Right from the time they’re born, we assign colours to our children. Pink to announce the birth of a girl. Blue for a boy. Perhaps a small percentage of us throw yellow into the mix to show that we aren’t sexist. Clothes for children have separate sections segregated by gender. You certainly won’t find a taffeta pink item in the boy’s section! This attitude percolates down to toys and activities as well. For the first few years at least, it is parents who drive children and influence their choice of toys, and the tendency is to opt for those that adhere to traditional norms.
According to a survey conducted by Pew Research, 76 per cent of people are in favour of girls veering towards toys and activities traditionally associated with boys. However, only 64 per cent are in favour of steering boys toward toys and activities that are traditionally associated with girls.
Psychologists Lisa Dinella and Erica Weisgram have co-edited ‘Gender Typing of Children’s Toys: How Early Play Experiences Impact Development’. They spoke of an experiment where wheeled toys were painted white. There were no pinks or blues or violets or greens to indicate whether they were boys' or girls’ toys. With no evident cues, girls and boys ended up playing with all toys equally. This, they believe, is the first step and foundation of equitable work responsibilities. If, like girls, boys are also taught to nurture dolls and play with kitchen utensils for instance, it could lead to fathers and husbands who believe that household duties must be shared by everyone.
So why don’t more parents encourage cross-play? ‘It is now considered acceptable, even aspirational for girls to navigate a remote-controlled car with ease, or fiddle around with a toolkit,’ says child psychologist Dr Riddhi Dhawan. ‘These girls are labelled ‘strong’, ‘fearless’, and ‘go-getters’, probably because boys’ toys are synonymous with competitiveness and physical strength. On the other hand, boys who play with ‘girls’ toys’ are labelled ‘effeminate’, and ‘girly’, laughed at by their peers and derided by the adults around them. A girl can play with a drone and a Barbie doll, but the latter is clearly out of bounds for a boy!’
Dr Riddhi adds, ‘First of all, we need to cut out the labels. Just as there are no careers or roles designated specifically for men and women, there are also no toys that are designated for boys and girls. Labels are something that we slap on. A boy will likely choose a metallic robot over a pink dollhouse, but the choice has to be his – without interference or conditioning from toy manufacturers, peers, or family members. Fortunately, there is one significant shift. Earlier on, other than doctor sets, most STEM (Science Technology Engineering Maths) toys used to be designed and marketed for boys. Today, there is a gender-neutral slant and these toys are now for all genders. This ensures that girls grow up believing they can be scientists in the real world, rather than just keeping house.’
It is likely that parents are more accepting of gender-neutral toys (which traditionally belong to both genders), rather than gendered toys that cross over. If you’re a parent, here’s what you need to do. Place a mix of toys in your child’s room, irrespective of their gender. This needn’t just include gendered toys. It can also include items like art supplies, musical instruments, and jigsaw puzzles. Don’t limit their imagination; let them pick and choose based on their predisposition, rather than their gender. This will also help improve their cognitive, artistic, physical, and academic abilities without hindrance. You’ll be one step closer towards raising independent girls who believe in themselves, and men who are empathetic and nurturing. Don’t be judgemental; accept their choices wholeheartedly, giving them the confidence to explore their inclinations.
On their part, toy companies must work towards creating packaging and messaging that is gender-inclusive. This challenges prejudices and gender norms. One aspect to consider is colour. Eliminate pink, purple, and blue, which have clear gendered indications. The use of yellow, green, or white is much more suitable to indicate that a product is meant for children of all genders. Another aspect to consider is the personality of the recipient. Nurturing, domestic toys showcase girls on the packaging, while the more aggressive and violent ones feature boys.
Toys are the first tools that shape children’s understanding of the world, and even their own gender identities. It is therefore vital that they are given access from an early age to a spectrum of gendered and gender-neutral toys, to promote equitable and inclusive play experiences.