Cheshta TaterCo-founder, Rightantra Ever since I started educating myself on child rights and welfare, I make it a point to take jibes at my parents on things they should or should not have done while raising me. Not that I have an issue with their parenting but just to pull their leg, as all family members do to one another. Last week, as my mother and I were on our way to a toy store to buy presents for a couple of six-year-olds, I was preparing myself. I had decided to correct my mother the moment she would ask for gifts based on the gender of the children. My plan flopped. The shopkeeper had asked for the age and gender of the children for whom we wanted to buy the toys. Just as I was going to make my remark, my mother told him to show games and toys that were not defined by gender. Just then, I realised that I NEVER had games or toys that prescribed any gender roles. In fact, my mother had even requested people to not gift me any Barbies for my birthdays. I used to play Beyblade with the boys and the boys and I used to play with whatever Barbies I was given by rule-breaking friends. Play and gender were never correlated for me until when I was 10 and some girls at school said to me that I shouldn’t play cricket or football because that is “what boys play”.
Gender Identity and Gender Roles It is evident that assigning gender to any gameplay enforces certain gender roles and qualities, reinforcing stereotypes. The minds of young children are impressionable and gameplay with ‘assigned’ gender boxes people into either of the two rigid categories: male or female. We have learnt that gender is not black or white and neither is it necessary for it to align with the birth-assigned sex. These young minds imbibe the rigid boxes, unable to explore their identity free from stereotypes and outdated norms. British campaign ‘Let Toys Be Toys’ observed that action, construction, science and technology toys are predominantly marketed to boys, while role-play and arts and crafts toys are usually aimed at girls. While children need a safe and reflective space to develop their identities and to counterbalance gender stereotypes, ‘gendered’ gameplay only fosters harmful mindsets and norms. Although awareness about gender identity has increased over the past few years, it is not the primary concern for many parents. We have news for such parents — while simultaneously stifling the growth of one’s sexual orientation, the problem with gendered toys goes beyond. Development of Skills While at the same gift shop, I couldn’t help but notice that some toys/games were extremely violent, e.g.: a ‘missile launcher’. According to the shopkeeper, that was a toy for boys, as were the cars and guns. ‘Male’ toys tend to be aggressive and aim at enhancing visual and spatial skills. On the other hand, ‘female’ toys were all mostly pink or in pastel shades revolving around household chores and aimed at enhancing social skills. For example, Barbies, kitchen sets, make-up games, and jewellery making kits. These toys are advertised in such a manner that confines a gender to a limited set of skills. The range of experiences for each gender is limited, meaning that both the boys and the girls lose out on a variety of skills. In losing these skills, what they gain is an unnatural and abnormal expectation from each gender. Males imbibe violence and females expect violence from males, while females develop a ‘caring’ attitude that the males expect from them, as was found by researcher Megan Mass of Michigan State University. I couldn’t help but notice that only educational games or games for older people did not carry a gender label along. Codename, Cluedo, Monopoly, Scrabble, and Connect4 are some of them. The only reason why toys for children are assigned gender is that the manufacturers, in the 1940s, saw this as an opportunity to make more money. If the toys for boys and girls are separated, parents cannot pass down the toys and have to buy different toys for their girls and their boys. Way Forward While brands like Lego are taking steps to break the dichotomy, many toys continue to be advertised with an assigned gender. Stores continue to separate toys for boys and girls, and colours help make that demarcation. I strongly believe that toys such as ‘missile launchers’ and ‘guns’ don’t do anyone any good. However, having said that, if you think this is an apt toy to give to a boy, it should be apt to give to a girl as well. The analogy applies to other toys/games and to all genders. As a parent, educator, or someone close to a child, try your very best to give toys/games to the child that you know the child will appreciate. Do not force gender norms via gameplay. You can also be like my mother and look beyond advertisements. Get your daughter a Beyblade or a NERF gun, and get a young boy a kitchen set or unicorn slushie. If you are not ready to go to the extremes of breaking gender norms or are purchasing a gift for a child you do not know very well, head for gender-neutral options. Magic sets, science games, jigsaw puzzles, chess, chinese checkers, card games, Monopoly, and the likes can be played by all and are a safe bet. Now you have read everything I couldn’t tell my mother the other day. I’ll sign off here, hoping that you will not encourage the capitalist gender segregation of toys. References and further readings:
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