Hassan Ahmad

Gender Identity Review Questions

What age of boy or girl is the toy aimed at?

The toy excavator truck is aimed at a target audience of boys aged 1 year to 5 years.

​b. What is it about the toy that makes you think it is a boy's toy or a girl's toy?

The color scheme is less entertaining of the idea that it could be a girl’s toy. With the subtle blue,
yellow, and black there is a very dull feeling, compared to most conventional girl’s toys. Girl’s
toys tend to take on brighter tones like purple and pink. Moreover, an excavating truck useually
appeals more to boys, as they are stereotypically said to be involved in such work. Girls toys are
centered around pretend play with dolls, and often warmer objects.
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​c. Is there anything about the toy, in particular, that might make a child of a different sex

​unlikely to play with it?

The toy may relate to certain gender stereotypes regarding the target audience. Members of the
opposite gender may associate the toy with rough activity, typically linked to male behavior. The
color scheme may also refer to the target audience, and may cause members of the opposite
gender to feel that they are breaking the bounds of their own gender role, by playing with the toy.
Moreover, at this age, boys and girls are less exposed to gender roles outside their homes, and
make references to specific roles they see at home (eg. dad is working while mom is at home).

​d. Is the toy likely to develop particular skills or attributes in the child?

The toy, due to its specific link to one gender, does allude to various skills and attributes. These
skills and attributes can be seen as being commonly associated with positive traits that have
value in society, and are ultimately encouraged amongst young children.

​e. If so, what are these skills or attributes?

Skills such as hard work are learned by children playing with this toy. Children may also think
creatively and imaginatively, correlating what they are playing with to what they may see on
television, for example. Children may also develop a sense of spatial awareness through this toy,
understanding certain mechanisms and how certain actions lead to certain effects (eg. lifting a
lever)

Answering these questions, in a well-developed paragraph response, discuss the toy in

The toy excavator truck reinforced gender stereotypes in children due to its alignment and
cohesion with social and gender-based roles. The toy clearly embodies a sense of being better fit
for boys, as compared to girls. This target audience is established due to a variety of factors. For
instance, the design and color scheme of the toy can be linked to color schemes, conventionally
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appropriate for boys. Thus, the company that is manufacturing the toy is clearly focussing their
marketing on boys, comparatively. Also, the toy exhibits an awareness of masculine gender roles
in society. As most children at ages under 5 (target age) are less exposed to external influences
outside their homes, they are more likely to adopt and embrace the gender roles that they see as
being present within their own household or on television/cartoons (eg. Father (man) is the
bread-winner while mother (woman) supports from home). The toy, alluding to skills of spatial
awareness and hard work, through its labor-intensive nature, may also link to stereotypical
gender roles as examined by the child. The toy may also serve as a symbol of further developing
the gender roles of children, as well as their attitude to members of the opposite gender. Overall,
the toy excavator truck is a clear-cut example of how common children’s toys reinforce and
develop stereotyped gender roles.

Even though stores are less likely than previous years to label toys as 'boys' or 'girls' toys,
there is still a gender split in what is bought for either gender. Why do you think this is so?

Despite the reduction of toy labeling in recent years, this schema continues to take shape in
society due to the fact that these norms and societal values are deeply rooted in society, and have
been for many centuries. Thus, parents may still adhere to (unconcerned support) these
stereotypes when choosing toys for their children. Ultimately, there is a huge amount of learning
that takes place in the environment that a child spends with their toys. I believe that toys are stull
being attributed to one specific gender, as a result of our tight-knit attachment to our schemas
and societal values, morals, and beliefs.

What part does this toy play in developing a child's gender identity and socializing her/him
into specific gender roles? Try to link to psychological concepts in your response.

The toy plays a significant role in shaping the gender identity of children. Moreover, the toy
reinforces certain societal stereotypes and values that are associated with masculinity. The skills
that are thought to be taught by this toy are not necessarily harmful for members of the opposite
gender, but rather, less significant for girls, as compared to boys. This idea of gender stereotypes
and gender identity, in general, can be linked to schema theory. The idea that boys have certain
interests, characteristics, and limitations, whilst girls have contradictory ideals, is one that is
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attributed to schemas prevalent in society. Furthermore, the schema theory involves the idea of
internalization, which can be linked to the toy’s role in aligning with values that may be present
within the child, to further assimilate with their schemas.