In order to complete this project, a visit to the KayBee Toy store located in the Mountaineer Mall in Morgantown, West Virginia was required. The store carries a variety of toys encompassing all ages and preferences. For example, one can find gender-specific, educational, computer-oriented, and make- believe toys, as well as art supplies once inside.
The store is arranged so that the toys are separated by age, orientation, and gender. Located in the farthest right aisle of the store, are toys specially marketed towards young females. This aisle is lined with Barbie dolls, makeup sets, shopping carts, and tea sets. The next aisle over is designed for the youngest customers. The next aisle to the left is a showcase of action figures, weapons, and toy cars resembling any little boy's Christmas list. The last aisle in the store, the farthest to the left, contains board games, computer software games, and puzzles from ceiling to floor. This is the only aisle in the store that does not have merchandise separated by gender or age.
The most recently released, and perhaps highly sought after toys are conveniently located at the front of the store. Examples of these are action figures and stuffed animals from the recently released movie Monsters, Inc. Toys from the highly anticipated movie, Harry Potter, were placed in the center of the store and right beside the register. It was unclear if this was done so that shoppers and children could easily spot these toys or if it was meant to deter theft. Other tactics used to leer foot traffic down the heavily stocked aisles were the strategic placing of enticing items at the aisle entranceways. For the predominantly feminine aisle, the latest Barbie dolls and expensive model cars leading the way to the primarily masculine aisle.
The general make up of the store's inventory appeared to be somewhat one sided. It remains that toys of all kinds can be purchased from this KayBee Store, but the amount of toys targeted at young males significantly outnumbered the amount of toys for young females.
Toys can have a major impact on a child's life. Most toys for children are not created to be gender related, but the way the child interacts with them, influences what they learn. ... When I was a child one of my favorite toys that I played with were Legos. ... Roberto Araujo when he stated, "any toys are good, except for large ones." ... Clearly, legos is a good toy for a parent to provide their child with. ...
The researchers expected that masculine and feminine stereotyped toys would elicit different patterns of play and interaction regardless of parent or child gender. ... There were toys selected to represent feminine, masculine, and gender-neutral categories based on earlier studies. ... The toy type, but not the gender of parent or child, was generally related to parents" verbalizations. ... Neutral toys elicited more praise and teaching than the other toy types. ... One major finding was that sex-stereotyped toys had clear effects on the nature of parent-child interaction, irrespective o...
Well, if so you'll be able to clearly distinguish two major categories in your toy store; "boy toys " and "girl toys. " For as long as we can remember growing up as a little boy or little girl, we would always want the toys that best fit our gender most, but what made us understand what toys is for what gender? ... In order to understand how gender socialization and stratification are enforced in society through toys it is crucial to understand what gender socialization and stratification is exactly. These two definitions go hand and hand, "Gender socialization is the process through whic...
Ethnicity and Gender At the beginning of this essay it will help you the reader to know and understand the differences in 4 terms. These terms are Race, Ethnicity, Sex and Gender. ... Gender is defined as "learned behaviors involving how we are expected to behave as males and females in society." ... This information raises the question: How do toys influence children's understanding of their own gender and ethnicity? ... This is a key factor in establishing their gender roles in society. ...
In the middle of the store however, there was the toys that were made for both genders to play with. It was almost like they purposely separated the boys and girls toys from each other so that the neither gender would wander over to toys designed for the opposite gender. ... The toys in the middle were either soccer balls, basketballs, multi-gender board games, or play sets. ... These toys play a huge role in the process of gender socialization. ... The toys also play a crucial role in the gender identity aspect. ...
I even found a toy that I thought was extremely gender-biased, basically it was a baby born girl that you take care of by changing its diapers and feeding it. ... None of the toys encouraged them to break the norms or the rules, and instead they encouraged conformity to social norms, and gender roles. ... They use gender to market the toys, and they use the toys for reinforcing the stereotypical beliefs of men and women in society. ... In the end, we can clearly see that there are actual differences between the toys and how they dictate certain gender roles to them. Kids are affected by these ...
Society has influence children's gender development. ... Cinderella has several gender rolls as well. ... Disney movies don't as well influence children gender development, but so do toys. Toys support different gender rolls that are affecting children's mentality. ... This is why children distinguish their gender roll in toys. ...
LEGO, which recently passed Mattel as the worlds largest toy maker, was one of the first companies to adopt the movement of marketing certain toys toward certain genders. ... Lego's are a gender neutral toy, but certain lines such as Lego Friends, which is more directed to a female gender. ... This toy is located in the children's section of a toy store. ... "Adults who subscribe to more traditional, conservative gender roles see children's preferences for stereotypical clothing and toys as natural expressions of innate differences," Paoletti says (Hains 1). ... Lego&...
In order words will children play with the toys, which are thought of, as traditional toys depending on their gender? ... Through observing the children I could see which toys the children played with and also how they reacted when playing with the particular toy. ... Watching these children communicate their feelings through play will help to confirm gender role socialisation. ... Before children start school they have already been influenced into what gender role they should be. ... It was the children's choice of toys and their reaction to the toys which was monitored. ...