Matthew Psy101 October 29, 2009 Differences between gender related toys There are many differences between in toys that are for boys and girls. Some of the differences in the toys range from: sizes to colors and even the structure of the toys and many more. The toys in today’s markets are mostly gender specific; boy’s toys are very different from girl’s toys. The toy aisles for boys are centered on sports, cars, and the army. Most of the time the colors on these aisles are not very bright the colors are more natural.
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.
Bussey came to this conclusion when he found that children imitate same sex models but do not imitate same sex models that are gender inappropriate. Gender roles are also affected by social influences like parents. Parents sometimes have strong opinions on the divides between genders which results in different reinforcements for different behaviours. For example, a mother may react negatively to their daughter playing with masculine toys but positively to their son playing with the same toys. Parental influence has strengths, for example there is a wealth of scientific evidence supporting it.
Faster, smaller, and electronic are all qualities of recently invented toys. Toys also affect the way children use their imagination. By making toys faster, it will keep the children more entertained. They cannot focus on one thing for a long time without getting bored. Therefore, toy makers decided to make them faster, which will keep the kids busy and they will enjoy it longer.
I think it is based off of the upbringing of the child. The toys determine to be appropriate might affect a child’s movement. For instance, a boy who plays with Barbie dolls would attract other female children and start developing female characteristics. Also, playing with Barbie dolls may have the potential to cause that child’s interest to be altered. Clothing plays a major role in your life.
Some toys in both the boys and girls aisles could actually be used in either gender such as Leap frog education, Little Einstein, waterproof cameras and video recorders, and even some video games. Some of the toys will help shape how both genders grow up and think about the world. A lot of kids are a product of their environment the toys they play with and the books they are taught to read. In chapter 4 of the book it talks about all the things I have been writing about in this paper. Things such as; how genders start to realize if they are boys or girls by the age of two and growing up and going through gender schemas.
Can parts of gender stereotype be biological? Can we link this to how children develop the ability to communicate and how they use it at a young age? There are many researchers discussing whether language acquisition between men and women are indeed different and many believe that its caused by gender bias among our society. The general concept is that we are not born with gender, but that gender is something we perform or learn to do. However, there is evidence to show that even at a young age, boys and girls that learn how to communicate, will learn at different speeds and will struggle with different aspects of learning how to communicate.
Soc 101 Gender Stereotyping in advertising for children’s toys Gender stereotyping is formulating an opinion based on the gender of the individual without having an understanding of his or her morals, values, or ethics. This kind of stereotyping is frighteningly typical in the advertising of children’s toys. My initial reaction that subliminal and supraliminal techniques being used in advertising for toys caught me off guard. I didn’t think of how deep the cognition of advertising went. Subliminal techniques are used earlier in the childhood where supraliminal is used more on older children.
Teen-Parent Communication About Sex When young people feel unconnected at home, family, and school, they may become involved in activities that put their health at risk. However, when parents affirm the values of their children, young people often develop positive, healthy attitudes about themselves, therefore delaying in sexual activity. The writer’s purpose(s) for writing these articles is because risky teen behavior is on the rise, and what are parents and families doing/not doing to promote safe behavior? I chose these articles because I am a teen parent, and I feel that if I had been able to have “the talk” sooner, more in depth, and more often, that it may have prevented my pregnancy. Teen Sexuality’s research showed a few things: Adolescents who stated that they were connected with their parents were more likely than other teens to delay sexual intercourse.
While boys are encouraged to be adventurous and granted freedom that is perhaps undeserved, their female counterparts will be given toy ovens and princess dolls to play with. Well meaning adults will often correct or shame a child who exhibits behaviors that are not suitable for the gender roles Ornelas 2 they are being raised to fill. Though parents and relatives mean no harm by introducing children to the societal constructs of behavior befitting their gender, these practices directly harm the child.