Gender Socialization Among Children

In our society, there are norms of what is considered to be feminine and what is to be considered masculine, but how are these norms constructed? Through the use of toys, books, and clothing, children are socialized into their “appropriate” gender. These objects provide influence over behavior and appearance, showing boys and girls what is appropriate for each gender. After some investigation it was found that the toys, books, and clothing that children use not only foster the norms of gender behavior and appearance, but also construct gender roles in their young minds. Toys play a major role in socializing young kinds into “appropriate” gender roles. The first obvious characteristic that separates toys for boys and toys for girls, is the use of colors. As customers walk into a toy store, they can easily spot the girl section. The girls aisle is the most pink you will ever see in a single area of a store. The aisle is filled with butterflies, unicorns, and dolls; everything any girl can imagine that would make her feel like a little princess. But why and how do these characteristics define femininity? The boys aisle screams masculinity with the bold colors of blue and green, along with the macho action figures that carry little weapons. How and why do these characteristics teach boys to be masculine?
Toys get kids at a young age and socialized them into their “appropriate” gender roles by appearance and use of the toys. “Toys and games are an especially influential source of gender information parents provide their children” (Newman 133). The obvious appearance of color separates girl toys from boy toys. Boy toys also appear to be loud, active, and a little scary. These toys teach young boys what it is to be “masculine”. The loud toys makes boys believe that it’s okay for them to be as loud as they want. Dinosaurs were a big motif in toys for younger boys. Aren’t dinosaurs a little scary? I’m sure if anyone saw a real dinosaur in real life

Bibliography: Lipsyte, Robert (2001). Los Angeles Times, pp. C23, 24, “Finally, A Memorable Victory.” Lorber, Judith (1993). Paradoxes of Gender, pp. 3-15 and 17-27, “Night to His Day.” Yale University Press. No. 11, pp. 99-112 in Mapping the Social Landscape: Readings in Sociology (1999), Susan J. Ferguson, ed. Mountain View, CA. Mayfield Publishing Company. Newman, David M. (1997). “The Socialization of Gender,” pp. 127-139, from Chapter 5. “Building Identity The Social Construction of Self,” in Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life. Thousand Oaks, California Pine Forge Press. Shore, Robin (2001). Bitch Magazine, no. 13, p. 17, “Mattelin’ Them Off.” West, Candace and Don Zimmerman (1991). The Social Construction of Gender, eds. Lorber and Farrell, pp. 13-37, “Doing Gender.” Newbury Park, Sage Publications.