Stereotypes In Toys
Another aspect of career choice being impacted by gender stereotypes in toys is imagination. Imagination affects what one's career will be, and toys have a direct impact on imagination. Imagination is heavily promoted by toys, especially wooden blocks and water tables (“Importance”). Toys can also help babies and young children develop imaginative skills through pretend play (“Impact”). Gender stereotyping causes limited imagination in kids, and for girls to miss out on problem solving opportunities such as pretending to be in a career normally labeled as “for boys” (“Learning”). Imagination also helps kids develop new and innovative ideas. Imagination is an important part in the learning process and can help kids wrap their heads around historical
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events, different cultures, and people that they will never encounter (“Importance”). When kids don’t pretend and play with a wide variety of toys, there imagination isn’t as strong as it could be. This will affect kids in the future when they are looking for a job since imagination is an important skill for being successful in any job, especially fields such as inventing, designing, painting, and writing (Sasson). If one doesn’t develop a fine tuned imagination, then their life will not be as successful as expected, their career will not go as planned (Sasson). Interests, perceived stereotypes, and imagination directly impacts a child’s career.
Finally, gender stereotypes in toys affects kids by conforming them to gender stereotypes. Toys play a huge part in kids learning about themselves and the "world around them" (“Children”). When toys have gender stereotypes, children have to conform their personalities to the stereotypes. The marketing and coloring of toys makes people not want to buy a toy that for the opposite gender, even if that's their preference (“Why”). “Children use toys to try on new roles, experiment, and explore interests,” when kids are only offered certain types of toys, they cannot develop interests and passions (Hains). Susan Linn, an executive director of the Boston-based Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and a psychologist at Harvard Medical School says that, “Rigidly gendered toy marketing tells kids who they should be, how they should behave, and what they should be interested in” (Hains). Children understand the messages sent about what is or isn’t appropriate for them. The barriers between “girls” and “boys” toys keep kids from being their true selves, and pushes kids into “gendered boxes” (Steinmetz). When kids see other kids playing with toys that aren’t considered for their gender, they will tease them. Gender stereotypes in toys create judgemental kids, who may become bullies. Boys are especially judged for playing with toys designed for the opposite sex. When children are constantly exposed to gender stereotypes, it can bring about problems such as homophobia and transphobia. Grayson Bruse, a four year old who enjoys My Little Pony, was told that he couldn't bring his My Little Pony bag to his school in North Carolina since it was a "trigger" for bullying (Cochrane). Kids are constantly pressured to conform to gender stereotypes that are portrayed in toys.
Gender stereotypes in toys have also been shown to cause depression in children. Depression is a, “strong mood involving sadness, discouragement, despair, or hopelessness that lasts for weeks, months, or even longer” (“Depression”). Kids are constantly told what toys they can and can't have. When a child wants a toy that's "not for their gender" they are bullied, or told a harsh “no” by their parents. By living in this negative, stressful, and unhappy environment, kids can become depressed (“People”). When kids are seen playing with toys outside the normal stereotypes, they are an easy target for bullying. Kids who are bullied have a higher chance of developing depression and anxiety, which can lead to a lack of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed (“Effects”). When kids become depressed, they change their interests, and conform to gender stereotypes. In North Carolina, an eleven year old attempted suicide because, "I am so tired of people at school calling me gay because I like My Little Pony” (Cochrane). Toys with gender stereotypes can cause kids to become depressed and unlike themselves.
Further, gender stereotypes in toys make kids think they need to look and be a certain way.
