Influence of Toys on Gender Segregation
Introduction
In the contemporary society children toys are mainly gender segregated to confirm to the societal stereotypes of Masculinity, femininity and gender roles. As a child grows they are exposed to a society that expects them to conform to the assigned gender roles and stereotypes in accordance to their choice of games and toys. This paper analyses how toys influence gender segregation through Kohlberg’s cognitive development theory of Gender identity, stability and consistency (Kohlberg, 1966). As children grow through play and toys they develop their gender identity based on the nature of play and toys that are socially acceptable to their gender at birth. Through gender stereotyping that is …show more content…
Furthermore some toys are distinctly marked in their packages to be suitable for either girls or boys. As previously stated pink as a color is dominantly used for girls’ toys and the girls’ toys aisle in a typical toy store is pink. On the other hand blue and black dominate boys toys and aisle, as one enters a store he or she can clearly identify which aisle is likely to contain boys or girls toys.
Toy retailers and manufacturers use stereotypes in their marketing of toys because this strategy enables them to segment the different market niches to satisfy the needs of each need according to societal stereotypes. The social stereotyping according to Kohlberg’s cognitive development theory that enables children to develop gender identity and gender stability. As the child grows up he or she is capable of realizing their gender based on the toys they are expected to play with, it is through this play and toys that a child identifies what is socially acceptable for a boy and what is for a girl and learn that what is considered social acceptable for a particular gender is not necessarily acceptable to another gender (Kohlberg, …show more content…
When children are restricted to use certain toys or play certain games that the society perceives to conform to their specific gender roles they are not capable of exploring their abilities or realizing their talents more sore if these capabilities do not conform to their gender roles. Science has clearly proven that apart from biological capabilities both males and females have equal physical and mental abilities therefore children should be given and equal opportunity to develop psychological without the constraints that arise out of societal stereotypes of gender roles and
Introduction
In the contemporary society children toys are mainly gender segregated to confirm to the societal stereotypes of Masculinity, femininity and gender roles. As a child grows they are exposed to a society that expects them to conform to the assigned gender roles and stereotypes in accordance to their choice of games and toys. This paper analyses how toys influence gender segregation through Kohlberg’s cognitive development theory of Gender identity, stability and consistency (Kohlberg, 1966). As children grow through play and toys they develop their gender identity based on the nature of play and toys that are socially acceptable to their gender at birth. Through gender stereotyping that is …show more content…
Furthermore some toys are distinctly marked in their packages to be suitable for either girls or boys. As previously stated pink as a color is dominantly used for girls’ toys and the girls’ toys aisle in a typical toy store is pink. On the other hand blue and black dominate boys toys and aisle, as one enters a store he or she can clearly identify which aisle is likely to contain boys or girls toys.
Toy retailers and manufacturers use stereotypes in their marketing of toys because this strategy enables them to segment the different market niches to satisfy the needs of each need according to societal stereotypes. The social stereotyping according to Kohlberg’s cognitive development theory that enables children to develop gender identity and gender stability. As the child grows up he or she is capable of realizing their gender based on the toys they are expected to play with, it is through this play and toys that a child identifies what is socially acceptable for a boy and what is for a girl and learn that what is considered social acceptable for a particular gender is not necessarily acceptable to another gender (Kohlberg, …show more content…
When children are restricted to use certain toys or play certain games that the society perceives to conform to their specific gender roles they are not capable of exploring their abilities or realizing their talents more sore if these capabilities do not conform to their gender roles. Science has clearly proven that apart from biological capabilities both males and females have equal physical and mental abilities therefore children should be given and equal opportunity to develop psychological without the constraints that arise out of societal stereotypes of gender roles and