{"id":13336,"date":"2019-09-12T16:58:29","date_gmt":"2019-09-12T11:28:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.nextgurukul.in\/thenextworld\/?p=13336"},"modified":"2019-09-12T16:58:31","modified_gmt":"2019-09-12T11:28:31","slug":"gendering-toys-not-anymore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.nextgurukul.in\/thenextworld\/gendering-toys-not-anymore\/","title":{"rendered":"Gendering Toys \u2013 Not Anymore"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Don\u2019t try to influence children\u2019s natural interests \u2013 it limits their imagination and inhibits their growth<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best way to make learning effective is to make it fun, and what\u2019s more fun to toddlers than play? This is why playtime is a very important part of the preschool routine, as various toys can be used to teach children about different birds, animals, colours, shapes, movements, and other aspects of daily life. However, over time, it has become an accepted practice for certain kinds of toys to be considered \u2018appropriate\u2019 for girls and certain kinds for boys. Adults tend to have the fear that playing with toys \u2018meant\u2019 for the opposite sex could skew the accepted notions of masculinity and feminity, and predispose them to develop homosexual behaviour later in their lives.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, paediatrician Dr Alan Greene has observed that almost all healthy toddlers copy the behaviour of the opposite gender. In fact, a study conducted by the Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics found that 22.8% of boys and 38.6% of girls exhibited 10 or more gender-atypical behaviours.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue for boys, pink for girls<\/strong>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toy stores and even sweets like Kinder Joy are segregated on the basis of gender. \u2018Blue for boys\u2019 and \u2018pink for girls\u2019 serves as the general colour scheme for different kinds of toys for different genders. Dolls, miniature cookware sets, tiny mirrors, combs, fake make-up, beads, stickers of \u2018feminine\u2019 things like flowers and butterflies are usually given to girls, whereas boys get \u2018tougher\u2019 toys like train sets, action figures, building blocks, etc. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is rare to see girls being encouraged to play with \u2018masculine\u2019 toys, and it is equally sad to see boys being openly taunted and scolded for showing interest in dolls, cooking sets, and other such \u2018feminine\u2019 toys.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Girls\u2019 place not just at home<\/strong>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children have impressionable minds, and they are at an age where they can form notions that may stay with them for life. For this reason, it is important to raise them as broad-minded individuals and do away with gender binaries that have the potential to enforce stereotypes or any sort of discrimination whatsoever.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giving girls only make-up kits, cookware sets, etc. builds the notion in both girls and boys that it is their role to do domestic chores, be submissive, and give more attention to their looks than boys. In the quest to gender toys, certain toys like Barbie dolls are given exaggeratedly feminine traits.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being \u2018man\u2019 enough as a toddler?<\/strong>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the other end of the spectrum, boys are given hypermasculine toys, having bulging muscles and displaying fierce expressions, as seen in GI Joe action figures. This can set the precedent for distorted notions like \u2018boys must be strong,\u2019 and \u2018men must be muscular.\u2019 It is also shocking to see how casually boys are given toy guns to play with, as if to encourage them to take an interest in violence.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The solution<\/strong>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some points for preschools to follow during playtime, which may even out the playing field (literally) and help children play according to their natural interests, instead of being bound by gender stereotypes:
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Mix \u2018girls\u2019 toys, like cookware sets and dolls,  with those of \u2018boys\u2019, like train sets, building blocks, etc. together in a common play area, and let the children choose for themselves. If a boy picks up a girls\u2019 toy or vice versa, let them play with it. Don\u2019t take it away or redirect them to a more \u2018appropriate\u2019 one. Otherwise, this will inculcate homophobic and sexist tendencies from a young age.<\/li>
  • Provide gender-neutral toys, like board games, doctor kits, stuffed animals, Play-Doh, etc. that do not enforce any gender roles.<\/li>
  • Encourage girls to play with profession-oriented toys, such as doctor kits, and games like student-teacher imitation, etc. This will instil a sense of ambition in them from a young age, and normalise the need to pursue a career rather than just remain in the domestic space.<\/li>
  • Similarly, encourage boys to play with more domestic toys, like cookware sets, so that they understand from a young age that there is no shame in being a male who can cook. In fact, it is rather important for them to learn this important skill and not think of it as a girl thing. When they are taught such values from an early age, they will grow up to be open-minded, independent individuals who are not solely dependent on women for food and other domestic chores. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    It is important for teachers to keep an open mind and understand that their objective is to teach children to be good people rather than \u2018good girls\u2019 or \u2018good boys\u2019. It is advisable to conduct gender sensitisation workshops for teachers and help them move beyond gender binaries in the school setting.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n


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    Don\u2019t try to influence children\u2019s natural interests \u2013 it limits their imagination and inhibits their growth The best way to make learning effective is to make it fun, and what\u2019s more fun to toddlers than play? 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