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Crystal Martinez
We've all walked through the toy aisles at the stores whether it be for our kids or nieces or nephews we may have. If you stop for one min to think you will see how they are labeling us with what they want boys and girls to grow up and do. What colors they should like, ow they should dress and so many more things. They tell us what to buy our kids!! They all have a little girl on the front to put the picture in our minds oh hey this is a girls toy and boys are they same way,. Girls have cooking, dress up, make up house cleaning dolls and other home jobs for them but boys have guns and trucks and building blocks. This is putting it in the minds of our young what they can and cant grow up to be. Its devastating to know are children cant just like anything they have to like what is girly or a boys themed toy or they are not looked at the same.

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As a mom of two little boys and the aunt to a lot of little girls, I typically stroll the toy isle every time I go to the store. Something I’ve noticed is a newer line of barbies called “real life barbies”. They’re intended to represent people from all walks of life. I specifically noticed the Barbie pictured. She is much curvier than a typical Barbie doll and looks a lot like the women O know.  I think kids would recognize this difference also. This doll, and the others in this line, will help kids see the people in their lives represented in toys rather than their toys doing nothing but glorifying super models and clothes.

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Girl toys exemplify what they should strive to be.

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Girl toys exemplify what they should strive to be.

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While walking throught the toy aisles at a Target, I noticed that all the aisles are pretty much arranged by gender and age. Some of the differences were pretty alarming. I saw the typical superhero/ninja turtle aisles for the boys and the disney princess and barbie aisles for the girls, but I also noticed a few more things. Toys related with building things, K'nex, puzzles, Legos, and robotics, were pretty much all targeted for boys. Boys had 3 aisles to choose from while girls had half of one, and they were mostly intended for younger girls between ages 4-8. What was worse off though was that out of an entire aisle of Nerf guns and similar toys, every single one of the boxes had a picturer of a boy shooting. I wish I could post more than one picture, but every single box had an image of a little boy. In the entire aisle, there was only one option that didn't have a boy on the packging. It was this Nerf Rebelle Bow pictured below and a package of darts for it. Only one item, and it wasn't even a gun. It's almost as if toy vendors and society is guiding us into what we should like based on our age and gender.

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Socialization in the toy aisle. (Justin Wayman)

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Socialization in the toy aisle. (Justin Wayman)

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During my trip to Walmart I came across a cotton candy machine what was in the section along with all the other children's baking things. On the box their was a picture of a boy and girl playing with the cotton candy machine. I think this is a great for of socialization and is great to see boys pictured on a box within the aisle when all the other box's have only girls on them. It shows equality and that boys and girls both can play with it and not just girls. I actually had one of these when I was a child.

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The girls toy section looks like a Mom in training equipment isle. It is stocked high with baby dolls that you have to feed and bathe. It includes kitchen sets and play house toys. These toys contribute to socializing little girls into thinking they can only perform limited roles in life. There are no adventure toys like the boy isle has. The toy selection in the girls isle shows the massive amounts of socializing that is being done at such a young age.

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Toys isles at Target EC Cont. - Gabriel Acosta

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Toys isles at Target EC Cont. - Gabriel Acosta

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Girls isle

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Blue vs Pink
(Sylvia Rosario)

After this lesson on socialization i ganied a whole new perspective and cant even see these toys the same way i did a week ago. The first thing i noticed was how each toy was a different color for each gender and how the adverstised picture on each box was different. Its is the same exact toy.

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For some reason it wont let me post both pictures of "boy toys" isle and a "girl toys" isle, but there where clear differences. The first clear difference which is mentioned in the book and in the module is the colours, it almost seems colour coded for each gender.
Secondly the boys isle had a lot of construction trucks and hero action figures, thing to create or be tough and protect with. While the girls isle was filled with dresses and stuffed animal showing that girls have to be more nurturing and delicate. Kids toys clearly play a role in socializing children.
The picture bellow is the boys isle

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This chapter socialized had definately open my mind.when I went to Walmart the other day I noticed my favorite childhoods toy with is a pink car it all girly pink pretty, as I look to the boy section I notice they have big car with humangous wheeel. That kind of make me upset that we don't get what we want to play with we have choice already make for us because of gender roles

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The toys of today I noticed for girls at least there are a lot more options of barbie dolls to chose from. I work at a day care and kids are always bringing in all different types of toys. The girls most of the time have stuffed animals and the boys usually have transformer robots and dinosaurs. There is a box of legos that they play with at the end of the day and usually its mostly boys that are playing with legos as the advertisement for legos is aimed for young boys. Once in a while the girls like to build with legos too but its mostly the boys that play with legos.

