Hall of Shame - The International War Toys Boycott awards

Pediatrics for Parents, April, 1989

Hall of Shame The International War Toys Boycott recently announced the "winners" of its annual Hall of Shame Awards. The "winners" included Hasbro (maker of GI Joe) and Nintendo (maker of violent video games). Others receiving awards were Mattel, Lionel, Tyco, and Fisher-Price. The awards were timed to coincide with the annual Toy Fair in New York City.

The boycott is supported by Educators for Social Responsibility, the War Resisters League, the Gray Panthers, and the National Coalition on Television Violence. In addition to violence, these groups accused toy makers of promoting stereotyping and racism. The good news is that sales of guns and other war toys is down from its peak in 1985. The bad news is that a new form of violent toys, violent video games, has led to an increase in total toy sales. The group has proposed legislation requiring warning labels on all toys with a violent theme. The warning would read "Think before you buy. This is a war toy or toy with a violent theme. Playing with it increases anger and violence in children. Is this what you really want for your child?"