Emory Toy Op-ed Reflection
Emory Ying
Mr Roddy
IHSS
1 October 2018
Today toys are seen and made for a specific gender. That needs to change. Part of the reason for this is obviously the way toys are made but also the way they're advertised. The commercials for any toy is always based on the gender. For example in Nerf, all their commercials always only have one gender in it to make it clear, "hey this toy is only for a girl/boy". Making it friendly to any gender doesn't mean a child shouldn't pick a pink toy if their a girl it just means that people need to make it clear that it doesn't matter what toy you pick because its for all genders. The parents can help by making sure the child feels safe with whatever toy they choose and be supportive. As well as the commercials being more gender friendly. Not saying that you can't keep the same colors or designs for the toys but making it sure the commercial says, "Hey this is a super fun toy for all genders". That being said toys are also made very segregated. For example in the 1900s they made toys for girls and guys to collaborate and work together maybe as a doctor verses now they make the same toy but one is for a girl and one is for a guy and one says Nurse and its also pink, wheres the other one says Doctor and its blue. I think you can guess which gender is which. Those are the problems with the factories and shops but their not the only ones that need to change. People's mindsets are where there are separated toys for girls and guys. Its like there is a line where girls and guys can't cross to the other side with the other toys. Let's say if a girl likes a nerf gun and takes it to play with her friends who all have dolls what do you think will happen. Well that sweet little girl will be told she can't play with them because she doesn't have a doll. Now let's say she goes to play with the guys who also have nerf gun. This sweet girl who just wants a friend to play with will also be kicked out by the guys because she's a girl and "doesn't belong with the big boys". A way to fix this is first parents need to be supportive of any toy a child chooses but also explain to them the way society is to prepare them. But the toy companies need to show kids that every toy is for anybody regardless of gender because kids aren't dumb and even they can see there's a certain "norm" for what kids can choose toy wise. Kids shouldn't have to worry about their choice in toys, they should embrace themselves without fear.
Mr Roddy
IHSS
1 October 2018
Today toys are seen and made for a specific gender. That needs to change. Part of the reason for this is obviously the way toys are made but also the way they're advertised. The commercials for any toy is always based on the gender. For example in Nerf, all their commercials always only have one gender in it to make it clear, "hey this toy is only for a girl/boy". Making it friendly to any gender doesn't mean a child shouldn't pick a pink toy if their a girl it just means that people need to make it clear that it doesn't matter what toy you pick because its for all genders. The parents can help by making sure the child feels safe with whatever toy they choose and be supportive. As well as the commercials being more gender friendly. Not saying that you can't keep the same colors or designs for the toys but making it sure the commercial says, "Hey this is a super fun toy for all genders". That being said toys are also made very segregated. For example in the 1900s they made toys for girls and guys to collaborate and work together maybe as a doctor verses now they make the same toy but one is for a girl and one is for a guy and one says Nurse and its also pink, wheres the other one says Doctor and its blue. I think you can guess which gender is which. Those are the problems with the factories and shops but their not the only ones that need to change. People's mindsets are where there are separated toys for girls and guys. Its like there is a line where girls and guys can't cross to the other side with the other toys. Let's say if a girl likes a nerf gun and takes it to play with her friends who all have dolls what do you think will happen. Well that sweet little girl will be told she can't play with them because she doesn't have a doll. Now let's say she goes to play with the guys who also have nerf gun. This sweet girl who just wants a friend to play with will also be kicked out by the guys because she's a girl and "doesn't belong with the big boys". A way to fix this is first parents need to be supportive of any toy a child chooses but also explain to them the way society is to prepare them. But the toy companies need to show kids that every toy is for anybody regardless of gender because kids aren't dumb and even they can see there's a certain "norm" for what kids can choose toy wise. Kids shouldn't have to worry about their choice in toys, they should embrace themselves without fear.
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