Toys, toys, toys…they are everywhere. You see them in commercials, advertisements, in newspapers and even in grocery stores. Most people think to themselves that they are just toys, right? Well, who would think these toys could be the subjects of gender stereotypes? I never really thought much about it until now, but exploring this issue has made me stop to think and wonder if some of the toys boys and girls play with are the basis for where we learn some common gender stereotypes. Ask yourself this question too; could children’s toys place us into particular gender roles? I think so! Toys reinforce these roles.
I chose this topic because I have two children, one boy (5) and one girl (9), and I see this stereotype played out everyday in my home. I honestly have to say my children fulfill these roles to a tee and I don’t know how we got to be here. Its not the end of the world, but its funny to sit back and reflect what I did to reinforce these roles. It happens right before your eyes and you do not even know it. I never pushed gender specific toys. I just let them play with what they liked. Okay wait… that’s not entirely true. I could blame Santa, but I suppose that wouldn’t fly. I am realizing I bought these toys for them, but it was completely unconsciously.
Another reason why I have chosen this topic is because when I am finished with school I will be an early childhood educator, and I think this is an important topic for anyone who wants to become an educator of young children.
This topic will be looked at from a few different angles, such as what type of message are we sending children by buying gender specific toys. What type of message does the toy portray? What types of behaviors do these toys provoke? Do boys’ toys encourage higher education? What type of message do girls’ toys portray and what are they teaching these girls? Do boys and girls cross gender lines during play?
To answer these questions I will be looking into studies done by psychologist, the mass media, observations I have made in my own life, and the classrooms I have had the pleasure of student teaching in.
To end my first blog I leave you with an interesting video. When the video comes to the part with the girls playing with the toys, take special notice of the song, “we girls can do anything.”
