# Hi Disney, Whar my toy?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [February 17, 2016, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306 "2016-02-17T00:35:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/1 "2016-02-17T00:35:48Z")
Dear Disney,
How come I can walk into a Target or Walmart and buy a 20" Ezra Bridger, Kanan Jarrus, Darth Vader or even a generic Tie Fighter Pilot, but I cannot find the same for a single female character?
Where are the Ahsoka Tano, Sabine Wren and Hera Syndulla 20" figures?
Seriously, if you don’t have them because some toy exec is telling you they won’t sell, then you need to fire that person.
---
### Author:  [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/2 "2016-02-17T01:12:43Z")
Why fire someone for telling the truth? Female action figures of that nature don’t sell as well as male toys and figures. Darth Vader and the generic Stormtrooper are massive best-sellers. Leia does okay, but nowhere near as well.
(I was once in a toy store and saw [an ENTIRE WALL of these](http://ronsrescuedtreasures.com/Spiral-Action-Figure-With-Arm-Spinning-Action-5-Tall-1995-Toy-Biz-X-Men-Invasion-Series-P1861142.aspx). Some poor store buyer had grossly overpurchased. Embarrassing!)
---
### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/3 "2016-02-17T01:45:51Z")
> [@Trinopus](#):
>
> Why fire someone for telling the truth? Female action figures of that nature don’t sell as well as male toys and figures. Darth Vader and the generic Stormtrooper are massive best-sellers. Leia does okay, but nowhere near as well.
>
> (I was once in a toy store and saw [an ENTIRE WALL of these](http://ronsrescuedtreasures.com/Spiral-Action-Figure-With-Arm-Spinning-Action-5-Tall-1995-Toy-Biz-X-Men-Invasion-Series-P1861142.aspx). Some poor store buyer had grossly overpurchased. Embarrassing!)
Absolute bullshit. They didn’t order enough, and things sell out.
> **['Star Wars' Female Action Figures Are 'Flying Off Shelves' Despite #WheresRey...](https://www.thewrap.com/star-wars-female-action-figures-are-flying-off-shelves-despite-wheresrey-outrage-retailers-say/)**
>
> Target, Toys R Us address fan fury over the perceived absence of female characters from "The Force Awakens" product lines
> **['Star Wars' Female Action Figures Are 'Flying Off Shelves' Despite #WheresRey...](https://www.thewrap.com/star-wars-female-action-figures-are-flying-off-shelves-despite-wheresrey-outrage-retailers-say/)**
>
> Target, Toys R Us address fan fury over the perceived absence of female characters from "The Force Awakens" product lines
Of course you’d be the type that holds on to old sexist narratives, though, and think your one experience means everything. Hell, all I did was Google it.
---
### Author:  [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/4 "2016-02-17T01:52:43Z")
> [@Trinopus](#):
>
> (I was once in a toy store and saw [an ENTIRE WALL of these](http://ronsrescuedtreasures.com/Spiral-Action-Figure-With-Arm-Spinning-Action-5-Tall-1995-Toy-Biz-X-Men-Invasion-Series-P1861142.aspx). Some poor store buyer had grossly overpurchased. Embarrassing!)
The truly important takeaway here is not your “old sexist narrative” or whatever, but that the Spiral figure you linked to is terrifying and awful in nearly every conceivable way. Even one would be overpurchasing.
---
### Author:  [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/5 "2016-02-17T02:26:53Z")
I’m surprised female action figures sell at all. Too small for even for a _Star Wars_ geek to fuck.
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### Author:  [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/6 "2016-02-17T02:53:52Z")
> [@andros](#):
>
> The truly important takeaway here is not your “old sexist narrative” or whatever, but that the Spiral figure you linked to is terrifying and awful in nearly every conceivable way. Even one would be overpurchasing.
They were marked way down, just to clear 'em out of the store. So, hell, I bought five.
---
### Author:  [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/7 "2016-02-17T03:21:59Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#):
>
> I’m surprised female action figures sell at all. Too small for even for a _Star Wars_ geek to fuck.
You came in that thing? You’re braver than I thought.
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### Author:  [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/8 "2016-02-17T06:22:19Z")
I remember trying and failing to find a proper Sergeant Calhoun action figure, so I can sympathise with the OP. But what annoys me about the Star Wars action figures isn’t which characters get the toys, it’s that the stingy bastards have gone back to five points of articulation on pretty much the entire range. I’ve got a $5 Transformer on my desk with better posability than the Optimus Prime I had as a child, but Star Wars has regressed back to 1977 Kenner quality.
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### Author:  [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/9 "2016-02-17T06:58:42Z")
> [@Penfeather](#):
>
> You came in that thing? You’re braver than I thought.
Ouch.
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### Author:  [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/10 "2016-02-17T09:42:20Z")
**Grumman** , your critique of action figure design could use a few more points of articulation.
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### Author:  [@emcee2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emcee2k)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/11 "2016-02-17T10:16:52Z")
> [@Grumman](#):
>
> I remember trying and failing to find a proper Sergeant Calhoun action figure, so I can sympathise with the OP. But what annoys me about the Star Wars action figures isn’t which characters get the toys, it’s that the stingy bastards have gone back to five points of articulation on pretty much the entire range. I’ve got a $5 Transformer on my desk with better posability than the Optimus Prime I had as a child, but Star Wars has regressed back to 1977 Kenner quality.
