Shopper Calls Out Woolworths 'Dated' Pencil Case Signage

Woolworths has admitted that signage used on pencil cases displayed in one of its stores is ‘dated’ and ‘doesn’t reflect community expectations’ after a customer called out the price tags.

Woolies shopper Kirsti Cee raised the concern on the Woolworth’s Facebook page, sharing a photo of pencil case price tags which read ‘girl’ and ‘boy’.

“Really Woolworths,” Kirsti wrote. “Girls and boys pencil cases? Why not just ‘pencil cases’?”

Her post sparked debate, with some fellow shoppers agreeing with her stance, while others told her to ‘get a grip’, calling her a ‘Karen’.

“Nothing stopping any gender purchasing either one,” wrote one shopper.

“Who lets a sign dictate what colour they are going to buy?” chimed in another Facebook user.

Woolworths boys girls pencil cases

But Woolworths agreed with Kirsti, thanking her for bringing it to their attention.

“We aim to ensure our products are inclusive and we agree the names of these pencil cases are dated,” Woolworths replied on the post. “We’re working to update the names of these products to better reflect community expectations and provide a more accurate description.”

The move was met by support from at least one shopper who said, “Well done Woolworths for looking into this. We need to let our children know that they can have any colour pencil case they want. Boys and girls are bullied for liking different labelled gender items, this shouldn’t be a thing. I also think it is good to respect everyone’s rights to be who they want to be.”

What do you think? Is Woolworths right in changing its signage? Let us know in the comments below.

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50 Comments

- - ~Loui~ said
  - 25 Apr 2022
    12:29 pm
These signs use language which is significant to people that identify as non-binary. Societal change starts with language. There are other descriptive words that could be used which are inclusive of ALL genders.

- - sharna_booth_weinrowski said
  - 31 Mar 2022
    8:29 am
unfortunately you cannot please everyone.

- - meedee said
  - 21 Mar 2022
    11:21 am
I dont mind either way. There are so many bigger issues to deal with.

- - Zmijka86 said
  - 27 Feb 2022
    8:44 pm
I don’t see any problems with that

- - Jessica said
  - 19 Feb 2022
    1:52 pm
They could label them by colours rather than boy and girl!

- - mom196152 said
  - 09 Feb 2022
    4:26 pm
Haven’t people got better things to do! If your Son likes the “Girls pencil case”, get the Girls pencil case, if your Daughter likes the “Boys pencil case”, get the Boys pencil case or better yet, get the unisex ones.

- - AlwaysLovely said
  - 08 Feb 2022
    11:03 am
Oh what I did not even notice and boys girl pencil case on the Tag they look the same to me lol

- - mom385887 said
  - 07 Feb 2022
    11:26 pm
I honestly wouldn’t have even noticed the boy or girl on the tag but Woolies did do the right thing by addressing it and updating the tags.

- - mom160270 said
  - 07 Feb 2022
    2:38 pm
It’s not something I would have noticed. I would buy whichever pencil case I or my child like the most.

- - Lividanke said
  - 07 Feb 2022
    1:40 pm
Maybe instead of labeling it ‘girls’ or ‘boys’ they could label it closer to the colour or pattern on the actual item? I usually prefer the labels of things to have a description of the item so I can tell if it’s the correct item or not.

- - rovermum said
  - 07 Feb 2022
    11:21 am
In all honestly, I wouldn’t have even noticed.

- - mom480417 said
  - 07 Feb 2022
    10:48 am
I think we have lot better things to worry about than gender neutrality. Each to it’s own though. I would just ignore it. But good work by woolies to honour someone’s opinion.

- - mom150658 said
  - 07 Feb 2022
    9:36 am
I think there are way worse things going on in supermarkets than pencil case signage dramas! I’d welcome more complaints about the state of the fruit and veggies after being refrigerated for months, then being sold off at exorbitant prices! The world has gone crazy!

- - Ellen said
  - 07 Feb 2022
    4:42 am
I think this is something we totally can ignore.

- - SAS185 said
  - 06 Feb 2022
    5:32 pm
Oh for God sake. This gender neutral rubbish is beginning to get so out of hand. There’s always gunna be someone that takes something to offence with abstutely everything. Why does the world have to walk on bloody eggshells so we dont upset those people. If your “boy” wants a pencil case that has “girl” colours on them, then buy him one and move on. Don’t make everyone else’s life a misery while your at it.