Over the years, toys have been used by children to entertain and also to learn. However, these toys have become a way to divide children into their respective genders. This is due to the way they are viewed. In the 1950s to 1960s, girls played with toys that brought out their aspects of being homemakers, while boys played with toys that were associated with building things. In the current years, girls play with princess dolls while boys opt to play with superhero toys. The habit of gender stereotyping in toys is still present. I think society has much to do with the gender stereotypes associated with toys. I also think that a child’s socioeconomic background may affect their point of view of toys. To help with this research, I visited a child development Centre to learn more. This paper contains observations based on the outcome of the visit.
Choice of Age Group for the Research
I chose to focus on the age group between six and ten years. This is because, at this age, children are more aware of their surroundings and also their wants (Sweet, 2019). This is the age right before teenage, and most children have strong opinions opposing the opposite gender. When children are born, they do not have opinions of their own, but with education and society, their minds start making decisions and choosing sides. They know what is best for them.
Society and Toy based Gender Stereotype
In the 1950s to 1960s, girls would play with toys that showed motherhood or homemakers. On the other hand, boys would play with toys used by engineers or factory workers. In the 1970s, many women joined the workforce, and the gender stereotype associated with toys was expected to end (Sweet, 2019). This was not the case because girls currently play with princess dolls while boys play with superhero toys. During my visit to the child development Centre, the children were divided according to their genders. The children below six years were mixed in gender, but the ones from six to ten were divided. There was some rivalry between both genders in that age group. The girls were busy dressing and applying what looked like makeup to their dolls. They competed amongst each other on whose doll would look better.
If action figures had been meant for girls and princess dolls for boys, the situation would still be the same. Society is seen as a measure of truth, and anything the society does not agree with is seen as wrong (Sweet, 2019). Boys and girls, ages six to ten, cannot play together because they have different genders, and society has shown that different roles are expected from them. Girls must be caring, clean, and motherly, while boys must be strong and ready to protect the weaker gender.
Socioeconomic Background and Toy-based Gender Stereotype
From my observation, the well-off kids were more welcoming and open to the idea of both genders playing together with the available toys. Toys have, over the years, been used to help educate children (Sweet, 2019). Both genders should learn to be responsible and caring, just as they should learn to be strong, creative, and fast. People are becoming more and more educated, and they are embracing the change that comes with it. I also observed that girls who grew up around boys were more interested in boy games, while boys who grew up around girls did not mind the girlish games.
Conclusion
Finally, society and socioeconomic background impact the gender stereotype associated with toys. The stereotype will not end soon since society has been used as a mirror to show what is expected of each gender. The companies which make these toys also promote gender stereotypes because they make it clear that particular toys are for girls while certain toys are for boys. Unless there is a universal burn on gender stereotyping toys, there is a possibility that the behavior will never end, and thus gender inequality will always be amongst us.
References
Sweet. E. (2019). Toys are more divided by gender now than they were 50 years ago. The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/12/toys-are-more-divided-by-gender-now-than-they-were-50-years-ago/383556/Links to an external site.
write