Different Information on Genderized Toys

It may seem as though there is not a big controversy on this topic of children's genderized toys; however, there are many other sources to view different points and further one's interest on the topic. The sources I have used so far are few examples of where one can obtain more information.

• Sweden 'Trying To Banish Gender' Through Toy Advertising And Language: Web source that is on changes made by Sweden to create more gender neutral advertisement in children's toys.
• The Gender Marketing of Toys: An Analysis of Color and Type of Toy on the Disney Store Website: A research article on a study that identifies what characteristics make toys genderized.
• The Effects of Commercials on Children’s Perceptions of Gender Appropriate Toy Use: Another research article is on a study of how advertising toys in a genderized way affects children's perspectives on the toy.
• School bans 9-year-old boy's My Little Pony backpack: Web source that shows the negative effects of a child who goes against the unspoken rule about children having to play with traditional genderized toys.

In reading, viewing, and understand different sources on genderized children's toys we can realize how important this topic is and create a movement or strategy that can change the concept of toys.

Toy Ads and Learning Gender

• Videos such as from YouTube, Feminist Frequency's Toy Ads and Learning Gender are on the effects of toy advertising on children. When I viewed this video, I learned a new concept in the differences in boy and girl toys that present perspectives they may pass unnoticed to some individuals. Anita Sarkeesian, the creator and host of the YouTube channel, mentions how concepts, such as "making and constructing", are characteristics needed for successful adults and these characteristics are only seen in boy toys. This limits young girls from learning these characteristics and can affect their adulthood. Sarkeesian gives her view on children's toys and advertising that provide us to reflect on how the effects on toys will influence the future of children.

What the Research Says: Gender-Typed Toys

• The studies I mentioned are in great detail of their research. Interviews of researchers and their studies also give considerable input on concepts of genderized toys. The National Association for the Education of Young Children's (NAEYC) website has their interview, What the Research Says: Gender-Typed Toys, refers to a study done on classifying toys for boys, girls, or neither through the toys' functions (aggression, beauty, etc). The interview also asked the researchers, based on their study, what type of messages would teachers and parents learn about toys. This gives the viewpoints from professors about which toys are more prominent to be educational, encouraging in positive behavior to children, and other aspects that affect a child's characteristics. I think this short interview is an important quick read as it provides a concept of what types of affects are children given by genderized toys and how adults can become involved with influencing children to play with positive influential toys.

Children's Gender-Based Reasoning about Toys

• For those who prefer the actual studies to obtain the details, Carol Lynn Martin, Lisa Eisenbud, and Hilary Rose's research article Children's Gender-Based Reasoning about Toys is on children's perspectives of genderized toys. Three studies of children are made to see how labeled and non-labeled toys affect their perspective of the toys. The first two studies the children are given toys without girl or boy labels (gender neutral toys) and are asked how they would like the toys, how girls would, and how boys would also. In the last study, the toys they were given were labeled girl or boy (traditional gendered toys) and were asked the same questions. This study identifies how simple labels of gender can easily influence children. By reading this study, we can conclude that toy companies should advertise their products in a gender neutral way so children will not fall into a tradition gender role society.

 Today Tonight – Gender Toys

• Going back to videos, it is great to have news reports on topics about helping children. On YouTube, Channel Seven Perth's video Today Tonight – Gender Toys has a reporter visit and question the family on children's toys. Four year old Eve plays with Legos and is upset when the reporter states that people place Legos to be just for boys. The video also asked other children what they thought about toys and they considered toys to be gender neutral. Although many children are influenced to obtain traditional gender roles as they grow up, there are still some children who just play with any toys without considering its gender label. By viewing this video we can try to relate to children and see that labeling genders on objects is pointless if we want to obtain a gender equality lifestyle.

The "Gendering" of Our Kids' Toys, and What We Can Do About It

• Viewing an actual parent's perspective on the topic of children's toys would allows us to understand how adults should worry on the ways children are being influenced. Elizabeth Sweet's article, The "Gendering" of Our Kids' Toys, and What We Can Do About It, is on her views of children's toys and how toys have increasingly became genderized throughout the 20th century. She closes off her article in stating how we should teach children about gender equality so they become more aware of toys' genderized influences. Throughout the years, the characteristics of toys have changed (everything is pink for girls even if they actually would not be like kitchens) and it is mainly for the benefit of companies to sell more products. By Sweet relating her childhood toy experiences with today's toys, we can also see how the major differences influence children today.

