GIRLS TO RULE THE WORLD (CAUSE “THAT’S ALL WE REALLY NEED IS GIRLS”)

How feminist groups have the right idea but the wrong approach towards equality(i.e. Goldie Blox)

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS KIND OF ADVERTISING?

Ridding the world of “gender-specific toys” by selling… gender-specific toysSold in a pink boxPromoted by a golden-haired, modern

day Rosie the RiveterThe product is comprised of pink

ribbon, spools (sewing?), and of course puppies and kittens

All while bashing the “pink and pretty” toys that a lot of girls actually enjoy playing with

Can you spot the

difference?

ONE OF THE MANY FIERY COMMENTS FROM THE VIEWERS OF THIS PARTICULAR VIDEO

…AS BALLERINAS AND FAIRIES?

ANOTHER GOOD POINT MADE BY A VIEWER

DO THEY HAVE A POINT? I SAY YES.If children's opportunities tend to be restricted to gender-

typed (and neutral) activities, then comparing the behavioral content of different activities can reveal relevant aspects of the gender-typing process. In other words, children's participation in particular types of activities can shape the types of behaviors that they are apt to practice. To the extent that girls are encouraged more than boys to participate in play activities that emphasize collaborative role play (e.g., toy food sets), then girls are also being provided more opportunities to practice affiliative skills than boys are. Therefore, parents and teachers interested in fostering social-relational competence in boys may want to encourage play with toys and in activities that involve social-role play and reciprocal collaborative interchanges. Active participation in both expressive and instrumental play activities will help provide children with opportunities to develop a broader range of preferences and skills. Furthermore, breaking down gender boundaries that limit opportunities during childhood may reduce gender inequities in status and power during adulthood.

- Campbell Leaper, U California, Dept of Psychology

SO WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?

K’NEX is a great example of a company that has done it the right way. They make a gender neutral toy that offers FAR MORE engineering capabilities than any Goldie Blox toy ever could.

LIKE LEAPER SAID…

In order to break down the boundaries of gender inequalities at adulthood, it is necessary to expose the children to a wide variety of toys requiring both communication skills and ingenuity. This way, they have a wider range of skills at a young age and are able to choose for themselves where they want to go and what they’d like to do. We should be promoting gender neutral toys: K’NEX, Lego's, puzzles and board games. How about we allow the children to make their own games? What ever happened to going outside and creating your own imagined world to play in with your friends? Foursquare, basketball, COPS AND ROBBERS!, trampolines, swing sets! These are all things which promote creativity, playing, and most of all, individualism. Kids bring everything to the game; they aren’t being force-fed gender roles by what color their toys are any longer.

WORKS CITED

“Easy-Bake Oven.” Photograph. TheStrong.org. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

GoldieBlox, prod. “GoldieBlox, Rube Goldberg, & Beastie Boys “Princess Machine” (a concert

for little girls).” YouTube. YouTube, 17 Nov. 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.

“K’NEX Models by Katie.” Photograph. Knex.com. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

“Mega Bloks Barbie Build n’ Play Horse Stable.” Photograph. Megabloks.com. 30 Aug. 2013.

Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

“My Little Pony.” Photograph. Asmvine.com. 2012. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

Sterling, Debbie. Goldie Blox. Goldie Blox Inc., 2013. Web. 23 Nov. 2013