Toys Influence Sexism

The thing about children is that they eventually effect many outcomes in the future. They are the little kids who will grow up and decide on the important movements – like gender equality. And like the issue of children's genderized toys, this topic is also important on the issue of sexism. As I mentioned children's toys are mostly genderized by their characteristics of color, toy type (portrays expected roles), and their advertising influences to the "appropriate" gender. These characteristics can then also be found in adult products like clothes, objects, and matured advertising. It seems like we do not grow out of our desired products. So these characteristics that go on throughout our lives are connected to issues on sexism because they are what people use to assume our sexual identities.

As children who do not yet acknowledge gender issues, the toys they play with are the products that become part of their identity and that part of their identity is what some adults use to assume their sexuality. Children who play with any toys they like, no matter what characteristics they have, experience sexism at a very young age. The most common sexist remark children face are usually boys who play or have pink girly products are judged on being or eventually becoming gay. While girls have more of a flexibility that allows them to play with boy toys without being judged.

How awful is it to see children who just want to be themselves enjoying what they like, being picked on without really understand what they have done wrong. It is not only as children, this issue of sexist bullying is usually more harmful in adult years as some people can become more rude and violent about sexism. The issue of children's toys being genderized is what leads to sexism and if we begin to prevent it with gender neutrality at a young age, we can develop a generation that will acknowledge feminism and gender equality. Children would not have to worry or face sexist bullying and would grow up understanding equality to form movements and change.

Schools Should Support Gender Neutrality

School bans 9-year-old boy's My Little Pony backpack

Knowing how to characterize toys is what helps companies be profitable by selling to the specific gender they are trying to appeal to. What if the products begin to expand their audience? Such as the brand My Little Pony, which is a television show now but it is expanding its values of the program and it is beginning to appeal to not only girls but boys as well. These boys who enjoy the show are known as "Bronies" and they purchase the pony products, toys, clothing, and all as any other boy gender product they like. The thing is how would this affect not only the young boys but also any social institutions they come across? Well Grayson Bruce, a 9 year old boy, figured out how loving a "girly" pony show would affect him and the concerns of the school he attended.

Grayson just wanted to wear his My Little Pony backpack to school (it's not a toy but it is still a genderized product). He was bullied so harshly that his mother had to pull him out of school and confront the principal. The principal just told her to leave the backpack at home, so pretty much banning boys from having My Little Pony products at school. As this story became more recognized, other Bronies supported Grayson on the social media. Eventually Grayson's mother spoke to the superintendent and was supported to prevent this bullying. The school now allows Grayson to wear his pony bookbag.

It is dreadful to see how an adult who is suppose to support and help children against bullying seemed to be against the victim. The principal's response to Grayson's situation was ignorant because it he was not supporting Grayson and was instead supporting the idea of bullying nontraditional gender roles to be allowed. School systems should be concerned with the values of teaching gender equality and reversed gender acceptance. This can be done with allowing children to play with any toys they want and any gender type of products. If children become more aware of gender role issues, then school systems should support the issues and have children understand the positive outcomes of playing with different gender toys. By children acknowledging gender roles in toys and then having someone teach children that they do not have to follow the traditional roles, allows for generations to continue the movement of equality and feminism.

References:
Grisham, Lori. "School Bans 9-year-old Boy's My Little Pony Backpack." USA Today. Gannett, 18 Mar. 2014. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.