Toys, Packaging And Gender Stereotypes
Toys, Packaging, and Gender Stereotypes
There is a visibly blatant distinction when walking into a toy store or isle of the divide of gender differences and interests. Pink is a standout color amongst half of the space, and blue sticks out amongst the other half. There are stereotypical notions, which attach the color pink to girls and blue to boys. The color-coded aisles reflect some kind of innate gender difference and assumed interests. What type of message is this form of visual culture sending? The gender divide in toys may be notions of the interplay of culture and biology or simply a marketing ploy.
Toys play an important role in the life of a child. Toys engage a child’s physical, sensory, social and intellectual development …show more content…
How does one determine, however, what aisle to label “girls” and which to label “boys”? Do our labels come from preconceived ideas established by our culture and society? What makes a toy desirable to or appropriate for girls verses boys? This gender divide is more prevalent than ever with fewer non-gendered toys available than ever before, even when gender discrimination was socially acceptable (Haines, 2015). One would assume that in our current day in age that values, and more intently fights for equality for all, this would not be as prevalent as it …show more content…
In the dress up aisle, costumes for imaginative play as a police officer, firefighter or super hero are found in the “boy section” of the store. The “girl section” occupies princess dresses, ballerina tutus and cheerleading skirts for the girls to buy and play role-play in. In the neighboring aisle to the dresses and tutus is the Barbie and doll aisle. Here one would find “I can be” Barbies with the choice of choosing a ballerina Barbie, fashion designer Barbie, or veterinarian Barbie. None of the Barbies hold a high title in an office or business role, and none were police officers or firefighters. Barbie was only portrayed in occupations stereotyped to be “women’s jobs” causing questions about how we present women empowerment to young girls. Stereotypical female roles are also shown through the marketing of dolls sold and imaginative play toys such as irons and ironing boards. Only girls are shown on the packaging for the dolls and play irons abiding by the notion that women are the nurturers and caretakers and only girls would want to play with dolls or pretend to clean and take care of the household. It is also interesting to note that typically only boys are featured on the packaging of science experiment kits. These assigned gender roles in our culture are perhaps portraying to children that they must conform to a specific way of doing and thinking set forth by
There is a visibly blatant distinction when walking into a toy store or isle of the divide of gender differences and interests. Pink is a standout color amongst half of the space, and blue sticks out amongst the other half. There are stereotypical notions, which attach the color pink to girls and blue to boys. The color-coded aisles reflect some kind of innate gender difference and assumed interests. What type of message is this form of visual culture sending? The gender divide in toys may be notions of the interplay of culture and biology or simply a marketing ploy.
Toys play an important role in the life of a child. Toys engage a child’s physical, sensory, social and intellectual development …show more content…
How does one determine, however, what aisle to label “girls” and which to label “boys”? Do our labels come from preconceived ideas established by our culture and society? What makes a toy desirable to or appropriate for girls verses boys? This gender divide is more prevalent than ever with fewer non-gendered toys available than ever before, even when gender discrimination was socially acceptable (Haines, 2015). One would assume that in our current day in age that values, and more intently fights for equality for all, this would not be as prevalent as it …show more content…
In the dress up aisle, costumes for imaginative play as a police officer, firefighter or super hero are found in the “boy section” of the store. The “girl section” occupies princess dresses, ballerina tutus and cheerleading skirts for the girls to buy and play role-play in. In the neighboring aisle to the dresses and tutus is the Barbie and doll aisle. Here one would find “I can be” Barbies with the choice of choosing a ballerina Barbie, fashion designer Barbie, or veterinarian Barbie. None of the Barbies hold a high title in an office or business role, and none were police officers or firefighters. Barbie was only portrayed in occupations stereotyped to be “women’s jobs” causing questions about how we present women empowerment to young girls. Stereotypical female roles are also shown through the marketing of dolls sold and imaginative play toys such as irons and ironing boards. Only girls are shown on the packaging for the dolls and play irons abiding by the notion that women are the nurturers and caretakers and only girls would want to play with dolls or pretend to clean and take care of the household. It is also interesting to note that typically only boys are featured on the packaging of science experiment kits. These assigned gender roles in our culture are perhaps portraying to children that they must conform to a specific way of doing and thinking set forth by