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I work at Walmart and I realized even before this assignment that socialization was real. In the toy isle there is a pink and purple isle and a green and blue isle. The boy isle was blue and green and had toys such as building equipment and toy trucks. The girl isle was the purple and pink and consisted of dolls and play oven/ cooking things. This shows children at a young age what gender roles are. Boys are expected to be masculine whereas women are expected to be soft and gentle house people.

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the jeeps in Walmart were socialized. The girls car is frozen designed, purple and colorful. While the boy jeeps are a regular Ford F-150. The girls do not have a typical jeep, instead a design and the boys do not have a designed jeep.

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the jeeps in Walmart were socialized. The girls car is frozen designed, purple and colorful. While the boy jeeps are a regular Ford F-150. The girls do not have a typical jeep, instead a design and the boys do not have a designed jeep.

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I noticed some differences in the design of the "boy and girl" legos. The boy legos are much more boxy, no body shape, and wear dark colors. The girl legos have more of a realistic body and are not boxy/square like the boy legos. They are dressed in light colors. Here there is association with certain colors are for a certain gender. Also, they are making the girls body a symbol , it is starting to hold power even for young children.

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In Walmart there are endless themes of legos that range from Star Wars, Harry Potter, and more. One popular theme i saw was city's, homes, and different work places. This to me opens boys minds and there creativity to build and complete something they are proud of. As they grow up this could lead to them being interested in arcitetchure or building in general most construction workers are male.

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After visting a Toys R Us and having the idea of socialization of children in mind, I really began to see the major differences in the toys between genders. The toys for boys included trucks, tools, and weapons. The toys for girls included dolls, cooking toys, and beauty products. One toy that stuck out to me was this play kitchen for girls. Looking at this sociologically, one could say that this toy is socializing young girls into accepting that they need to be the ones to cook.

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After years of going into toy aisles not only for myself as a child, but now for my two nieces (ages 6 & 8) have noticed truly noticed the gender difference. For girls, everything is between light to hot pink. With boy, it seems like they can have every color except for pink in their inventory. The colors are mainly blue, black, and grey. Sometimes, you will experience colors like red and green. The other things I have noticed is the difference between the toys is the roles that they portray. Boys have GI Joe and girls have Barbie. GI Joe is able to use guns, drive cars and really get into action, where as Barbie gets to cook, clean, get married, be a princess, etc. Although, the one thing I do have to say about Barbie and Mattel all together is, Barbie is an idol to all girls because she can do anything. My childhood wasn't like the 1950's where Barbie was a 100% soon to be house wife. By the 90's (my childhood) Mattel had come out with Barbie Detective! The Plot: The mystery was set at a carnival where Barbie's boyfriend Ken was kidnapped and Barbie had to save him! So there is an example right there that Mattel is trying to prove that even a girl can be the hero and save the day!

Overall, there is a definite difference between boys & girls toys not only by colors and the actions of the toys, but also the advertisements. TV is a great example of this. For example, you have to kinds of voices for the advertisements. You have the Boys: Rough voice, full of energy and action. Then you have the Girls: Soft, sweet with Sugar, Spice and everything nice. Both very stereotypical, but true.

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Looking at the toy aisle in target, the organization, colors, and toys themselves definitely take part in the socialization of children. I noticed that the toys for boys promoted athleticism, adventure, and strength. When looking at the girl section, everything was pink and fragile and promoted a more calm 'lady-like' stay at home and entertain yourself type of vibe. This is a negative effect to the children's socialization because having gender centered toys can lead to some children feeling like they can't do something or that they're supposed to do something therefore taking the decision away from themselves. For example, if there were more gender neutral sports toys, perhaps women sports would be more respected thus eliminating the pay gap or changing the assumed fragility of women.

