Momani, Amal

Oliveira, Tatiana

Smith, McKenna

West, Katherine

English

Furman University

GENDER AND TOYSAmal, Katherine, McKenna, and TatianaTHE PROBLEMWe gender things! Everything! -- Toy aisles at stores -- Gender Reveal Parties-- Obsession with labeling toys and putting children into boxesSo what can we do about it?The LiteratureBrain DevelopmentWomen in Politics* and Gender RolesGendered Toys as a Leverage Point*or lack thereof. The Congressional number currently hovers at 19% in the House and 22% in the Senate.What we did■ McKenna – interview■ Amal – interview■ Tatiana – interviews■ Katherine – literature and recommendationsWhat we found■ McKenna’s Interview Found: – A hesitancy with dads to allow their sons to dress up and play with “girl toys”■ Tatiana found: – The CDC is doing everything the research says!– Some reluctance on behalf of parents could indicate that more education on this topic is needed– Showing children stereotypes fosters important discussions and can be just as beneficial as providing them with non-stereotypical toysWhat we have for you…GENCYENDER REVEAL PARTIESDUCATETEREOTYPESAllow kids to have agency!Don’t get roped into the gender-reveal party fad! It only reinforces the gender binary. Life is not as simple as “boy or girl.” Touchdowns or tutus.Educate! Especially dads! Stay up-to-date on the most recent research when/if you have kids.Instead of censoring stereotypes, use them to your advantage. Frame the discussion.BibliographyBartholomaeus, Clare. “‘Girls Can Like Boy Toys: Junior Primary School Children’s Understandings of Feminist Picture Books.”Gender & Education 28, no. 7 (2016): 935 - 950. doi: 10.1080/09540253.2015.1106443.Dinella, Lisa, Weisgram, Erica, and Fulcher, Megan. “Children’s Gender-Typed Toy Interests: Does Propulsion Matter?” Archives ofSexual Behavior 46, no. 5 (2017): 1295-1305. doi: 10.1007/s10508-016-0901-5."How Today's Toys May Be Harming Your Daughter." National Geographic. December 15, 2016. Accessed March 14, 2018. Raag, Tarja. “Influences of Social Expectations of Gender, Gender Stereotypes, and Situational Constraints on Children’s ToyChoices.” Sex Roles 41, no. 11-12 (1999): 809-831. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018828328713.Raag, Tarja, and Rackliff, Christine L. “Preschoolers’ Awareness of Social Expectations of Gender: Relationships to ToyChoices.” Sex Roles 38, no. 9-10 (1998): 685-700. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018890728636.The White House. “Fact Sheet Breaking Down Gender Stereotype.” Obama White House Archives (2016).https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/04/06/factsheet-breaking-down-gender-stereotypesmedia-and-toys-so-our"Why it Matters." Let Toys Be Toys. May 11, 2016. Accessed March 14, 2018. 

Gender and Toys

https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3075&amp;context=furmanengaged

Gender and Toys

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