Boys think they need to have muscle, and girls think they need to be a pretty princess (Sweet). The advertising and packaging of toys creates an "ideal" boy who is tough, rough, rowdy, and dirty. This shows boys that being sensitive is not okay, and gives them low expectations for their performance at school (“Toys”). Children think that boys are academically inferior to girls, and this message comes from the rowdy and rough boy on toy packages. Even at these very young ages, boys' performance on an academic task is affected by messages that suggest that girls will do better than they will (“Negative”). Dressing up can make girls think that they need to be beautiful (“Toys”). Makeup sets for toddlers, 'Top Model' stationery, and princess dresses create an image girls think they need to conform to. These toys make girls think that beauty is more important than ability (“Toys”). Eighty-seven percent of girls think women are judged more on their appearance than on their ability (“Girls’”). Glamour and beauty that is portrayed in toys has young girls worrying about their own looks and beauty (“Why”). When girls play with Barbie, they obtain the idea that that is what they need to look like, even though that body is pretty close to impossible of getting (Graydon). Still, when girls grow up seeing the skinny Barbies and princess they create an image of what they think they're supposed to look like. As they grow older their longing to be skinnier like they're dolls turns into eating disorders, which are in the rise (“Toys”). This constant worry of their appearance takes girls focus away from achieving their goals and learning. Toys with gender stereotypes cause children to conform to stereotypes by developing depression, and changing their personality and
looks.
In conclusion, all around the world children are heavily affected by gender stereotypes in toys through their development, career, and conformity to the stereotypes. Children miss out on developing skills the opposite gender is learning. The future careers of kids are altered by gender stereotypes in toys. Children’s personalities are also influenced by these stereotypes in toys. Gender stereotypes in toys negatively impact the lives of children. The associate professor at Monmouth University and Principal Investigator of the Gender Development Laboratory states that,“Both genders lose out if we put kids on one track and they can’t explore” (Oksman). For the sake of children, gender stereotypes in toys need to be abolished, but is this possible? Toys with gender stereotypes are everywhere, and the stereotypes they promote are ingrained in society. It will take years to terminate gender stereotypes in toys, and society will have to demand to abolish stereotyped toys. Likely, some countries will be ahead of others in getting rid of gender stereotyped toys. This will create a world in which some countries have more developed kids, careers with equal amounts of women and men, and kids who feel free to be themselves, while other countries are still stuck in stereotypical ways. Countries need to understand the impact of this issue on generations of kids. If the world was to succeed in abolishing gender stereotypes in toys, many more advancements in gender inequality could follow. If we obliterate gender stereotypes in toys it is possible that improvements such as equal pay, education for all, and equal number of positions in political jobs will be achieved.
events, different cultures, and people that they will never encounter (“Importance”). When kids don’t pretend and play with a wide variety of toys, there imagination isn’t as strong as it could be. This will affect kids in the future when they are looking for a job since imagination is an important skill for being successful in any job, especially fields such as inventing, designing, painting, and writing (Sasson). If one doesn’t develop a fine tuned imagination, then their life will not be as successful as expected, their career will not go as planned (Sasson). Interests, perceived stereotypes, and imagination directly impacts a child’s career.
Finally, gender stereotypes in toys affects kids by conforming them to gender stereotypes. Toys play a huge part in kids learning about themselves and the "world around them" (“Children”). When toys have gender stereotypes, children have to conform their personalities to the stereotypes. The marketing and coloring of toys makes people not want to buy a toy that for the opposite gender, even if that's their preference (“Why”). “Children use toys to try on new roles, experiment, and explore interests,” when kids are only offered certain types of toys, they cannot develop interests and passions (Hains). Susan Linn, an executive director of the Boston-based Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and a psychologist at Harvard Medical School says that, “Rigidly gendered toy marketing tells kids who they should be, how they should behave, and what they should be interested in” (Hains). Children understand the messages sent about what is or isn’t appropriate for them. The barriers between “girls” and “boys” toys keep kids from being their true selves, and pushes kids into “gendered boxes” (Steinmetz). When kids see other kids playing with toys that aren’t considered for their gender, they will tease them. Gender stereotypes in toys create judgemental kids, who may become bullies. Boys are especially judged for playing with toys designed for the opposite sex. When children are constantly exposed to gender stereotypes, it can bring about problems such as homophobia and transphobia. Grayson Bruse, a four year old who enjoys My Little Pony, was told that he couldn't bring his My Little Pony bag to his school in North Carolina since it was a "trigger" for bullying (Cochrane). Kids are constantly pressured to conform to gender stereotypes that are portrayed in toys.
