Question

What do children's toys teach kids about gender norms? What does playing house and with dolls contribute to girls' socialization with regard to gender norms related to the "private sphere," "reproduction," and the idea of nurturing? Why are boys' toys about adventure and machines in contrast to the activities emphasized by girls' toys? What is this teaching kids about gender difference? What gender stereotypes do toys promote?

Answer 1

Men are from Mars and women are from Venus is the popular quote which begins the gender difference. Toys for long were the reflections of the gender roles such as cars, guns etc. for boys and cooking toys, angel toys etc. for girls. Colour coding such as blue for boys and pink for girls was also insisted. Men were always shown as brave, strong and aggressive while women were shown as soft, caring and submissive. This was true until few years ago but today more women have started working and they are as strong as men but in terms of children, the division in terms of the toys is still prevalent and it’s brought to the society and homes by the popular culture, the media.