Gender Roles

For my sociology class we wrote on the topic of toys and their influence on gender roles...
I thought it was pretty interesting to see the effects of toys on our society.

Here's my discussion side to get a little more information. :) I'd like to hear what you think about the toys in our society. Email me or comment. I always enjoy reading what you have to say.

Hippoleetoe @ gmail . com

As you walk into Toys R Us you are overwhelmed with toys of all shapes, colors and sizes. It’s quit an eyeful, you may even get a tingle of joy and reminiscence. As you begin to go down each aisle you begin to notice a separation of colors. On one side you see Pinks, purples and silver shimmers all over the place. The aisle is equipped with Barbie, Tutu’s, Plastic High heels and much, much more. You quickly learn by all the inhabitants that this must be the little girl section. Theirs nail sets and hairpieces and even make up kits. Appearance appears to be important to the young consumer.

After the pretty princess aisle colors begin to get bolder in the aisles to come. Browns, blue's, greens all dark colors come out to play. Theirs Racecars, monster trucks and even Spiderman! Pink is nowhere in sight. Theirs no make up kits or beanie babies. In this section its all about the action figures and Tonka trucks. This must be where the little boys shop.

According to what society would base gender roles on otherwise known as Gender Role Ideology, which is beliefs about the proper role relationship between women and men in any given society (pg 47), a young boy would never be caught in the girls section. While walking through the store I notice a young boy carrying a wand. It was silver with stones. He was swishing it around saying "abra cadabra". To him it was a wizard’s sword. His older brothers approach him and begin to poke fun at him. They taunt, "Look he has a girly wand. Are you a princess now?" The young boy begins to cry and quickly throws the wand down and runs away. This shows how Social learning (pg 48) can take place. Although this isn’t shown by his father it is still seen threw his brothers, other prominent roles in his life, by putting the little boy to shame. The older boys portrayed his toy as "girly". This also shows how the boy’s family had a great impact on his life. Siblings play an important part in teaching the gender roles. (pg 50) the young boy could have kept the wand and ignore the brothers, but he didn't. He threw it down as if it was going to hurt him.

This occurrence will have an effect on the boy into adulthood. He may become that dad in which the book describes under social learning (pg 48) who scolds his son for playing dress up as a young age just like he was by his older brothers for playing with a wand. This situation as well as many more messages through television, religion, peers, education and economy will influence his identity. He will learn through gender stereotyping that boys are rugged, cool, calm, collective while the women in his life are emotional and sometimes crazy. This can be shown to him in programs such as Sex in the City (pg 51).

The same goes for young women. Gender roles are forced upon children whether forcefully or not. The girl learns that appearance should be kept up at all times through the plastic heels and make up kits. The boys learn that cars and action figures are the macho aspect of men and Barbie’s are forbidden. Even though our society is changing to where girls can play with Nascars and a man could carry a man purse, theirs still that dominate role where a boy toy is for boys and a girls toy is for girls and anyone who breaks that socialization will be taunted. It is now up to each generation as to whether or not they will change these roles and teach their children differently about the role of each gender.