Ma's View of the Vision Forum Catalog

The Vision Forum Catalog has become very special to me. And by that I mean it holds a unique place on my list of "Whoa! This is Kinda Weird" organizations.

We received their latest Family Catalog, via HSLDA, which we belong to solely in case we would need their legal help regarding homeschooling.

Admittedly, I used to think some of the Vision Forum items cool, despite being unaffordable. But it's possible they've taken the traditional gender roles a tad far.

Years ago Ardith pointed out the disparity in available items for boys and girls. The gap has increased. Not only in amount but also in kind.

So let's take a quick rundown of kids' stuffs from Vision Forum:

Boys--20 pages
Girls--8 pages.

Boys' Items:
--Swords and Shields! "Boys, Defend Your Sisters!" (fellahs....I wouldn't recommend these unless your sister is specifically menaced by Ren Fair bad guys) Along with a scaled-down version of Sir William Wallace's broadsword and LEGO compatible sets, there are also "High-Impact Training Swords" available.

And to be fair, the young ladies are mentioned on this page. They can order Medieval Princess Dresses...."Dress-up is an important part of every little girl's life. It's one way she identifies with Mommy and experiences how unique and wonderful it is to be a girl, a daughter of the Most High King--to be His little princess!"

(some of you may wish to take a break at this point)

Rest assured that despite the red lion pictured on the shields, there are no pesky references to the Crusades.

Well, there is scant time to devote comment to each page as is due, but here follows a list of available boy toys:

*takes deep breath*

American Frontier Heroes: tomahawk, stag knife, fire starter, moccasin kit, coontail cap, powder horn, Kentucky long rifle and flintlock pistol, leather trapper's bag

Second Amendment Boy (yes, that's what it says...clearly we're not following the constitution if the lads aren't armed): four different airsoft guns, Trumark slingshot, bow and arrow set, compound bow and arrow set, 1 book and 2 DVD's on gun safety

How the West Was Won: the usual....rifles and six-shooters that shoot rubber ammo, authentic leather bullwhip. Bonus item: PINK BB Gun! (this is interesting because it is pictured with a little girl in hat, boots, vest and western cowgirl skirt, and while you can buy a genuine cow-boy outfit from this page, nowhere is the girl's western outfit offered for sale (but at least you can get a cool pink BB gun, girls! You'll know which one is for you because....it's pink).

OK, there's just too much to keep listing in detail but don't miss out on the:

--zip line, crossbow, blowdart gun, 3-man slingshot, ultimate survival knife, mess kit, jungle hammock, boys' practice throwing knife (whoa!), grappling hook & climbing claws, rappelling harness, special operations belt (?), collapsible axe and spy pens....then there are two pages of military paraphernalia...

But let's get to the girls:

Dolls. Twenty-one of them! Some complete with accompanying books and CD's! But do despair, oh fair and gentle sex....there's an heirloom tea set AND Elsie Dinsmore books!

But that's not all. Silk ribbon embroidery and hair barrette kits, rounded out with books on crafting and...wait for it..."How to Make Your Own Old-Fashioned Cloth Doll" (!)

Ah well, I'd best stop. Just thought a lot of it was over the top.

But don't take my word for it...Check it out for yourself.
 

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