There are definitely many people who will anywhere from dissuade to scold a child for playing with toys that don't fit that person's idea of a "gender appropriate" toy.

I believe it- there's always people doing stupid things-, I just don't have any first or second hand experience of it, just hearsay. So I can't say how common it is.

Also, as I kid I was dissuaded and scolded for playing with many things- nothing really worked, I still had great fun with fire and live 220V cables :).

But were you shamed, by peers or parent?

Even a funny look or surprise will be cues children pick up immediately. Not that social conditioning is a bad thing, but humans just don't survive in a bubble.