Gender Stereotyping in Children’s Toys Today, toy stores divide the many toys, games, and movies into two primary categories: boy and girl. Toys teach children at such a young age what their roles are in society and that they cannot stray from these roles. Through their gender-biased toys, boys learn to be tough, “warrior like” leaders and girls learn to be nurturers. Girls’ toys stress physical beauty and appearance while boys’ toys focus on respect for their physical abilities (Campenni 122). Gender socialization through toys, teaches and reinforces stereotypical gender roles.
Two year old children seem to turn intentionally difficult and challenge their parents constantly, letting desire take control. At this age, toddlers are focused on understanding other people, and the need to live happily with others slips away. The author's essay also explores how adults' behavior can influence a child's actions. Alison questions whether adults have a natural capability to help children learn in this essay. This is proven to be true by the simple use of a sing-song voice when speaking to a child and how it
a boy playing with a doll). Furthermore, social learning theory supports the nurture side of the nature nurture debate by stating that gender role is learnt through upbringing. Bandura found that children can tell the difference between male and female behaviours and they then use this to influence their own behaviour. For example, Bandura et al found that children do no model the behaviour of both of their parents (i.e. a boy may not cook dinner even though they observe their mother carrying out this behaviour).
On the other hand, as for boys, their mothers would prefer that sons get involved in sport games rather than what is believe to be girls stuff, such baking or reading. All in all, Pollitt (2010, p.185) supports her main claim very well, and her statement is an actual fact, that “Kids aren’t born religious, or polite, or kind, or able to remember where they put their sneakers.” Totally agreeing with her, kids’ behaviors and the values behind them are mainly influences from adults around them from “morning till night.” In my opinion, I think that the sex roles today are absolutely based on society’s influences. For example, if one goes to a children store he will see that there’s a section for boys and section for girls, grouped by the obvious way that sex roles are stereotyped. The boys’ section would have guys’ toys such as, action figures, sports car, and toy
For example, boys are more likely to choose design technology and girls are more likely to choose food technology. • Peer pressure – both girls and boys are influenced by their peers. For example, boys are unlikely to do ‘art subjects’ such as Drama and Dance because some sociologists say they threaten masculine identity. • Future career – students may be influenced by future career plans. For example, subjects like ‘Health and Social Care’ and ‘Child Development’ are mainly taken by girls because they want to work in social care.
Before we can discuss the “marks” of men and women, we must discuss the gender role. Sometimes we must ask ourselves, “What is gender?” Girls are taught by their family members and peers to act in feminine ways. As the child grows, it learns that certain expressions of its personality are appropriate to its sexual label, while others are not. Although times have changed, stereotypical images and ideas of women can still be found. For instance, women are known to be more intuitive, emotional, and submissive.
Along with all of this comes sexism and how it plays a role in children’s lives. The child learns from what he or she sees, and sexism is a big thing. For example, a little girl who believes only boys can be doctors and only girls can be nurses. Same with boys, they think they should obviously have the higher degree. Boys are learning at an early age to think that the girls are of lesser value.
According to the author Deborah Tannen the article, Sex, Lies, and conversation" is about how differently men and women percieve conversation in their relationship. She states that lack of conversation is wreaking havoc within marriages. this is due to the fact that men and women have very different expectations of communication. Tannen describes how differences in communication start in the childhood socialization. For young girls, conversation is the cornerstone of friendship.
Treating all boys like warriors and girls like homemakers is insulting to their intelligence and abilities, and is taking too strong a stance on gender differences. Rather, subtle differences in treatment would be more suitable, such as not allowing a girl to walk alone at night, or not encouraging a boy to play with dolls. It’s ok if he does want to play with dolls (and says very little about his masculinity), but there’s no need to force it on him like a parent would with a girl. There are many situations in which boys and girls should be treated the same. Teaching a boy that it’s ok to push and shove because of his testosterone levels will probably make him more violent in the long haul, and it’s a better idea to show kids of both genders that violence is never O.K.
Just as you learn different rules by whom you surround yourself with, gender is that same way. Journalist, Clive Thompson, observes that “males and females display different types of behaviors;” these behaviors that are acted upon are setting guidelines as “children recognize certain sex-role identities” (Atwan 82). This point is also proven in Frank McCourt’s novel From Angelas Ashes when the mother character, Angela, has to stay home and take care of her family and can’t do anything about the father taking the hard earned money to the pubs to drink it all away. With these influences on gender roles in society it is understood that “boys tend to be more aggressive and competitive, while girls’ behavior is generally more social and accommodating,” (Atwan 82). These classifications among men and women help to set a barrier to show the differences each gender has on society and how these common tendencies they acquire start to develop who they are.