Barthes’s essay ‘Toys’

Barthes said that toys illustrate the world in miniature to prepare the kids for
the adult life and I totally agree with this. I think that toys could play a larger role
than just a form of entertainment in a child’s life. Toys can make a child think
subconsciously that he or she must achieve the lifestyle that is induced. Parents
usually buy toys to keep the child busy but in fact, the child imaginary create a
world in which he’s a grown-up person with a job and other responsibilities.
I want to talk about the difference between this called ‘boys and girls toys’. I
don’t think that there should be such thing as toys for girls and toys for boys. Girls
can play with weapons and soldiers too, and also boys can play with baby dolls.
The baby dolls induce the mom role for a little girl, but it can also induce the dad
role for a little boy, it’s not like only moms change a baby’s diaper, feeds him,
takes care of him. Sometimes moms need a break and it is dads turn to take care of
the baby.
Also a puzzle shows an image of an already contoured world. All is left to
do for the child is to assemble the puzzle piece by piece. What I am trying to say is
that not only puzzles, but toys in general tend to give some life goals and kids in
their process of growing try to reach them. Those life goals are not referring to a
career necessary. For example, dolls are all the same, beautiful women in
miniature, all skinny, with gorgeous hair and very nice clothes. Little girls playing
with dolls would want to look like that when they become women. This world is
trying to make everybody look the same, not many people or countries encourage
originality and simply being yourself which can cause bullying.