1-100 - Gender-Typing of Toys: Causes, Correlates, and Consequences

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Gender-typed toys are a large part of children’s environments and experiences and may contribute to differential cognitive and social development of boys and girls. Increasingly, toys are being marketed to only one gender via either explicit labels, placement by toy type, or use of gender-typed colors. In this symposium, the presenters will discuss the factors that contribute to the perception of toys as gender-typed and boys’ and girls’ differential interest in toys. In addition, presenters will discuss the consequences of gender-typing of toys for children’s toy interests and the practical applications of toys on children’s development, particularly in their interest in science. In the first paper, the author will discuss the effects of toy color and type on children’s rationalization about gender stereotypes. The second presentation will discuss the role of gender, toy type, and propulsion on young children’s interests and ratings of other children’s interests. In the third presentation, the authors will present the results of two experiments in which the gender-typed marketing of science-related toys is manipulated and explores the effects on children’s learning styles and interests. The last presentation will present the results of a science-related intervention in which boys and girls play with robotics toys as a way of increasing girls’ motivation in science. Taken together, these studies suggest that toys are deemed as appropriate for one gender or another by way of a variety of mechanisms and that the marketing and use of these toys can have differential effects on children’s development.

Sub Unit

• Sex, Gender

Chair

• Erica Weisgram, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Individual Presentations

• Pink Airplanes: How Preschoolers Categorize and Reason about Gender-Ambiguous Toys - Presenting Author: Isabelle D Cherney, Creighton University

• "Is it Pink? Does it have Wheels?": Examining the Factors that Contribute to Children’s Gender Schemata of Toys - Presenting Author: Lisa M Dinella, Monnmouth University, NJ; Erica Weisgram, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; Megan Fulcher, Washington & Lee University

• Toys Marketed to Girls: A Path to STEM Engagement? - Presenting Author: Emily F Coyle, The Pennsylvania State University; Lynn S Liben, Pennsylvania State University

• Full STEM Ahead: Positive Experience with Technology Toys Increases Young Girls’ STEM Motivation - Presenting Author: Allison Master, University of Washington; Adriana Moscatelli, Play Works Studio; Sapna Cheryan, University of Washington; Andrew N Meltzoff, Univ of Washington