A Toy Sto
ry The toys children are given when they are young do not ultimately decide who a person becomes; it is through self-discovery that people learn their likes and dislikes. Many kids decide on their own what is their favorite pastime or toy, whether the person is a boy and is given a shiny red fire truck, or a girl who is handed a Barbie doll. In the blog, Outside the (toy) box, MOM decided that the toys that infants and toddlers are given when they are under the age of five will have an everlasting effect on how they view the world and who are they meant to be (MOM, par 11). MOM believes that when her daughter is given a dollhouse she feels the need to give her daughter a tool bench, a doctor’s kit and a basketball hoop (MOM, par 9). She feels little girls are stereotyped when they receive plastic kitchens, princess crowns and dolls. The same might be said when little boys only play with Tonka trucks, K’nex, or train sets. These gifts are passed down from generation to generation and continue to do so (MOM, par 15). Parents such as MOM become offended by toys associated with a certain gender, when most young kids would be happy banging on pots and pans. Apparently by placing these "restrictions" on these children they cannot escape the stereotypes that are placed on them, and will have very difficult adolescent years discovering who they are, or who they are supposed to be.
I am a believer in giving girls Barbie dolls and giving boys fire trucks; it makes sense – that’s how I was raised. Truthfully, I do not even remember if my parents tried to give me a truck or different types of toys, my memory is not too clear when I try and remember back to my toddler years. Honestly, it would feel strange to me if one day I had a son and gave him an Easy Bake Oven or if I had a daughter and gave her Hot Wheels. Unlike MOM, I believe “stereotyping” children has little effect on them when they are older. People have free will and they naturally discover their likes and dislikes. It is not a crime for people to give gender based toys at a young age, “for [my son’s] first birthday…he didn’t have a wish list… or registry…this isn’t what he wanted, this is what others wanted for him, ” (MOM, par 5). There needs to be a start for a gender and if someone wants to “change the rules” they will do that, as they grow older and mature.
Today, many people in the world to do not follow the gender traditional roles, and most likely they were given the stereotypical toys as children; those people that want to change their gender specific identity still figured out who they wanted to become. As stated by MOM, “Gender takes work. The work starts early and requires constant care. It starts at baby showers. It continues to hormone replacement therapy,” (MOM, par 21). If people discover w
Today, many people in the world to do not follow the gender traditional roles, and most likely they were given the stereotypical toys as children; those people that want to change their gender specific identity still figured out who they wanted to become. As stated by MOM, “Gender takes work. The work starts early and requires constant care. It starts at baby showers. It continues to hormone replacement therapy,” (MOM, par 21). If people discover w
hom they are later on in life, whether they know they want to be the stereotypical man or woman, a homosexual, bisexual, or transgender they got to that place on their own and only their inner thoughts told them it was the right path for them – no toy made that impact. People have free will and make decisions and change constantly as they age. Why do people like MOM become so vexed that she says it is, “ rip-my-hair-out frustrating…is there a fire truck gene?” (MOM, par 22).
Some people might believe that giving young children cliché toys for their gender will pigeonhole them and will have issues with their gender for most of their adolescent or adult lives. If a girl is given a truck while her friends have dolls that would cause more confusion than just handing her a Barbie doll. That little girl, whether she had the doll or not will decide who she wants to become as she matures. Humans (at least Americans) have free will and the right to decide the person he or she will become and no fire truck or doll will prevent that path from being taken.
Some people might believe that giving young children cliché toys for their gender will pigeonhole them and will have issues with their gender for most of their adolescent or adult lives. If a girl is given a truck while her friends have dolls that would cause more confusion than just handing her a Barbie doll. That little girl, whether she had the doll or not will decide who she wants to become as she matures. Humans (at least Americans) have free will and the right to decide the person he or she will become and no fire truck or doll will prevent that path from being taken.
MOM. "Little Man. Watching My Son’s Socialization. or “Gender - It’s Wicked Constructed”." Weblog post. Outside the (toy) Box. 2007. 23 Feb. 2009.
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