Op-ed Toy Refelction - Emily Wilburn

Today in seminar, we discussed how toys are being marketed and the gender stereotypes around them. We talked about how companies showed advertisements with boys and girls playing together whether it be a science kit or a kitchen set in the past, but now they're more divided. Nerf designed a play gun that was pink and covered in flowers that are considered the 'girly' version, what this did is add more separation, it did not make the toy itself more inclusive. Something that came up that I found very interesting was this idea that a girl can play with a boys toy and be considered 'cool' or a 'tomboy' but the second a boy picks up a toy that is designed for girls he considered not manly enough. Why do we all have this common concept in mind? Is it because this is how we see the toys and items advertised? Is it what we tell ourselves because our bodies are built differently? Or is it because of what our parents are constantly telling us? If parents were to give their children more options when it came to what they can or cannot play with, toy companies would make more inclusive products. In conclusion, I feel that any child should be able to play with any toy they would like, and society needs to stop bullying children by telling them what is seen as right and wrong.

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