The Effects of Gendered Toys
The Effects of Gendered Toys Professor Claire Renzetti and filmmaker Daniel Curran examined a study from 1985 by Dr. Roberta Steinbacher and F.D. Gilroy, in which they asked many expectant couples whether they preferred a sex for their unborn children. The vast majority replied they did not care if their unborn child was male or female. Despite this Professor Renzetti and Mr. Curran begin to look at various studies on how the different sexes are raised in families. Professor Renzetti and Daniel Curran discover the children depending on their gender are raised differently. “During early childhood, boys and girls are socialized into unequal genders.” Without trying, parents raise their children starting from day one differently depending on their gender and most of the time it is all done subconsciously. Professor Renzetti and Daniel Curran note this difference in upbringing and offer multiple explanations to why this gender specific upbringing occurs. The stereotyping of gender begins the day of the birth and this can be seen when you ask new parents to describe their babies. Baby boys are described as large and athletic, while baby girls are described as cute and little. These characteristics are easily seen as masculine and feminine. They way parents interact with babies also has an effect on socializing children. Parents are more responsive to baby girls when they talk and interact. They use a lot more emotional words and feelings to talk to daughters. When playing with girls they keep it nice and easy and there is no horseplay. Baby boys though require a lot more effort when trying to get their parents attention. When they do this they are describe as rowdy and parents use the phrase “boys will be boys.” Clothing has a role within gender socialization due to the fact it can either encourage movement or hinder it. “Clothing clearly serves as one of the most basic ways in which parents organize their children’s world along gender-specific lines.” Renzetti and