(CNN)Attention Target shoppers: Say goodbye to "girls' building sets" and "boys' bedding."

The big box retailer announced Friday that it will start phasing out gender-based signage in some departments. The shift comes in response to customer feedback that distinguishing between products for girls and boys is unnecessary and maybe even harmful.

Parents and gender equality advocates welcomed the news as a significant step with potential to inspire other retailers.

"This change is a step towards removing gender limitations in childhood, but when one of the world's largest retailers does this, the ripple effect will be significant," author Melissa Atkins Wardy said in her blog, Pigtail Pals & Ballcap Buddies, which promotes gender-neutral toys, apparel and other products for children.

"This change will play a role in shifting the way kids see themselves as consumers and will help to shift the way adults see the role of gender in childhood," said Wardy, author of "Redefining Girly: How Parents Can Fight the Stereotyping and sɛҳuąƖizing of Girlhood, from Birth to Tween."

Historically, Target used signs to help customers find products faster, the company said in a statement on its website. In some cases it makes sense, like with apparel, where fit and sizing differences between the sexes come into play, the statement said.

"But shopping preferences and needs change and, as guests have pointed out, in some departments like toys, home or entertainment, suggesting products by gender is unnecessary," the company said.

"We heard you, and we agree."

The changes will come over the next few months, the company said. Signs in the kids' bedding area will no longer feature suggestions for boys or girls. In the toys aisles, references to gender, including the use of pink, blue, yellow or green paper on the walls of shelves, also will be removed.

Barbie is getting more real

A small minority of commenters criticized Target in the online statement for giving into pressure to promote "politically correct fads" and "homogenize the genders."

Far more people applauded the decision.

"Thank you! I'm so tired of my daughter trying to play with her best friend (a boy) and him not wanting to because whatever she has is a girl toy. Or not wanting to watch the show she suggested because it's a girls' show," one commenter said. "Eliminating these gender typed divisions will help kids learn a toy is a toy, a show is a show, fun is fun."

Ohio mother Abi Bechtel was one of many Target shoppers in recent months to publicly criticize the store for marketing products based on gender. A picture she tweeted in June was widely shared, sparking debate over who's to blame for gendered toys -- toymakers or consumers.

Bechtel applauded Target for listening to consumers who agreed that "color-coded" marketing is "regressive and harmful."

"Kids pick up cues about what society thinks of gender from so many places, and I'm glad that the Target toy aisle is no longer going to be one of the places they're bombarded with ideas about what's appropriate for kids of any gender to play with," she said Saturday.

"I'm really pleased that so many people saw the potential for change and joined in asking for things to be better, and that Target listened."

You did well, Songbird! It's a shame we don't make our own children's toys instead of giving "big bucks" to the toy shops for plastic rubbish that the children have little value for.

Children can improvise and learn to use their imaginations and initiative.

We had neighbours who, because of their strange religion, forbad any toys that represented an image. The little girls would dress up a peach seed and use a matchbox for a cradle. Very creative.

I remember as a child getting ever so much fun out of a collection of empty matchboxes - how you could slide the drawer in and out and into a second matchbox cover bto join them together.

Kids get great value out of cardboard boxes and bits of wood. Poor kids make toys out of aluminium cans attached to a sticks which they push along like a wheel.
This is western version of the same:
 

The learning which is the whole point of play comes in the creation of the toy as well as in the playing with it.

As if any mother would be proud to have her son want to dress up as the princess from Frozen.

Or push a toy pram around with a baby doll and try to nurse it!

If they were only talking about Legos and skates there would be no problem, but sadly I'm sure that is not what they mean.

Yes, I have a hard time believing this isn't a set-up.

Can you imagine a new mother, as she is handed her newborn baby, and she hears "it's a girl/boy!" actually saying "What difference does it make - they are all the same!"

How long before the designation of men's and women's restrooms is eliminated?  How long before newly constructed buildings are built with just one larger room designated at as a restroom rather than with two separate facilities?

How long before public schools eliminate the separate boys' and girls' locker rooms?  (I wouldn't be surprised if someone posts a news article that this has already happened in some places.)

I think this is coming soon.  It will either be because the media reports that the public is clamoring for the changes (and the parents who complain about the schools will be told they are the only ones who have a problem) or, in the U.S., the supreme court will dictate the change on the basis of "equality".

The only remaining question is:  Will the Conciliar sect be leading the way with women priests or will it be following the trend?

I was at the Mall today and manicans (sp) were 2 women with one having an arm around the others neck/shoulder.  You know, affectionate like!  Victoria Secrets is doing good business, for their store is big enough to make 2 stores.  The monthly payments for a store that size is in the thousands.  Ten years ago, there was a store outside the mall, blocks away and it cost that owner $3,000 a month.  That was a small store and they closed.

I hate going to the Mall.  I go for what I need and come home.

Insisting on absolute equality of genders is communism.

Americans today are cultural Marxists in their thinking because the
constant bombardments of false and misleading propaganda on
all sides and now believing it.
Any contrary opinions and beliefs are not allowed in this politically
correct society.  

John Steven: Thank You for that post. I have never seen crosses like that before.
Also, it was brought to my attention that stone statues like St. Francis, Our Lady will not be on display in the stores for sale!  Customer must order and have it delivered to the home.  

Watch out for those drones! when they are delivering!
Our Priest stated to me that he says Sunday Mass in another town and we he stays there overnight, the homes have no outside shrines.  I said, no statues?  He said, yes, not even a statue.  That is strange.  Why back in Indiana, we had contests for the best looking shrine in the Month of May.