Abstract: Author Katrin Bennhold discovers that Hamleys, London’s best-known toy store, follows society’s gender stereotypes in the production, advertising, and selling of its products. The store designates toys to a specific sex group based on its color as well as theme. Despite anti-stereotyping campaigns, Hamleys continues to resist promoting gender equality. Neuroscientist Laura Nelson states “Girls’ toys are often about beauty and the home, while toys for boys are about being active, building things, and having adventures.” She also recognizes that aspects such as the color of toys influences the activities that boys and girls find interest in. Therefore, boys and girls will typically hold gender specific occupations, as childhood toys led them to. This issue with gender explicit toys extends to stereotypes in general. In order to create equality of the sexes, society must encourage girls and boys to step outside of their gender barriers and preferences.
Discussion Questions:
1) Are the toys initially made for a specific gender?
2) Do you think that toys enhance either masculine or feminine qualities?
3) Are toys being over analyzed? (i.e. Is their only purpose to entertain children, and not hinting towards future jobs?)
4) Should parents be blamed for early childhood gender recognition?
5) Do toy stores and advertisements also have an influence on children?
6) Can you connect it to personal experiences? Do you feel that toys influenced who you are (focusing on gender)?
Taryn's Response: I thought that this article was interesting because it gave a possibility on why we form these gender stereotypes. I feel that some toys are designed for a certain gender, but parents and advertisements influenced the children themselves, and they don't have the opportunity to think for themselves. These gender stereotypes came from somewhere, but this may be one of the sources of development in children. I even notice now in toy stores with their organization; the dolls and all the pink things are grouped together and then there is the blue action toys in another group. Some toys even suggest which gender should be playing with the merchandise as it shows a picture of a boy or girl on the box. I don't think toys have a great influence on future professions, but I think they nudge children in a certain path.
Kristen's Response: This article made me question many aspects of my life that I had never given much thought before. It was astounding how something as simple as color on a toy can influence boys and girls to the point of affecting their future interests and plans. This is evident in the jobs that society, as well as myself, associates with each gender. You would expect a car mechanic to be a man, while you would automatically assume a caregiver to be a woman. These connections are ones that I make without much consideration, but why do I? I feel that because society itself is so strict in judgment and expectation, people immediately take the stereotypical path because they rather be comfortable and normal than be different. However, if we as a society wants to escape this cycle, we must be willing to take a chance and try something new.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/world/europe/01iht-letter01.html
Abstract: Author Katrin Bennhold discovers that Hamleys, London’s best-known toy store, follows society’s gender stereotypes in the production, advertising, and selling of its products. The store designates toys to a specific sex group based on its color as well as theme. Despite anti-stereotyping campaigns, Hamleys continues to resist promoting gender equality. Neuroscientist Laura Nelson states “Girls’ toys are often about beauty and the home, while toys for boys are about being active, building things, and having adventures.” She also recognizes that aspects such as the color of toys influences the activities that boys and girls find interest in. Therefore, boys and girls will typically hold gender specific occupations, as childhood toys led them to. This issue with gender explicit toys extends to stereotypes in general. In order to create equality of the sexes, society must encourage girls and boys to step outside of their gender barriers and preferences.
Discussion Questions:
1) Are the toys initially made for a specific gender?
2) Do you think that toys enhance either masculine or feminine qualities?
3) Are toys being over analyzed? (i.e. Is their only purpose to entertain children, and not hinting towards future jobs?)
4) Should parents be blamed for early childhood gender recognition?
5) Do toy stores and advertisements also have an influence on children?
6) Can you connect it to personal experiences? Do you feel that toys influenced who you are (focusing on gender)?
Taryn's Response: I thought that this article was interesting because it gave a possibility on why we form these gender stereotypes. I feel that some toys are designed for a certain gender, but parents and advertisements influenced the children themselves, and they don't have the opportunity to think for themselves. These gender stereotypes came from somewhere, but this may be one of the sources of development in children. I even notice now in toy stores with their organization; the dolls and all the pink things are grouped together and then there is the blue action toys in another group. Some toys even suggest which gender should be playing with the merchandise as it shows a picture of a boy or girl on the box. I don't think toys have a great influence on future professions, but I think they nudge children in a certain path.
Kristen's Response: This article made me question many aspects of my life that I had never given much thought before. It was astounding how something as simple as color on a toy can influence boys and girls to the point of affecting their future interests and plans. This is evident in the jobs that society, as well as myself, associates with each gender. You would expect a car mechanic to be a man, while you would automatically assume a caregiver to be a woman. These connections are ones that I make without much consideration, but why do I? I feel that because society itself is so strict in judgment and expectation, people immediately take the stereotypical path because they rather be comfortable and normal than be different. However, if we as a society wants to escape this cycle, we must be willing to take a chance and try something new.