Take a trip to a big store like Target or Wal-Mart and look at toys with a sociological eye. You may also do this online due to Covid. Toys act as agents of gender socialization as well as enforcers of cultural norms. There’s a lot more than child’s play going on!
1. Choose a theoretical perspective from which to make your observations and develop your discussion.
2. Select at least two toys from the girls’ section and two from the boys’ section for your analysis. Describe the toy in terms of color and intended function. In other words, how are kids supposed to play with these toys?
3. Using your chosen theoretical perspective, describe how each toy acts as an agent of gender socialization. Include anticipatory socialization in your discussion.
4. Discuss the cultural norms and values being encouraged by playing with these toys.
5. Did you observe any gender neutral toys? If so, describe them and discuss their role in socialization.
6. You must use text book references to support your statements and at least one outside scholarly reference source.