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I was in the toy aisle in Walmart the other day looking at the stuff, reminiscing of times when I would beg my mom to just look at the stuff with me and in the boy aisle (you can tell since there are no barbies or pink things) and I see this little girl looking at the Hot-wheels. I was struck by how odd it was that I couldn't remember ever seeing a girl be interested in toy these little toy cars ever! I thought maybe people were wrong and young boys and girls were finally seeing that it didn't matter what you played with. I was so happy... Until her grandmother walked over and told her those cars weren't for her and walked her over to the aisle over to look a the pink "girly" cars. I died a little. This is similar to what she was looking at.

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This is of a mask from the 5 year old boy that I nanny. For these types of toys I think it reinforces for boys to like cars, as this is Bumblebee from Transformers. The little boy that I watch wears this around the house and runs around pretending to be a car and battle the decepticon (me). I know from growing up that girls did not have toys like this. We had little toys used for playing house with. I don't think the toys that are made for girls are as creative as the toys that are made for boys. And for that reason I think that it allows for boys to be more creative than girls.

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It wasn't until I got older that I even noticed gender based toys. I have a picture of the lego aisle and all of the boxes are featuring construction or robots or astronauts. This supports creativity and being a part of the work force. The interesting thing is that there aren't any kids shown on the boxes. I think this is a positive move because it doesn't imply that these toys are for a specific gender. When you look at certain packaging though, the colors and content change depending on who the toy is meant for. I also think it's interesting when toy boxes feature multiple kids playing with the toy. I think that reinforces socialization by suggesting that the toy is meant to be used with friends. I couldn't get a good picture, but I have seen this at other stores.

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Here is one of my brother's toys when he was younger.  The toy looks scary, dark and Gothic.  The toy is a male figure that has a mask.  It's a Helghan (See

http://killzone.wikia.com/wiki/Helghan_Empire). Most little girls would probably be scared to play with it unless maybe they were considered tomboys.  The Helghan should also have a gun as his weapon but it is missing in this picture because my brother lost it. He used to play with the toy a lot.

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There were different toys like cartoon's toys, such as batman,  barbies ect. The one I really liked was the firefighter toys. I think this toy could inspire kids. It would make them believe they can save lives. It has a lot of positive effect whereas a toy gun would considered negative.

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Socialization of Children, Megan Santiago

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Socialization of Children, Megan Santiago

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As a mother of two boys I know all to well the gender gaps with toys, clothing, and tv. I find it very frustrating and often find myself suck into it as well with all things blue and sports related when it comes to decorating, toys and clothing. My boys like to do many things girls do like play pretend house for example. In these photos I show two pictures one thats gender neutral and one that is marketed towards my 2 year old son.

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Socialization Extra Credit - Anthony DeVito

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Socialization Extra Credit - Anthony DeVito

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I never have really considered this when it was so clear but the toys we play with as kids actually for who we turn into, not just individually, but as a society.  For example, I found Barbie dolls that girls usually play with when they are younger.  I chose this because it explains where the stereotype that girls are usually more calm and nice actually comes from.  I found the same thing for the boy side.  Boys are seen as more violent then girls and if playing with action figures during their lives, one would see why this is true.  Overall, I now understand that we as humans are led into a certain track due to our gender, and impact who we are in society from the day we are born.

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From the moment children are born we, as a society, begin to construct their gender causing them to internalize their gender identity and their perception of the role they play in society in relation to that gender.  Boys are more likely to be constructed as tough, competitive and strong; girls are more likely to be constructed as passive, docile, delicate and domestic.

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I found the perfect socialization in toys scenario when I babysat my friends little brother. As I saw him playing with his toys I realized most of them were male characters for the exception of Minnie Mouse because he said he needed a girlfriend for Mickey Mouse. This is an example of socialization because as a boy in our society he is taught by a young age that boys are only supposed to play with strong male characters, and if they have "dolls" of any type then they have to be the boy characters' girlfriend or family member and not an individual toy.

