Toys for girls: dolls, play kitchens, and makeup kits with plenty of pink, purple, and sequins. Toys for boys: building games, superhero figurines, and trucks in primary colours. When it comes to shopping for kids, it’s hard to escape the gender divide.
Toys for girls: dolls, play kitchens, and makeup kits with plenty of pink, purple, and sequins. Toys for boys: building games, superhero figurines, and trucks in primary colours. When it comes to shopping for kids, it’s hard to escape the gender divide.
The practice of labelling toys by gender has been criticized for many years, notably on social media. Today, many stores have dropped gender labels. However, we haven’t crossed the pink-and-blue divide just yet. The next time you walk through a toy store, pay attention to the colours, packaging, and ads used to market each item. How often do you see little girls playing with cars or little boys, with dolls?
Gender-stereotyped toys rose in popularity in the 1990s. “Gendered toys are more common today than they were in the ’70s and ’80s,” says Dr. Francine Descarries, a professor at UQAM’s Department of Sociology. “Think about all the princess toys on the market, or the number of castle and teahouse play sets aimed at young girls.”
Why is the gender distinction so ingrained? It’s first and foremost a marketing issue. “If you buy your daughter a pink bike, you probably won’t ask her to share it with her little brother,” says Dr. Descarries. “You’ll simply buy him his own. When a manufacturer sells two bikes instead of one, they double their profits.”
Are these preferences innate or acquired?
Like many people, you might think that children are naturally drawn to toys that reflect their gender. In reality, choosing gender-specific toys is primarily a learned behaviour.
“At 12 months, all babies—boys and girls—prefer to look at dolls rather than cars,” says Dr. Diane Poulin-Dubois, professor of psychology and member of the Centre for Research in Human Development at Concordia University. “This isn’t surprising, as babies are fascinated by human faces. However, one study that I collaborated on revealed that gender preferences appear at around 18 months. At that age, girls start to prefer dolls and boys start to prefer cars.”
What happens in these short months? “Before a child is even born, their parents and relatives often create a gendered environment,” says educational psychologist Rolande Filion. “The baby’s room, clothes, and toys are all chosen to match their sex.”
Everything that your child experiences, sees, and hears helps shape their personality and their perception of men and women. A child’s preference for gender-specific toys is therefore largely due to social factors. What’s more, research has shown that the brain changes as we learn and experience new things.
“If a child eventually shows a preference for stereotypically gendered toys, it’s often because they’ve been exposed to this type of toy since birth. Girls aren’t born loving princesses, and boys aren’t born loving trucks! These inclinations are social constructions,” says Filion.
Much more than a toy
One of the main issues with gendered toys is that they endorse harmful stereotypes that contribute to gender inequality. Toys marketed to girls are often related to household tasks, infant care, and beauty, whereas those marketed to boys are all about action, exploration, and adventure. “This sends a clear message to children about societal roles and expectations,” says Dr. Descarries. “While girls are taught to take care of others and focus on their appearance, boys are taught to be strong, brave, and dominant.”
According to a study by Dr. Poulin-Dubois and her fellow researchers, infants understand this distinction even before they learn to talk. “Girls aged 18 months and boys aged 23 months can already associate a stereotypically gendered toy to its corresponding gender,” says Dr. Poulin-Dubois.
My child only likes toys that correspond to their gender
If your child has mostly been exposed to toys that “match” their gender, it’s only natural that they prefer them. They’re simply doing what they’ve been taught. But it’s not too late to broaden their horizons and introduce them to something new. To encourage them to use a new toy, try joining in during playtime. Who knows? Your son may love taking care of his teddy bear with Dad! Keep in mind that it’s important to avoid putting pressure on your child. Let them choose whichever toy interests them. |
Focus on variety
A child who is only ever given toys that correspond to their gender may feel pressured to fit into a mould. For example, girls who often play with toys that promote physical attractiveness can develop a negative body image early on, which may negatively impact their self-esteem. Conversely, boys who play with nothing but superhero toys and action games may be more likely to engage in risky behaviours.
Plus, stereotypically gendered toys can limit a child’s interests and influence their future career choices. “One of the reasons we see so few girls studying engineering, architecture, or computer science is because they’re generally not encouraged to play with toys that aren’t labelled as feminine,” says Filion.
Different toys promote different skills. “For example, building blocks improve spatial abilities, while dolls and imitation games develop language and social skills,” says Dr. Poulin-Dubois.
Offering a variety of toys is recommended to support your child’s development and help them reach their full potential. That’s exactly what Véronique Poupart-Monette and her partner are trying to do with their two-year-old, Madeleine, and nine-month-old, Jérôme. “We think it’s important for our kids to play with dolls and hairbrushes as well as trucks and tools. It allows them to discover their own preferences and talents,” says Véronique.
The idea isn’t to prevent girls from playing with dollhouses, or boys from playing with race cars, but to avoid imposing restrictions on their choices. “Toys shouldn’t be gendered,” says Dr. Descarries. “When you give a child a variety of toys, you’re telling them that they can grow up without limitations and become whoever they want to be based on their interests and personality.”
Double standards
When a girl plays with tools or dresses up as a superhero, she’s applauded. Generally, parents and the public want to fight discrimination against girls and offer them every opportunity. But to this day, reactions tend to be negative when a boy plays with a doll.
“Some parents worry that their son will be teased,” says occupational therapist Francine Ferland. Others mistakenly believe that toys can influence sexual orientation. “Sexual orientation is in no way determined or influenced by toys,” says Ferland.
Thankfully, parents are increasingly open when it comes to choosing toys for their sons. Christina D’Alesio and Bruno Tremblay, the parents of two-year-old Matteo and four-month-old Adamo, gave their eldest a doll to prepare him for the birth of his little brother. They also bought him a play kitchen. “Sometimes he pretends to cook meals, but he still prefers playing with his toy cars and building blocks,” they say.
Like girls, boys benefit from being exposed to different experiences. “A big part of a little boy’s life is spent at home, in a domestic environment, but stereotypically masculine toys don’t prepare them for taking care of a younger sibling or sharing household chores,” says Dr. Descarries. “Playing with dolls can help them develop empathy and encourage them to think about others. These skills are essential regardless of gender.”
| Source:Naître et grandir magazine, November–December 2019 Research and copywriting: Nathalie Vallerand Scientific review: Josiane Caron Santha, occupational therapist
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Photos: GettyImages/Doble-d, Diane39, Martin Prescott and Solstock, and Maxim Morin