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Gender norms in society
How do children's toys affect gender roles papers
Gender norms in society
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In the essay “Even Nine-Month-Olds Choose Gender-Specific Toys,” Jennifer Goodwin acknowledges the possibility of gender being innate, as a research showed that “even 1-day-old boys spent longer looking at moving, mechanical options than 1-day-girls, who spent more time looking at faces” (89). However, she claims that even actions this early in life may already be influenced by the parents’ different treatments, which start almost instantly after their child is born. Goodwin states that, even when their children are still infants, parents tend to show more affection towards girl than boys, who are dealt with in a more active and playful manner, which could explain the findings of the research mentioned. This difference in treatments is later
In 2011, Peggy Orenstein published Cinderella Ate My Daughter to examine how princess culture impacted girlhood. “What Makes Girls Girls?” is a chapter in this book that delves into the implications of sexual difference and whether or not it is rooted in biology. By studying various research projects conducted by professionals, Orenstein discovers that, ultimately, a child’s environment plays a key role in behavior. To pose the question of whether the concept of gender is inherent, Orenstein references several examples that have sparked a considerable amount of discussion about how a child’s gender expression is molded by upbringing.
In her article “When Kids Play Across Gender Lines” CNN reporter, Emanuella Grinberg uses many elements to show why we should remove gender-specific toy marketing. Grinberg uses both fact and stories to develop her argument. Both of the stories Grinberg uses in her article support my argument that gender-specific marketing harms kids because it can ultimately lead to kids getting bullied. Her first story comes from author of Calling on Toy Retailers to Eliminate Gender-Based Marketing, Carrie Goldman. Grinberg then uses multiple points from Goldman’s book to support her argument.
There has been a lot of quarrels over the years about how children’s picture books are embracing traditions and presenting gender stereotypes. In an article I found, author Narahara May of “Gender Stereotypes in Children’s Picture Books,” discusses two major problems. One being that gender stereotypes and sexism has an emotional impact on the development of children’s identity and development. Secondly, she explains about how books in the last decade have portrayed gender negatively. Furthermore, I will be discussing May’s ideas further in depth by examining the portrayals of gender stereotypes found in the popular “Berenstain Bears” picture books.
It is well-known in modern culture that children begin developing gender identities from a very young age. As soon as children are able to comprehend media and the actions of those around them, they are bombarded with examples of gender roles. In fact, they are presented with these examples even before they can comprehend them. Parents may begin reading children books right from birth. The gender roles that are often present in these picture books aimed at young children become ingrained in the minds of the children, kickstarting the development of gender identity.
The documentary “The Pinks and the Blues” and the podcast “Can a Child be Raised Free of Gender Stereotypes” discuss the unconscious gender stereotypes and assumptions that our culture places upon children. Children are enculturated with ideas about who they should be, how they should think and behave, and this enculturation has distinct effects upon the child psychology and way of living in the world. The viewer is left with the question: Is it possible to raise a child without gender stereotypes? “The Pinks and the Blues” states that gendered treatment of children begins within 24 hours of the child’s birth. Descriptors for male infants and female infants were different, with boys being labeled as big, strong, and alert while girls were labeled as being delicate, petite, and inattentive.
The purpose of this study is to explore the influence our culture’s dominant ideologies may have upon the gender socialization of children. I am going to compare the Legos manufactured for girls vs. boys, specifically comparing the packaging, display of items, types of sets and roles portrayed by figures. The reason I have chosen to observe Lego collections is because they are a brand that has been manufacturing toys in their current form, for multiple age levels, since 1958. Based on my experiences of buying Lego sets for my own children, I believe I will discover Lego collections reinforce the established social norms for gender based on the packaging, sets and roles of characters in their collections. Through this study I would like to determine
Synthesis #1 Our concepts of gender are constructed by our biological characteristics and societal factors. In many societies, these concepts of gender, and the differences in men and women are rooted in tradition. The moment a child is born a kind of social construction begins. A child whether girl or boy will most likely be shown some behaviors on how they should behave according to their biological characteristics. Throughout history, we have seen the same stereotypes placed on gender, men should be strong and brave.
These studies suggest that children observe gender stereotypes at an early age unintentionally. Since children’s brains are constantly soaking in new information about the world around them, they have to do so in a way that they are seemingly most comfortable. Studies show that children are most comfortable learning from people who are actively in their lives and attractive movie and TV
Throughout the years we have been taught to think that children are born with gender based normative. Boys are born liking blue, being loud, and destructive, and etc. While girls are born the opposite; liking the color pink, only liking wearing dress, and playing with dolls, sitting pretty.
Unlike ‘sex’, which typically refers to the biological and physiological differences, gender is a sociological concept that describes the social and cultural constructions that is associated with one’s sex (Giddens & Sutton, 2013, p. 623-667). The constructed (or invented) characteristics that defines gender is an ongoing process that varies between societies and culture and it can change over time. For example, features that are overly masculine in one culture can be seen as feminine in another; however, the relation between the two should not be seen as static. Gender socialization is thought to be a major explanation for gender differences, where children adhere to traditional gender roles from different agencies of socialization. Gender
As gender stereotypes in toys impact a child’s interest, this also influences their career choices. Through playing with toys, kids develop interests (Steinmatz). When kids are only offered half of the toys available, they don’t get the chance to gain interest in the toys declared for the opposite sex. Gender stereotypes limit the variety of toys that kids will form interests and skills upon (Clayton). The skills and interests kids develop during childhood shape what academic and career choices they make as adults (“Toys”).
Dallas Petereit Emma Hooi Yifu Hu Audrey Vist Gender Differences are Biologically Determined Even though gender stereotypes influence any differences in cognitive abilities, there is a biological predisposition that aids the stereotypes to become a reality. The stereotypes start affecting human’s cognition regarding gender differences as early as kindergarten, which was indicated by the standardized tests. This indicates that even though, there has been some influence by stereotypes, there is a definite biological predisposition that makes the stereotypes possible to happen. Because kindergarten student had minimal prior knowledge of a subject, but there was still a separation of results between males and females, which is indicating that the brain is wired differently.
Introduction Parents play an important role in guiding the development of their child in the early years, before the influence of teachers and peers comes into play (Diem-Wille, 2014). This influence that parents have on their children would naturally affect the child’s perception of gender roles and stereotypes. Following the approach of the Gender-Schema Theory, the child learns about gender in his or her society by observing behaviours of the people around him or her and then classifying the information as characteristic of different genders (Bem, 1983). The family environment and experience would therefore be central to helping the child construct schemas about gender roles since parents’ actions and attitudes are part of the information that the child receives from the environment that is integrated into the schema (McHale, Crouter, & Whiteman, 2003).
After baby enters the world, individuals are overwhelming with symbols and languages which build the concept of gender roles and gender stereotypes. Language fitted to girls by family might involve affection, expressivity, delicateness or frangible, on the other hand, language appropriated to descried boys by family is usually focused on physical characteristics and cultivated traits such as strength and agility. In additions, fathers play a major role of instilling their children with the strongest pressure for gender specific behavior (Long, 2011). They give rewards and positive feedback for gender behavior to daughter but punish sons for gender inappropriate behavior and given more on negative