In an effort to get Hasbro -- the maker of the Easy-Bake Oven -- to create an oven for boys as well as girls, 13-year-old McKenna Pope cooked up a campaign and posted a video on change.org.
McKenna took up the cause for her 4-year old brother, Gavin, who loves to cook, after the family tried to get an easy bake oven for him, but were unable to find one that wasn't being marketed exclusively to girls.
“I found it pretty appalling that they did not feature males of any sort in any of their packaging and promotional materials or anything,” McKenna told NBC 4 New York.
McKenna said she felt this was not the message Hasbro should be sending to kids.
“Why are women in the kitchen and guys working? That's basically what Hasbro is saying,” McKenna said. “This company that I've grown to love so much would resort to conforming to societal gender rules? I don't see why.”
McKenna's mom, Erica Boscio, said she stands behind her daughter's campaign for equality.
“She's always been an activist,” Boscio said. “Whenever there’s something that she really cares about, she goes all out to make sure that she gets her views across.”
McKenna now hopes her appeal will convince Hasbro to make a gender-neutral oven in time for Christmas.
Hasbro had no comment.
