Question

or this week's discussion, you will share your observations about the types of merchandise made for children and marketed to children at Target (or Wal-mart, K-Mart, Toys-R-Us, or Amazon).  

• Browsing the website of the store of your choice. You will look at a total of TWO departments based on the following choices:

1. Clothing OR Toys;

2. One area from: birthday cards; bath and bedding; computer games; books; music; health and beauty; party ware and gift wrap; greeting cards;

• While you are (virtually) at different departments of the store, record and post what you observe about gender, such as:

1. In each department, is the merchandise gendered (divided into “girls” and “boys” products) or gender neutral?
2. What types of merchandise are for girls? What types are for boys? What types are for both?
3. What are the images, colors, etc. that seem associated with gender?
4. Are there equal numbers of “boy” and “girl” products? What is the ratio of “neutral” products to “gendered” products?
5. What are the implications of the gendering of the merchandise? What are the messages the merchandise might give to boys and girls?

Answer 1

1). Department 1 product mentioned above clothes and toys are mostly divided on gender basis.

Department 2 products contains cards, books, music etc which are gender neutral.

2) Computer games, car toys, are for boys.

Doll toys, beauty products are for girls.

3) Blue color are mostly associated to boys and pink color is associated to girls.

4) Gendering of merchandise is required to sort the product on basis of customer preference and easy buying experience.