How Do Gendered Toys Affect Children
The strongest influence of gender development occurs within the family setting as parents both covertly and overtly pass on their gender beliefs and expectations to their children starting from the time they are born. To begin with, in a 1997 study conducted by Dr. Susan Witt, parents were interviewed twenty four hours after the birth of their first child which resulted in them perceiving their newborn differently (when it came to gender). For instance, the parents identified the baby boys as firmer and more alert whereas the baby girls were more delicate and finer featured. Even though the male and female babies did not differ in height or weight, the parents perceived the babies differently, giving masculine-like descriptions for the baby
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Likewise, children learn more about their gender roles through the toys that are given to them by their parents. Judith Blakemore, a professor of psychology from Purdue University, concluded in her research that “strongly gender-typed toys appear to be less supportive of optimal development than neutral or moderately gender-typed toys”. This research further proves the negative impacts of gendered toys on the youth. In this study, young girls were showered with toys associated with physical attractiveness, nurturing, and domestic skill such as dolls, however young boys were provided with toys related to building and sports, with most of the toys rated violent and somewhat dangerous. Yet, when these children are given the same toys in a gender neutral environment, they still interact with it differently. These different types of toys that are given to the kids to encourage certain activities that are seen as appropriate for that specific gender. The concepts learned from these simple acts by the parents can make the child create their own plan or representation for what they think men and women should do and how they should behave, which only adds to the negative stereotypes, forcing the child to think only in a certain way about “acceptable behaviours” in the society they
Likewise, children learn more about their gender roles through the toys that are given to them by their parents. Judith Blakemore, a professor of psychology from Purdue University, concluded in her research that “strongly gender-typed toys appear to be less supportive of optimal development than neutral or moderately gender-typed toys”. This research further proves the negative impacts of gendered toys on the youth. In this study, young girls were showered with toys associated with physical attractiveness, nurturing, and domestic skill such as dolls, however young boys were provided with toys related to building and sports, with most of the toys rated violent and somewhat dangerous. Yet, when these children are given the same toys in a gender neutral environment, they still interact with it differently. These different types of toys that are given to the kids to encourage certain activities that are seen as appropriate for that specific gender. The concepts learned from these simple acts by the parents can make the child create their own plan or representation for what they think men and women should do and how they should behave, which only adds to the negative stereotypes, forcing the child to think only in a certain way about “acceptable behaviours” in the society they