How Can Toys Influence Gender Socialization in Children?

Advertisements

• There is no denying toy advertisements are largely gender-specific. Writing for SocJournal, Dr. Monica Brasted discusses in her article, "Care Bears vs. Transformers: Gender Stereotypes in Advertisements,̶1; how companies sell society̵7;s gender expectations in commercials. She says marketing geared toward girls sells ideals like submissiveness, popularity and beauty. Toys geared toward girls typically include dolls, jewelry-making kits and play kitchens. Brasted says marketing toward boys includes toys that are aggressive in nature, like military toys and monster trucks. These commercials sell dominant, headstrong expectations, which encourage boys to act in a take-control manner.

Environment

• The placement of toys in a play area also has an impact on gender socialization, according to the article, ̶0;Gender Roles and Toys,̶1; by J. Gonzaled-Mena. When examining toys used for dramatic play, pay attention to whether they are all lacy, frilly dress-up items. A play area that has only feminine items is likely to attract mostly girls, while a play area that has only trucks or construction-type toys will largely attract the boys. This discourages inter-gender play, isolating genders from one another. Play areas should contain both kinds of toys, says Gonzalez-Mena, to encourage inter-gender play.

Toys and Negative Stereotypes

• There is a greater impact on females when it comes to the danger of gender socialization through toys, Judith Blakemore, a psychology professor, says in an interview for the National Association of Education for Young Children. Blakemore stresses the impact on young girls̵7; psyches due to toys that promote weak, submissive and dependent attitudes. Toys like cleaning supplies, play kitchens and dolls with unattainable physical attributes send the negative message to girls that their self-worth should be found in looking pretty for the opposite sex. Blakemore recommends that parents and caregivers offer more gender-neutral toys like musical instruments, puzzles and arts and crafts.

Rejecting Gender Socialization

• Some children reject the stereotyped toys for their gender. Some girls want to play with construction sets and some boys want to play with dolls. HealthyChildren.org, a website of the American Association of Pediatrics, recommends that parents take a deep breath and be supportive of their children's choices. The AAP says that children sometimes choose toys that are not within the social parameters for their gender -- but this is not a cause for concern. It might simply indicate that the child has evolved beyond stereotypes at a very young age. Play with your children, keep communication open, and if you still have concerns, consult a medical professional for guidance.