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Now that I am aware of toys being gendered I can see how they contribute to the socialization of children. These toys have already determine the gender roles boys and girls have to take in society. The isle in my picture was highly female gendered. First, you can see that there are a pattern of specific colors that aim towards the female customers. Second, the toys in this isle highly focus on child-rearing, cooking ware shopping carts, and dresses. Finally, compared to the isle directed to boys, these toys do not give any room for creativity, adventure, or power.

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I visited the girl toy aisle at Target. The most astonishing thing to me were the dolls. I remember as a kid I loved playing with Bratz dolls, Barbie dolls, and any doll that I could change the outfit to.All of the play dolls, were flawless, thin, curvy, of perfect skin tone, and with long perfect hair. Although I saw many different dolls from different companies, they all only showed one type of doll. Having the dolls look like this, really influence how little girls see themselves. We are showing kids, that they have to look like these dolls, to be considered beautiful. What's even worse is that the dolls do not show much diversity amongst themselves. This is showing kids that individuality is not okay, nor common. We are also showing our kids that they need to look like models, with slim stomachs, busty, and long legs. It's so sad how we force this image on our kids today.

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The Walmart toy aisles were highly gendered. On the girls' aisle, I noticed a lot of Disney princesses and dresses. These toys are encouraging young girls to value wearing dresses, looking feminine, and playing with dolls that represent appearances, not substance. I didn't see any toys that encouraged building, designing, or exploring. The dolls' main feature was that you can change their appearance, and the dresses were for looking feminine, which was upsetting. The girls' toys are limiting girls' access to toys that help them learn and grow.

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These two toys stuck out to me the most. Boys are socialized to be doctors while girls are socialized to be nurses. As if women can't go to med school the same as men. I notice how
they teach boys to be the doctor, the one in charge, calling the shots. While they teach girls to be the nurse, the one taking orders, and the submissive/subordinate to the doctor.

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The two pictures on the left are the "Girls", the two pictures on the right are the "Boys". One thing I noticed about this particular store (Target) was that they did not have their toy sections labeled as "Boys" or "Girls". My Husband said that they used to but had changed it after hearing from their customers that they did not like this separation. One thing I was mentioning to my Husband while we were in the store taking these pictures was even though the toy sections are not labeled, from what we are taught we automatically think pink, pastels, bright colors, barbies, dolls- is the girls & blue, black, dark colors, super heroes, action figures- is the boys. I went a step further & also took a picture of the clothing section. In the clothing section it was the same thing, bright colors for girls, dark colors for boys. The girls clothing had princesses, ponies, dolls & the boys clothing had super heroes, game characters & sports.

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The toys I saw in regards to girls are more into what is imaginary in dressing up and being a princess while a boy is more into being strong and protective such as having guns and cars. Furthermore, it seems as boys are being socially taught in what norms, and values they should obtain as a male when growing up. However, for girls is not the same they are not being taught in what the real world holds for them more of what a fantasy world holds. There is nothing wrong in wanting to marry a prince and live happily ever after. However, we need to be prepared mentally and socially in regards to what are our norms and values; it is not only about the beauty of a women.

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Saw these action figures in a toy aisle and came out with the conclusion that they want to attract young male customers. The green lantern and batman are heros which are signs of masculinity and strength in the male community.  Most young boys look at these heros and want to be just like them which is why these toys are made to draw their attention.  Since a young age heros were our first role models and we implement those qualities in life as we get older thats why these action figures can be so important to young males growing up.

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Here is a picture for boys toys. They are blue and red in color (Captain America character). This picture shows that boys in general can be heroes, brave, and strong. Bravery is more founded in boys than girls, thats how the society looks at boys.

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when i was little i would always see these coloring books and wonder why i couldn't color in both. I was raised to play with only boy things and not girl things, my parents would jump on top of me if i had a baby-doll in my hand. the coloring books represents one for a girl(pink) and for a boy(blue). even the book title says socialization between boy and girl.

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This photo below shows a game that my nephew and I usually play. It has a place for a boy (the blue place) and a place for a girl (the pink). Although it shows discrimination between genders via the color, but both of them are competing so their faces is not covered with the cupcake's cream. :) It shows socialization between girls and boys equally so there is no discrimination between them other than trying to prevent being hit by the cream and let the other player being hit.

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I remember when I was a little I was in love with Hot Wheels because all the kids my age had them and the commercials made them seem real cool. This is considered a gender toy because they focus on attracting young boys to buy them with the colors they use and mostly having them on some of the packages. They even look like they are competing in most of these pictures. These type of toys teach guys that these are the type of cars we need to get and consider the other ones we see as "girly". I recall a time when one of my friends got a Toyota Corolla as a gift but my friends laughed at him and said it was a womens car. I feel like events like this steam form toys like this

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Attach you will se my daughters toys. As she is the baby of the house and the only girl, I have now realized I have got her majority of the toys the color pink, rather is the school bus, the air plane etc. I know I did this because before when my boys were much younger I would always say man "one day we will add pink to this house" and that is what I did. Now I still have her playing with toys that belong to her brothers so I do not discriminate :) I just now realize its true when you go to the stores girl items are majority pink!

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Below is an example of gender toy. As you can see there is a baby doll. On the side of this toy there is a little girl who is holding and playing with the baby. I find it funny because there is no male on any of the baby doll toy. These toys are heavily focused on girls that have a role of child care. There were other toys that painted the image that a female role was taking care of the home. These toys have a tendency to restrict imagination on girls. Thus, making female lack creative element. The socialization we have in our childhood has a major impact on the way that we grow up in the society. This sexist separation with these toys are are creating a
message that is deeply restricting.

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Interesting to see how fishing poles for kids are even separated into gender specific designs. The boy gets spider-man or super heroes while the girls get barbie or a Disney Princess. Fishing seems to be in my opinion a hobby more interested by men. Girls might feel like that they need to have these girly colors and designs to be involved in hobbies that mostly guys do. But on the other hand these fishing poles for kids could get them interested in something that they might not have been if they never used these gender specific fishing rods. Adult women wouldn't be using pink poles they would just use regular ones like men do.

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It's funny to still see these in the aisle at the store to this day. When I was younger I use to play with an easy bake oven and baked all kinds of things. Now looking at them I realize how much they really contribute to young girls and socialization. They don't make easy bake oven's for boys or at least I didn't see any at the time I was in the store (and I was looking ). This "toy" is letting young girls play the role of a house wife who bakes for her husband and kids. Also next to the easy bake over was a toy sowing machine. A toy sowing machine only for girls. These toys play a huge gender role and defiantly express children socialization.

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As you see down below there's a gun. It looks like a real gun. My little brother owns this. Im scared that he has to think that owning a gun is ok, i'm not saying it's not because, you should always have something to protect your self now a days. He plays with our other brother like Cops and Robbers. I've seen him point the gun to other brothers head or even mine. If he got mistaken with that and a real gun I couldn't imagine what can happen. That is part of socialization because it makes the kids (boys) grow up actually believing that having a gun is okay and that it's ok to shoot your brother or sister or even yourself. Makes them feel in control and with power. These types of gun wouldn't be in the girl isle either even if it's just black ?

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By being a female and babysitting little girls I see why Barbie dolls are very popular because it teaches kids socialization. For instance you change the Barbie dolls clothes and girls get the accustom to changing the dolls clothes in which they want to do the same as the doll, this is a way that they learn.

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Here's another interesting picture. Most NERF packaging featured bold, dark colors and a picture of a boy aiming the toy gun. The only NERF product marketed to girls in the aisle was these NERF bullets packaged in light pink plastic with a girl on the cover. They were labeled "Rebelle", a play on the word rebel and the feminine "-elle" that ends many girl names such as Noelle, Isabelle, etc. As if girls aren't perfectly able to use the neutral NERF bullets on the left.
- Carrie Anne Jeffries

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Toys can have big influence on kids. As a mother or father, you can decide which toy to buy and give to your child. If you buy a educative toy to your child, the child  will have a great interest for school. I found those toys are really educative and fun for children. They can be play by both girl and boy. You have the calculator cash register toy which the child can learn to count money and give money back to their peers. This toy will learn the child how to add and subtract. The school day toy will also teach the child all the number, the day for today and all supplies a school needs to prepare students to be successful. Also, at the left of the toy, you can see a map; the child can learn where you can find each country or states on the map. At the top of the toy, you can see the clock which the child can know what time is it. I know at the store they portray which toy should be for girls and boys. Pink barbies, Cinderella are for girl, and gun toys, Spider-Man etc.. are for boys. If you introduce your son with a gun toy or heroes, it can lead your son to become more aggressive to their peers and fight at school. If you introduce barbies doll to your daughter, she will think she is a grown woman by putting make-up, fake nails and high heels. As parent, we need to think smart and spend our money wisely to our children. Educative toy do not characterize any gender(girl or boy), that's why I always advise parents to buy them for their children.

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Below is an example of gendered toys. On the left is a red scooter marketed to boys. On the right is a pink, sparkly scooter marketed to girls. In the pictures, the boy is wearing blue clothes and  a dark blue helmet. The girl is wearing pink shoes and a pink helmet and a lighter colored shirt. A boy or girl looking at these scooters will be led to believe that they are supposed to choose the one represented by their gender. In the toy aisles, dark green, black, and blue were the typical color schemes for boys and light pink and purple for the girls. Boy toys were centered around weapons, fighting, driving, and building. Girl toys were centered around fashion, baking, and nurturing.
- Carrie Anne Jeffries

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Now being a mother to a baby boy, I am completely aware on what toys and things depict and mean. I pay attention because I feel some things may display harmful and inappropriate images that can ruins my sons innocent mind. I am very against nerf guns (even though I am a gun owner myself). Just because of the fact that these gun toys are made specifically for boys. It displays how men are aggressive and fighters. In the image of the nerf gun packaging you can notice the mean demeanor on the boys face who is shooting the gun. I believe this just influence young boys to feel like they need to be this aggressive and need to be formed into fighters using weapons and guns.

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I have a 10 year old daughter and every time I walk down the toy aisle I notice that the stores participate in "doing gender." The toys with the darker blues, blacks, and greens on it tend to have boys on the front covers and typically are toys associated with building things, robots, trucks or tools. However, on the girl aisles they typically have lighter colors such as pinks and yellows. They also have toys that are geared towards more domestic things such as easy bake ovens and doll houses. I also noticed a lot of arts and crafts for girls as well. This is because boys are taught to be strong and that they should love "manly" things such as trucks and cars and girls are taught to like to cook and play house. For this I chose two toys that my daughter has. One is a bracelet arts and crafts toy and the other is a pink owl. This contributes towards children's socialization because girls are taught to wear bracelets whereas boys are not and boys are taught not to want anything pink, and especially not a pink stuffed animal.

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The first three photographs are photos of toys labeled as boy's toys. These toys represent ideas of heroism, adventure, action, courage, fighting. You usually wouldn't see toys like robots (R2D2), Hero masks, and sabers in the girls toy section.

The next two toys can be found in the girls section of the toy store. The stuffed animal is pink, seen as a girly color, and fluffy and feminine. Promoting ideas of cuteness and fragility. The horse is a doll horse. Only girls typically play with dolls, as it promotes ideas of the woman being the one to raise the children and how that is all she can or should do in life. Dolls can be fun, but why are the only targeted at girls? Why does society pressure girls to focus on clothes, children, and home life?

The last picture represents a change in society. It is a "Lego Superhero Girls" product, and is both a superhero and lego toy targeted at girls. The immediate problem I see is that the company feels it is necessary to target a product at girls. Why can't girls play with regular legos? However, I still think it is a step forward, as it is providing girls with a wider idea of what they can be and do.  P.S. These are my little brother's toys, and he plays with toys targeted towards both boys and girls, and doesn't care that some people find it weird, which I think is really encouraging to see.