In: Psychology
Summary of the article the White House takes aim at toys that perpetuate gender stereotypes by Maya Rhoda
The article is all about the way the role of toys and the media playing in gender stereotype and shifting the way media and toys present gendered images to young people.
In the article the Maya Rhoda states that research has highlighted that the toys kids play with and the media they consume has a real impact on the skills and interests they develop over their lifetimes. Children are quick to absorb norms and expectations. They pick up information about gender roles from the toys they are encouraged, or discouraged, to play with and it reinforces gender stereotypes in children.
The author states that Tina Tchen, the executive director of the White House Council of Women and Girls, stated that “We think it’s important for children’s media and toys to expose kids to diverse role models and teach them a variety of skills and Tina Tchen also mentioned that \companies like Goldie Blox have won praise for marketing construction as an activity open to girls and boys, some department stores have come under fire for promoting gendered messaging in their toy aisles.
White House is joining the conversation by championing the idea that breaking down gender stereotypes for which the toys with which children are playing and the media has a great role to play in. As a part of this program several organizations and companies—including Netflix, Girl Scouts, Discovery Communications and TIME for Kids (a sibling publication of TIME and Motto)—have announced new efforts to present diverse images to kids confronting to gender stereotypes.
Traditional gender stereotypes perpetuated in movies, on TV and in the design and marketing of toys and games do not only affect girls. They also affect boys and finally confronting to gender stereotypes. Thus there is a need of an hour to transform the way of toys with which children are playing and the media and channelizing them in the way which will lead to free the minds of the children from the thought of gender stereotypes.