Comment Re:Gender-neutral play (Score 2, Insightful) 717
The reason your sons migrates to "boy" toys and your daughter migrates to "girl" toys is most likely because of the advertising of the toys, how they're perceived in society, and the role they play in social interaction.
If you look at the marketing, little boys are featured in advertising for "mascuine" toys--building things with blocks and shooting things with guns. Parents are often guided by this and buy the "appropriate" toy for the appropriate sex. When little kids play with their friends of the same sex, these ideas are reinforced by children wanting to fit in and conform to gender roles. Regardless of whether or not you suggest these toys to your children, there are other outside forces that suggest them for you.
When I was younger, I wasn't allowed barbie dolls and all my friends were boys. I played with blocks (legos included, and are still included though I don't fit the 0 to 7 demographic) and trains and the like. Later, when I entered preschool, my girl friends played with barbies which led me to want them. If it wasn't for my friends playing barbie dolls the likelihood is I would have been contented with the toys that I had played with all along.
The point being, kids will play with what they're given and what their friends have; their genes don't naturally draw them to what gender role defines as gender appropriate toys for boys and girls.
If you look at the marketing, little boys are featured in advertising for "mascuine" toys--building things with blocks and shooting things with guns. Parents are often guided by this and buy the "appropriate" toy for the appropriate sex. When little kids play with their friends of the same sex, these ideas are reinforced by children wanting to fit in and conform to gender roles. Regardless of whether or not you suggest these toys to your children, there are other outside forces that suggest them for you.
When I was younger, I wasn't allowed barbie dolls and all my friends were boys. I played with blocks (legos included, and are still included though I don't fit the 0 to 7 demographic) and trains and the like. Later, when I entered preschool, my girl friends played with barbies which led me to want them. If it wasn't for my friends playing barbie dolls the likelihood is I would have been contented with the toys that I had played with all along.
The point being, kids will play with what they're given and what their friends have; their genes don't naturally draw them to what gender role defines as gender appropriate toys for boys and girls.
