Concurrent Panel Session Ten
Abstract Title
Start Date
8-4-2018 1:00 PM
End Date
8-4-2018 1:50 PM
Abstract
Each and every one of us experiences gender stereotyping, whether we realize it or not. It is such a simple concept and something people don't tend to think about. Although, from a young age, we are exposed to our parents' and societies' views on gender and the toys we should play with, which then stick around for generations. The color pink and dolls are for girls and trucks and the color blue are for boys, right? Well, not necessarily. Toys are also expressed through the idea that women have to be the stay at home mom and take care of the domestic aspects of our lives while the men are out working doing "manly" things and supporting the family. Both of these descriptions make sense to us because for the most part, this is what we have known throughout our lives. Where did all of this come from and why has no one really changed this aspect that always seems to be taken for granted? It seems a major factor that plays into a child's toy decisions are the parents/guardians. Depending on what the adults pick out for the child or suggest they play with, will alter the child's attitude about certain toys. Perhaps the marriage status plays a role in the views of the children as well. The child's decisions may be influenced more if they are of the same sex, such as two women raising the child, as opposed to a man and a woman raising them. This topic is portrayed through the television series "Friends" and represents the issue of gender-typed toys, touched upon by the characters in one scene of the show. Even though this may seem like more of an unusual topic to discuss, I think it's an important one to keep passing on generation after generation so the gender stereotypes can finally be broken.
Keywords
Gender stereotyping, stereotypes, gender-typed toys, toys
Included in
Child Psychology Commons, Cognition and Perception Commons, Cognitive Psychology Commons, Developmental Psychology Commons, Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Social Psychology and Interaction Commons
It's Just a Toy
Each and every one of us experiences gender stereotyping, whether we realize it or not. It is such a simple concept and something people don't tend to think about. Although, from a young age, we are exposed to our parents' and societies' views on gender and the toys we should play with, which then stick around for generations. The color pink and dolls are for girls and trucks and the color blue are for boys, right? Well, not necessarily. Toys are also expressed through the idea that women have to be the stay at home mom and take care of the domestic aspects of our lives while the men are out working doing "manly" things and supporting the family. Both of these descriptions make sense to us because for the most part, this is what we have known throughout our lives. Where did all of this come from and why has no one really changed this aspect that always seems to be taken for granted? It seems a major factor that plays into a child's toy decisions are the parents/guardians. Depending on what the adults pick out for the child or suggest they play with, will alter the child's attitude about certain toys. Perhaps the marriage status plays a role in the views of the children as well. The child's decisions may be influenced more if they are of the same sex, such as two women raising the child, as opposed to a man and a woman raising them. This topic is portrayed through the television series "Friends" and represents the issue of gender-typed toys, touched upon by the characters in one scene of the show. Even though this may seem like more of an unusual topic to discuss, I think it's an important one to keep passing on generation after generation so the gender stereotypes can finally be broken.