My “Happy Meal” made me think…

Posted on | April 13, 2008 |

by Kaira Sturdivant Rouda

This was one of those times when my daughter said: “Don’t think about it mom. It’s ok.” What she was referring to, and what I was stewing about, was our latest trip to McDonald’s Don’t get me wrong. I love the golden arches. One of my first advertising agency jobs was handling a McDonald’s co-op. Who doesn’t love the French fries?

But here’s what was bothering me. Perhaps you’ll agree if you’ve ordered a Happy Meal lately, or ever. (You know of course there is an entire web portal just for Happy Meals featuring American Idol??) But back to the drivethrough. Think about the question that follows, “Hamburger or Cheeseburger and what would you like to drink with that?”

The question? “Is this for a boy or a girl?”

Hmmm, doesn’t that depend on what TOY I would like, not what gender my child happens to be? Truly, I’m not jumping back on my feminist bandwagon. I was quite intrigued by the Cinderella ring and gloves. But what if my daughter preferred the truck? And, really the last time I drove through the takeout window, the toy was a surfing Rooster.

A surfing Rooster with a coconut bra thus rendering it a “girls” toy. I would’ve preferred the surfing penguin who had boy surf shorts. My 11 year old SON agrees. And, with three sons, trust me, I had to run this post past all of them.

So hey McDonald’s. How about just having the folks in the drive through or behind the counter ask: “Which toy would you like? Rooster or Penguin? Cinderella ring or race car?”

Sure, it’s a few more words.

But it feels so much nicer. And well, we’d be, um, loving it!

Kaira Sturdivant Rouda is the author of Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs.