In the build up to Christmas an argument being discussed in the media is that sexism persists in society in part due to gender sterotypes in the toys that are manufactured and sold to our children.
The message seems to be 'Boys speak. Girls listen.'
The Toys R Us website, for instance, states that —boys get “building sets” and “learning”, while girls get “pretend play” and “beauty, bath and accessories.” Both get electronics, but the proffered image for boys is a microphone; for girls, a radio.
Parents of most children report that boys like dolls, and girls like trucks, at least until they are told otherwise. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/11/29/the-innate-sexism-of-christmas-toys.html?via=twitter_page
However not everyone agrees with the sexism in the toy store notion.
'Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott says boys should be boys and girls should be girls, in response to a campaign urging parents not to buy gender-specific toys this Christmas.
Greens Senator Larissa Waters is under fire for supporting the No December Gender campaign, aimed at breaking down stereotype buying of dolls for girls and trucks for boys.
Waters says the marketing of toys to boys and girls reinforced a 'belief that men and women are somehow very different'.
'We know that ultimately feeds into really serious problems like domestic violence,' she said.
But Abbott dismissed her concerns as political correctness, and said parents should be allowed to do what is in the best interest of their children.
'Let boys be boys, let girls be girls,' he said.
And it seems PM Abbott is not alone in his views with Nationals MP Mark Coulton stating:
'Honestly, I'm glad there's a difference between boys and girls and I'm glad that's celebrated in the toy aisles of toy stores.' http://m.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11367839
What do you think about gender and toys?
Should there be different toys for girls and boys?