We should inform ourselves to understand "In light of the significant advances toward gender equality that we see in the occupational realm, in the realm of home and family, and in education, why do children’s toys seem to be moving in the opposite direction?" (Sweet). If we want to have a gender equality driven society, it is necessary to understand what elements influence us to be genderized and more importantly what effects future generations so we can prevent a gender dominated society.

References for the last Five Sources:

• Martin, Carol L., Lisa Eisenbud, and Hilary Rose. "Children's Gender-Based Reasoning about Toys." Child Development 66.5 (1995): 1453. People.uncw.edu. Web. 07 Dec. 2014.
• Sarkeesian, Anita. "Toy Ads and Learning Gender." YouTube. YouTube, 16 Nov. 2010. Web. 06 Dec. 2014. 
• Sweet, Elizabeth. "The "Gendering" of Our Kids' Toys, and What We Can Do About It." The Center for a New American Dream More of What Matters. New Dream Blog, 07 Oct. 2011. Web. 07 Dec. 2014. 
• "Today Tonight - Gender Toys." YouTube. YouTube, 29 July 2014. Web. 07 Dec. 2014.
• "What the Research Says: Gender-Typed Toys." NAEYC. NAEYC, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2014.  

Be Neutral Be Equal

            The Huffington Post article by Emma Mustich, Sweden ‘Trying To Banish Gender’ Through Toy Advertising And Language, presented how in 2012 Sweden began to denounce gender segregated toy advertisement. Leklust, a Swedish toy company, has made their catalogs to be against gender stereotypes with a boy dressed as Spiderman pushing a pink baby carriage and a girl riding a toy lawnmower. Their catalog became popular around social media and gained support for gender equality. Sweden’s model is not only for gender equality but mainly to raise children with gender-neutral views. These views also led them to introduce a neutral gendered pronoun “hen” instead of “han” (he) and “hon’ (she). The article concluded with the questioning if it is ethical to raise children as “gender-free” and with some audiences that disagree because children “don’t give a fig if the toy they want to play with is meant for a girl or a boy,” (Mustich).

Sweden’s view on toy advertising is uniquely productive since they see the corrupt views in other advertising with gender segregation and traditional gender roles. I agree with their model of gender free toys and self-identification. If children are not pressured by advertising to play with gender based toys, then they are able to choose whichever they like. Then without playing with gender based toys, children will not be socialized to stereotypical gender roles and can use the pronoun “hen”, or any other that is not gender specific, to comfortably describe themselves.

I support Sweden’s model and other views for gender equality or gender neutrality and so I disagree with those, such as Jacqueline Burt in the article, who do not care for the views. We need to realize that although there are children who enjoy any toy to play with, there are others who are influenced by genderized toys and advertising. Toy commercials, toy catalogs, and other methods of advertising influence children to play with the toys that are labeled for their gender. There will always be those kids who will say “Oh no, that toy is for girls/boys!” To prevent this type of negative gender segregation, we must begin to follow in Sweden’s model to show children it is not shameful to play with the opposite gender’s toys.

Sweden 'Trying To Banish Gender' Through Toy Advertising And Language

Anyway, why should anyone think it is shameful for a child to play with the opposite gender’s toy?

• The gap between genders is slowly closing with more gender equality rights than pass years. Since there are more woman in the work force and other male dominant roles, children should learn as they grow that opposite genders are the same in many aspects. Therefore, it would not be shameful to begin to play with different toys as a child.

Others could question why is there still a significant amount of pink in girl toys and blue in boy toys?

• Even in the Lekjust toy catalog most of the girl toys are all pink while the boy toys vary in dark colors. This specifically targets the toy company than the advertising itself; however, it also contributes to why the catalog separates these toys from the other non-pink and non-“girly” toys.
• I would assume it is because Sweden is slowly making this neutral gendered model and I respect that. I am sure over time pink toys will diminish because in reality there are no all pink ovens, vacuums, or castles, or anything really. 

Toys and toy advertising will hopefully become gender neutral in all aspects so children will begin to understand gender equality as they grow.

References:
Mustich, Emma. "Sweden 'Trying To Banish Gender' Through Toy Advertising And Language." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 12 Apr. 2012. Web. 31 Oct. 2014.