Jade+and+Hoakalei

According to New York Times, Toys Start the Gender Equality Rift, the idea of gender equality is no longer an idea in London's Department store, Hamley's, it is being put into action. Hamley's stores, rather than using words "girls" and "boy" for stereotypical gender difference to distinguish girl from boy items, they use the stereotypical color schemes, pink and blue. With gender distinguishing came criticism of toys, clothes, and typical things you find in stores. In order to reshape the gender equality issue it had to start somewhere. The process had to start in the adolescence stages of development, first with something as small as the color or type of toys every child plays with. This will eventually have a greater impact on how each and every child and even adult will every see gender differences again.

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Jade: New York Times', Toys Start the Gender Equality Rift is a very large and true issue that happens everyday around the world. Toys are just some of things that help determine a baby's gender and gives them a schema of who they are and how they will be. The article talks about how stores have been remodeled to make sure that boy and girl toys have been seperated so that consumers know exactly which toy is for who. The boys section consists of trucks and action figures that normally contain vibrant colors like blue or orange while the girls section is laced with pink and the shelves are stalked with barbies, play houses, and makeup. The idea that boys play with action toys and girls play with items that are more sensitive are starting to alter. This stereotype of what gender a certain toys belong to is breaking down. Boys play with houses and girls play with cars. This early development can also be applied to the child's future. A boy who plays with action figures can grow up to be a teacher while a girl who plays with dolls can be a firefighter. Toys shape a child and help them identify themselves. They help a child grow and learn but may also hinder a child's true potential.

Hoakalei I agree with this new theory of gender equality in the youth. I feel like it needs to start from somewhere. The adolescent age is the perfect time to make a change for gender equality. The little things like colors, shapes, and styles all can have a big impact if you introduce all things including toys to be gender neutral. Without a doubt there will be a lot of controversy especially with previous generations, cultures, and traditions but if gender equality is what the new society demands than that's what they will get.

Discussion Questions: 1. What kind of stereotypes are toys given as to what gender they belong to?

2. Does society put a pressure on kinds to play with the "right" toys?

3. What exactly does it mean when girls play with trucks and boys plays with houses? What stereotypes are given in these situations?