Exploration Paper
Does Gender Matter in Play? “Despite current applause for gender equality, children seem to be stereotypically sex-typed as those of yesteryear”. (Joannie M. Schrof). People tolerate differences by generalizing individuals into a group. These are known as stereotypes, some are negative and some are positive. Early gender bias experiences that children encounter can shape their attitudes and beliefs, access education equality, participation in the corporate work world, as well as stifling their physical and psychological well-being (Hendricks and Wei, 2009). Between the ages of 3-5 years, children develop their gender identity and start to understand what it means to be male or female. Preschool educators can help children develop a positive sense of their own gender. Children strive to group …show more content…
Child’s play is also determined by prenatal development. In a study of fetal testosterone, researchers were able to measure hormone levels in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women. After the children were born they tracked them for several years after birth. Testosterone levels were higher in male fetuses, but the female fetuses had levels of some testosterone. The higher the levels of testosterone were linked to rough-and-tumble play (Auyeung et al 2009). They say that if you add more male hormones to boys then they will engage in a rough and tumble play that is a lot rougher than usual, but if you take some male hormones out of girls then they will engage in a little less boy type play. Toys don’t define themselves as boy toys or girl toys they are just toys. There are studies that suggest that boys prefer to play with boy toys whereas girls don’t have a preference as to what toys they play with. Girls tend to be gender neutral when it comes to toys until they are 5 whereas some boys know the types of toys they should be playing with according societies
Does Gender Matter in Play? “Despite current applause for gender equality, children seem to be stereotypically sex-typed as those of yesteryear”. (Joannie M. Schrof). People tolerate differences by generalizing individuals into a group. These are known as stereotypes, some are negative and some are positive. Early gender bias experiences that children encounter can shape their attitudes and beliefs, access education equality, participation in the corporate work world, as well as stifling their physical and psychological well-being (Hendricks and Wei, 2009). Between the ages of 3-5 years, children develop their gender identity and start to understand what it means to be male or female. Preschool educators can help children develop a positive sense of their own gender. Children strive to group …show more content…
Child’s play is also determined by prenatal development. In a study of fetal testosterone, researchers were able to measure hormone levels in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women. After the children were born they tracked them for several years after birth. Testosterone levels were higher in male fetuses, but the female fetuses had levels of some testosterone. The higher the levels of testosterone were linked to rough-and-tumble play (Auyeung et al 2009). They say that if you add more male hormones to boys then they will engage in a rough and tumble play that is a lot rougher than usual, but if you take some male hormones out of girls then they will engage in a little less boy type play. Toys don’t define themselves as boy toys or girl toys they are just toys. There are studies that suggest that boys prefer to play with boy toys whereas girls don’t have a preference as to what toys they play with. Girls tend to be gender neutral when it comes to toys until they are 5 whereas some boys know the types of toys they should be playing with according societies