Traditionally, we were taught that gender roles and stereotypes are innate and unquestionable. Since birth, society has influenced us with messages about how males and females should behave. An example of these stereotypes is the color-coding of babies’ clothes – pink for girls and blue for boys. Similarly, toys given to young girls reinforce femininity with dolls, dress-up clothes, and fairies. In contrast, toys given to young boys emphasize masculinity through cars, trucks, and building blocks.
Infant toys are typically gender-neutral, featuring a variety of colors, sounds, music, lights, and moving parts. However, as children grow from one to four years old, toys begin to reinforce traditional gender roles. Girls’ toys become predominantly pink, purple, and yellow, often featuring female characters with exclusively feminine names. Meanwhile, boys’ toys primarily utilize blue, red, or green colors and feature male-named characters. This is when girls start learning to nurture their baby dolls, while boys develop an interest in cars and action figures. Society starts imposing expectations on children based on their gender.
However, the main message conveyed is that boys and girls possess distinct characteristics. Boys exhibit masculinity while girls embody femininity. Barbie Dolls have long been renowned as the quintessential toys for girls. Adorned in a princess-like gown complemented by a crown atop her head, Barbie exudes regality. Sporting sleek, lengthy blonde locks, which girls delight in brushing despite their already impeccable appearance, she is a beloved icon. Girls adore styling her in various ensembles – at times transforming her into a cowgirl donning boots, other times portraying her as a schoolgirl with a mini backpack. On occasions, she even epitomizes a stunning bride attired in a white gown and accessorized with high heels, all while flaunting a loose, elegant bun hairstyle. Truly, she embodies the essence of royalty.
When girls initially read the poem “Barbie Doll,” it evokes memories of their beloved toys. Additionally, engaging with Barbie dolls can facilitate positive role-playing, which can benefit them in making informed decisions as adults. As mentioned in Tanya Lee Stone’s book “the Good, the Bad, and the Barbie,” a comprehensive study revealed that eight out of ten women attributed their career choices to their formative years spent playing with Barbie. Conversely, some parents express concerns about the doll’s flawless appearance, fearing that it may impart the notion that being slim and Caucasian is the sole path to happiness in life.
Meanwhile, according to interviews with young girls, being told by someone close to them that they are fat and ugly would affect them more than playing with a silly doll. Barbie elicits mixed feelings from everyone. However, one major impact is evident in a local newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio, where it was reported that the new Barbie movie taught many children to make the right choices. For example, when a bully asked Skipper to shoplift, she refused because she remembered that Barbie had advised her to do what is right. As a result, many children try to emulate their dolls and act out similar scenarios.
In general, toys even suggest that our society values young boys more highly than girls. Interestingly, it appears that there may be more stereotyping regarding toys offered to boys. For their sons, parents tend to choose more masculine and gender-neutral toys than female toys. Examples of these masculine toys include “Small Soldiers Action Figures,” “Small Soldiers Karate Fighters,” “Starwars Double Take Death Kit,” and “WWF Ring Warriors Wrestling Kit.” Most masculine toys encourage competitive and aggressive behavior but are also more constructive, conducive to handling, and much more reality-based.
Toys linked to masculinity commonly display characteristics such as aggression, activity, dominance, and competitiveness. This sends a negative message by suggesting violence as a resolution for issues. These toys imply that boys are active, assertive individuals who frequently engage in violent activities and war games. Boys internalize the idea that they must embody strength and a warrior-like persona to be recognized as true men. The popularity of these toys stems from the belief that boys typically exhibit more aggressive behavior than girls.
According to Stacey Zeitlin (1997), a kindergarten teacher, the importance of children’s play goes beyond just their location and toys. It also involves the people they interact with. Zeitlin shared an example of how she intentionally assigned boys and girls as partners for a science activity instead of letting them choose their own partners, which was her usual practice. This decision raised her concerns because typically, children preferred to work with their same-gender best friends during activities like this.
Despite expectations, the experiment yielded successful results, demonstrating the breaking down of gender barriers. Previously unfamiliar children spent the entire day together and continued seeking each other as playmates throughout the year. Consequently, Zeitlin is dedicated to diminishing the self-imposed and peer-enforced gender segregation observed in children. These findings hold relevance for families, as some may prioritize gender role differentiation and segregation.
It is crucial to recognize that simply trying to educate parents out of their beliefs is not enough; instead, it is important to understand how these beliefs align with their culture. However, it is also beneficial to address equity issues for discussion. By implementing certain practices, parents may observe and learn from them, ultimately supporting and implementing them in their own homes. Engaging in respectful parent group discussions that acknowledge differences and disagreements can be valuable in helping parents reflect upon their approach to arranging play dates, purchasing toys, creating a nonsexist environment, and promoting gender equality.
Below are the sources and their titles:
“The Barbie History”. www.barbiecollector.com. Mattel. 2010.
Sarah Jean’s article titled “Controversial Barbies” can be found at Barbiefest.com. It was published in 2010.
Alan Kazdin’s piece on “Measuring Self-Esteem” is from the Encyclopedia of Psychology, published by Oxford University Press in Washington DC in 2000. The excerpt is taken from J. Gonzalez-Mena’s book titled Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education, specifically the 2009 edition pages 230-232.
