Toys are Us

There was a time when all children toys

were chosen differently for girls and boys.

The Action Man was bought for the males

whilst dolls and tea sets were for females.

Everything was done according to gender:

the feminine trait was thought to be tender

and young ladies were considered fragile;

but the chaps' nature was supposedly virile.

Yet peoples' attitudes continually change;

opinions that mighty have seemed strange

not very long ago are now commonplace;

there is a new thinking that many embrace.

People no longer believe the tall tale

that being a woman means that she is frail.

Some stubborn men are reluctant to yield

but we are achieving a level playing field.

We have good reasons to remain optimistic:

the majority of men are not misogynistic.

Between the sexes we have healthy rivalry

yet not forgotten is old fashioned chivalry.

There are girls who play football or box

and determined not to put back the clocks.

They have progressed and found they can

ignore Barbie doll and choose Action Man.

© Luigi Pagano 2019