the floor, too. My dad would buy me a new one sometimes if I was good in the grocery store.
When girls would come over for playdates, I’d hide my cars before they came over because I was embarrassed. I knew that they were “boy” toys, and I was ashamed to love them. One time, I did get “caught,” however, and the friend said, “Are those your brother’s?” I didn’t have a brother, but she didn’t know that. I just froze up and said, “I don’t know!” But I was mortified.
I had tons of girly toys, too. Dolls, Fisher Price Little People, all of that. Anything that was an explosion of pink and purple. And I did truly love those toys. But I wish I could tell little me that Hot Wheels are okay, too. And if a girl is confused as to why I like them, or even if a girl makes fun of me for liking them, that’s her thing.
I’m so pleased to see that many traditionally-male toys are starting to be marketed towards girls, like Legos or even action figures. However, I think that traditionally-female toys are not marketed to towards boys nearly as much. I’d like to see that happen, because I don’t want any little girl or boy to feel like they can’t be themselves and feel like they must hold back their passions and interests for certain things.