Toys
In the media, in the workplace, all around us in popular culture, men and women
are constantly marked with stereotypical gender-based flaws:
Men are violent and insensitive.
Women are overemotional and flaky.
Stereotypes often arise from a pattern of truth, and as neither of these stale
concepts is flattering, it would seem unwise to consciously encourage their
continuation.
According to specialists in the field of child development, it is likely that
what we give our children to play with, helps to create who they are.
The work of a child is play, as a way of discovering the self and the world.
Given that, it seems ludicrous to ply young boys with guns- toy or otherwise.
These are, after all, implements of death and destruction, and symbols of war,
violence and bloodshed.
Also damaging, if in a subtler way, are the toys marketed for girls.
The vast majority of these playthings are of the play house, play mommy,
play dress-up variety.
Needless to say, this is a tradition which belong in another era.
In the past, when society dictated that the ultimate goal for women was marriage,
children, and staying at home, it may have been of value to pursue these girly
recreations- it helped to prepare them for their future: being fashionable and
other challenges of finding a husband, having babies, taking care of a house,
and keeping their horizons appropriately narrow.
However, today a woman is much more likely to be working full time, then
coming home to do most of the cooking, cleaning, and laundry, and virtually all
of the child care.
This is not exactly the future most of us would choose for our daughters.
So why do we buy them toy vacuums and irons? Do either of these represent a
life-skill they need to master? Or is the experience of ironing just so much
fun that we wish to share it?
A new line of revolting baby dolls comes out each year, yet what do they
represent? Is changing diapers a recreational pursuit? Or bottle feeding?
Actually, since breast feeding is so much better for the infant, how about a
line of strap on breasts that squirt real milk and a baby that sucks
and then spits up?
Perhaps if they weren't trained to worship infants, fewer girls would
see motherhood as the cure for teenaged angst.
And perhaps if a little houselore were aimed at boys, the mothers of the
future would bear a lighter burden.
I've heard the arguments against this theory:
Boys just naturally want to play with guns.
BULLSHIT. Guns are not an organic substance. A child can have no inherent
leanings toward such things. They simply want what their friends have, and
what they see on TV.
It is possible to say "no." The word comes easily enough when the toy is too
expensive, or when little Billy wants a boa constrictor.
Girls want to be like Mommy.
Are housework and childcare all Mommy does?
There are enough toys which are educational and engaging:
building sets, art supplies, computers and software, board games, models,
puzzles, athletic equipment, musical instruments, BOOKS...
It is not necessary to purchase plastic Uzis and dolls that blow spit bubbles,
or come with their own tiny toilet!
ENOUGH! It is time to stand up and tell the toy corporations
(most of which have manufactuing plants in China- using child labor)
that we are not that stupid.
If a boy doesn't have a gun, it is likely that he'll never open fire in his schoolyard.
And perhaps fewer Barbies will mean fewer eating disorders and breast implants.
At least there will be a female on the planet who was not programmed to be a
conspicuous consumer- purchasing whatever imbecilic fashions the corporate gods
order.
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