Not sure if (a) kids prefer more gendered toys… and parents learn the preference, or (b) parents prefer to buy their kids more gendered toys… and kids learn to identify with that.
If I had to make a guess (without any real data), I would guess that many children would object to strongly genered toy for the opposite sex, but most children would be okay with a non-gendered toy. That is, a boy would probably refuse a pink barbie, but would be okay with a puzzle; and a girl would refuse a mechanical fighting warrior, but would be okay with a puzzle. (Okay, maybe puzzle is not the best example.)
Well, we would need data on how many parents complain vs how many parents buy a strongly gendered toy when an less gendered alternative is available.
Because, you know, anytime something politically incorrect happens, someone will complain, and maybe even write a clickbait article. But how do people vote with their wallets?
I admit I don’t know. Situations like this often seem to me like chicked-and-egg problems, where producers say “we have to make what people buy, and people buy X”, while consumers say “if it isn’t in the shop, I can’t buy it, and the shops usually only have X”.
I admit I don’t know. Situations like this often seem to me like chicked-and-egg problems, where producers say “we have to make what people buy, and people buy X”, while consumers say “if it isn’t in the shop, I can’t buy it, and the shops usually only have X”.
Producers make more complicated decisions. They also care about marketing and branding.
Oh sure they can be shared. If the child overcomes the patterns impetus. Can be creativity, counter signalling or a lot of other reasons. But that is not the default.
My Little Pony says you’re wrong.
I don’t know the percentages. I do not know a single person or child playing with my little pony.
Not sure if (a) kids prefer more gendered toys… and parents learn the preference, or (b) parents prefer to buy their kids more gendered toys… and kids learn to identify with that.
If I had to make a guess (without any real data), I would guess that many children would object to strongly genered toy for the opposite sex, but most children would be okay with a non-gendered toy. That is, a boy would probably refuse a pink barbie, but would be okay with a puzzle; and a girl would refuse a mechanical fighting warrior, but would be okay with a puzzle. (Okay, maybe puzzle is not the best example.)
I’ve seen complaints about toys being much more strongly gendered than they were a few decades ago.
Well, we would need data on how many parents complain vs how many parents buy a strongly gendered toy when an less gendered alternative is available.
Because, you know, anytime something politically incorrect happens, someone will complain, and maybe even write a clickbait article. But how do people vote with their wallets?
I admit I don’t know. Situations like this often seem to me like chicked-and-egg problems, where producers say “we have to make what people buy, and people buy X”, while consumers say “if it isn’t in the shop, I can’t buy it, and the shops usually only have X”.
Producers make more complicated decisions. They also care about marketing and branding.
I agree with your last paragraph.
Puzzle used to be a good example. But nowadays you have puzzles with pink ponys and puzzles with fighting warriors...
These cannot be shared any more.
My Little Pony says you’re wrong.
Oh sure they can be shared. If the child overcomes the patterns impetus. Can be creativity, counter signalling or a lot of other reasons. But that is not the default.
I don’t know the percentages. I do not know a single person or child playing with my little pony.
Google up “Bronies” :-)
That doesn’t give percentages. Looks more like a fringe thing.