Gender stereotypes in toys have also been shown to cause depression in children. Depression is a, “strong mood involving sadness, discouragement, despair, or hopelessness that lasts for weeks, months, or even longer” (“Depression”). Kids are constantly told what toys they can and can't have. When a child wants a toy that's "not for their gender" they are bullied, or told a harsh “no” by their parents. By living in this negative, stressful, and unhappy environment, kids can become depressed (“People”). When kids are seen playing with toys outside the normal stereotypes, they are an easy target for bullying. Kids who are bullied have a higher chance of developing depression and anxiety, which can lead to a lack of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed (“Effects”). When kids become depressed, they change their interests, and conform to gender stereotypes. In North Carolina, an eleven year old attempted suicide because, "I am so tired of people at school calling me gay because I like My Little Pony” (Cochrane). Toys with gender stereotypes can cause kids to become depressed and unlike themselves.
Further, gender stereotypes in toys make kids think they need to look and be a certain way.
Boys think they need to have muscle, and girls think they need to be a pretty princess (Sweet). The advertising and packaging of toys creates an "ideal" boy who is tough, rough, rowdy, and dirty. This shows boys that being sensitive is not okay, and gives them low expectations for their performance at school (“Toys”). Children think that boys are academically inferior to girls, and this message comes from the rowdy and rough boy on toy packages. Even at these very young ages, boys' performance on an academic task is affected by messages that suggest that girls will do better than they will (“Negative”). Dressing up can make girls think that they need to be beautiful (“Toys”). Makeup sets for toddlers, 'Top Model' stationery, and princess dresses create an image girls think they need to conform to. These toys make girls think that beauty is more important than ability (“Toys”). Eighty-seven percent of girls think women are judged more on their appearance than on their ability (“Girls’”). Glamour and beauty that is portrayed in toys has young girls worrying about their own looks and beauty (“Why”). When girls play with Barbie, they obtain the idea that that is what they need to look like, even though that body is pretty close to impossible of getting (Graydon). Still, when girls grow up seeing the skinny Barbies and princess they create an image of what they think they're supposed to look like. As they grow older their longing to be skinnier like they're dolls turns into eating disorders, which are in the rise (“Toys”). This constant worry of their appearance takes girls focus away from achieving their goals and learning. Toys with gender stereotypes cause children to conform to stereotypes by developing depression, and changing their personality and
looks.
In conclusion, all around the world children are heavily affected by gender stereotypes in toys through their development, career, and conformity to the stereotypes. Children miss out on developing skills the opposite gender is learning. The future careers of kids are altered by gender stereotypes in toys. Children’s personalities are also influenced by these stereotypes in toys. Gender stereotypes in toys negatively impact the lives of children. The associate professor at Monmouth University and Principal Investigator of the Gender Development Laboratory states that,“Both genders lose out if we put kids on one track and they can’t explore” (Oksman). For the sake of children, gender stereotypes in toys need to be abolished, but is this possible? Toys with gender stereotypes are everywhere, and the stereotypes they promote are ingrained in society. It will take years to terminate gender stereotypes in toys, and society will have to demand to abolish stereotyped toys. Likely, some countries will be ahead of others in getting rid of gender stereotyped toys. This will create a world in which some countries have more developed kids, careers with equal amounts of women and men, and kids who feel free to be themselves, while other countries are still stuck in stereotypical ways. Countries need to understand the impact of this issue on generations of kids. If the world was to succeed in abolishing gender stereotypes in toys, many more advancements in gender inequality could follow. If we obliterate gender stereotypes in toys it is possible that improvements such as equal pay, education for all, and equal number of positions in political jobs will be achieved.