This should have ended with [“Bottom-line America…”](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pierre+bernard's+recliner+of+rage).
---
### Author:  [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/12 "2016-02-17T16:09:32Z")
> [@BigT](#):
>
> Of course you’d be the type that holds on to old sexist narratives, though, and think your one experience means everything. Hell, all I did was Google it.
Of course you’d be the type that holds on to the old retarded narratives that think the only way to interact with people online is to annoyingly lecture everybody and think that that experience means everything. Hell, all I did was read your post.
---
### Author:  [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/13 "2016-02-17T16:21:22Z")
> [@Trinopus](#):
>
> Why fire someone for telling the truth? Female action figures of that nature don’t sell as well as male toys and figures. Darth Vader and the generic Stormtrooper are massive best-sellers. Leia does okay, but nowhere near as well.
I have 2 girls and a boy, and for his birthday the boy got that same 6-pack of 20" action figures that’s pictured in BigT’s link. My girls immediately noticed the absence of Rey 😑 . It’s a 6-pack, just include the damn main character, nobody’s not going to purchase it because it doesn’t have “Generic TIE Pilot” in it.
I’m not asking Target to stock an equal number of Rey and Finn action figures, but if you’re adding filler characters to a bulk pack, shouldn’t someone realize that you’ve missed some of the main characters? Who happen to be women?
Then I thought maybe all the women were in another 6-pack, but nope, you just can’t get them in that same size/set. It’s pretty lame.
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### Author:  [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/14 "2016-02-17T20:01:32Z")
> [@Yllaria](#):
>
> Ouch.
Size matters not.
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### Author:  [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/15 "2016-02-17T20:05:00Z")
> [@Penfeather](#):
>
> You came in that thing? You’re braver than I thought.
Get in there, you big furry oaf! I don’t care what you smell!
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### Author:  [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/16 "2016-02-17T21:05:11Z")
[Female Star Wars toys are selling out everywhere](http://www.mtv.com/news/2688307/female-star-wars-toys-selling-out/).
In all fairness, the scarcity of SW female action figures (and Marvel female heroes as well) is self-fulfilling: the industry believes these won’t sell, so [they instruct their manufacturers not to make them](http://www.hypable.com/star-wars-toymakers-specifically-directed-to-exclude-rey/), thus proving that they don’t sell in the same volume (because fans will buy what’s available, and not intentionally withhold their dollars even if primary characters are missing).
> [@](#):
>
> The mysterious absence of female characters in merchandise and toys is now almost a free-standing trope. Guardians of the Galaxy‘s Gamora, Star Wars Rebels‘ Hera, and The Avengers‘ Black Widow are among the high-profile victims, inexplicably forgotten in everything from play sets to tee-shirts.
>
> “Diminishing of girl characters is common in the industry,” the anonymous source relates. “Power Rangers asked us to do it. Paw Patrol, too.” Allegedly, this philosophy has developed into a solid mandate in the toy industry to “maintain the sharp boy/girl product division” and “marginalize girl characters in items not specifically marketed as girl-oriented.”
>
> …
>
> “I’ve spoken with Disney people, and they were completely blindsided by the reaction to the new Star Wars characters,” he tells Boehm. “They put a huge investment into marketing and merchandizing the Kylo Ren character. They presumed he would be the big breakout role from the film. They were completely surprised when it was Rey everyone identified with and wanted to see more of.”
>
> “Now they’re stuck with vast amounts of Kylo Ren product that is not moving, and a tidal wave of complaints about a lack of Rey items.”
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### Author:  [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/17 "2016-02-17T21:38:33Z")
They don’t make toys of girl characters because girls don’t buy toys because the show/movie doesn’t have female characters that they can identify with because the producers don’t want to attract a female audience because girls don’t buy toys.
_headdesk_
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### Author:  [@Max\_Windshoeffel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Windshoeffel)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/18 "2016-02-17T23:17:35Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#):
>
> Get in there, you big furry oaf! I don’t care what you smell!
Into the garbage chute, flyboy!
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### Author:  [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2016, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/19 "2016-02-17T23:21:23Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#):
>
> I’m surprised female action figures sell at all. Too small for even for a _Star Wars_ geek to fuck.
Come on Barbie, let’s go party. Life in plastic, it’s fantastic.
Unfortunately the fact that many toys can be made from the same “male character” mold with different heads and accessories has fully permeated the industry. Now, even though the molding is much less expensive and female characters can be added to the lineup with minimal costs, it’s still normal to do males only.
Enjoy,
Steven
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### Author:  [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2016, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-disney-whar-my-toy/746306/20 "2016-02-18T08:50:04Z")
> [@Max\_Windshoeffel](#):
>
> Into the garbage chute, flyboy!
You’ve got something jammed in here real good
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