California retail stores may be required to have gender-neutral sections for clothes, toys and childcare products under this new proposal from a Bay Area lawmaker. The bill was introduced by Assembly member Evan Low (D-Campbell). It would require retail department stores with 500 or more employees to maintain gender-neutral sections on their sales floor and not have it divided by gender. The purpose of this bill is so that children will feel more comfortable wearing or playing with something that's marketed for the opposite sex. Assembly member Evan Low (D-Campbell) said in a statement,
“I was inspired to introduce this bill after 8-year-old Britten asked, ‘Why should a store tell me what a girl’s shirt or toy is?’ Her bill will help children express themselves freely and without bias. We need to let kids be kids.”
The bill, AB 2826 would also fine stores up to $1,000 for violating the policy.
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