Parents, Toys, and Gender Roles

When you go to your local toy store to shop for your children in either holidays or birthdays, what kind of toy do you get your son? What kind of toy do you get your daughter? Relatively simple question to answer, am I right? You'll get your son that rugged and strong action figure and your daughter will get that pretty doll with multiple dress and accessories. I know that's the kind of toys my own parents to get for me and my sister respectively. Consciously or unconsciously, we and society as a whole committing a form of sexism.

Let's say we give a young girl a Batgirl action figure rather than a Barbie doll. Now let's give a boy a Ken doll rather than that GI Joe soldier. How different would both the girl's and boy's view their own gender would be? Would the girl be more about action rather than accessories and pretty dresses? Would boys have more of a desire to be that "perfect guy" rather than being rugged and masculine?

Parents have a straight forward mindset when it comes to selecting toys for their children. Boys get boy's toys. Girls get girls toys. Simple enough am I right? Not exactly. Let's look at typical girls toys for example. Barbie dolls have long, blonde hair, blue eyes, bright (usually pink) colors, and often a house or castle like packaging. The usual accessories that go with the Barbie dolls are makeup, jewelry, bags, houses, and maybe even cute animal friends. There are suburban like doll houses and cars along with the Ken doll of course that almost always seems to be right by Barbie's side. Then there are the toys like the Cabbage Patch Kids and other baby like dolls. Another interesting observation is that the toys and dolls always have "good looking" characteristics. The toys all have smiling expressions as well.

Toys for boys are almost the complete opposite. Take a typical Batman action figure for example. First of all notice how Batman and other toys of it's kind comes in black, blue and other dark shaded colors. A lot of Batman toys comes with different types of armor and weapons. Of course Batman also has ripping muscles and a stern, determined look on his face. Batman could also not be classified as "good looking" either. He wears a black mask after all. They are even figures is which Batman has scars and other battle worn features.

Through their toys we can interpret that girls from an early age have can imagine either being a princess, a wife, and even a mother. It's also fair to interpret that boys can imagine being rugged, masculine, and heroic men with their toys. But as I stated before, this may or may not even be the child's own choice. Are parents by buying a Barbie doll for their daughter sending a hidden message that women are expected to be princesses, housewives, and mothers otherwise they are not society's acceptable definition of what a girl should be? Are boys forced into thinking they must be masculine and muscular otherwise they are less of a male?

Now clearly parents aren't the entire influence of why girls prefer Barbie and boys prefer GI Joe. Peers and television also hold a strong influence as well. But I believe parents should become aware of the toy stereotyping before taking their son or daughter. Sadly, I do also believe got the short end of the stick as far as stereotyping in toys. While boys tend to play with heroic figures such as Batman, X-Men and, of course, GI Joe, girls in games and imagination with their toys tend to play the role of the girl next door or the princess waiting for her prince charming. In other words, the damsel in distress or a future mother to be. Why do women lack that heroic influence? Should they feel so limited at such an early age?

Take for example, a Supergirl toy I came across one day. Like how a "typical girl" is in toys, cartoons, and other media's portrayal of female characters for children, she is often depicted as beautiful all American girl. She is, after all, Superman's cousin. However, rather than worried about her hair and how many dresses she has in her closet, the character is a heroic, always risking her own well being to save others in many TV shows and comic books. Truly a great figure for any little girl to look up to. She's the female equivalent of Superman. Yet, how many Supergirl toys do you see in the girls aisles in toy stores? Though rare, I have actually seen more Supergirl "action figures" in the boys' section. The one Supergirl toy I seen in the girls' aisle was essentially a Barbie doll with an "S" on her outfit. Why is this? Is it fair to interpret that girls aren't allowed to be heroic or action orientated? Is this a form of sexism?

Going back to the action figures that boys generally play with, like the girls another form of sexism is performed. Looking at toys like Batman and GI Joe, indirectly the message being sent is that men should be strong with ripping muscles and to love action and adventure. While, the toys and character are often heroic figures, unlike girls' toys, boys greatly lack another type of role model.

This type of role model is, ironically enough, best represents by the Ken dolls that girls play with. Ken is the ideal man in a lot of female's eyes, young and old. In a few of his roles, he is prince charming, a big brother, a father, and most often the loving boyfriend or husband. Wouldn't he big a good role model for boys as well? Would it be wrong that boys like girls, to develop the same desire of having a family and being a good father at an early age? But again, thanks to sexism and parents unaware of this type of it, both little boys and girls are encouraged to be certain stereotypes as they grow up.

If you look back at your childhood, perhaps it may be fair to say that you were taught a form of sexism. It is truly unbelievable to know I may have been influence by it at such an early age. Boys and girls are kept from key role models and encouragements by something as simple as toys. To parents I say be aware of what type of toys you're buying for your kids and what stereotypes they could present. Also take more care in what your child wants as well instead limiting them to strictly the boys or girls aisle. Give your kids the choice to be either prince charming/princess or Superman/Supergirl. By being aware of the gender roles your child is given, we are all a step closer to eliminating another form of sexism.