Poster #102 - Let's Play! Gender-Typed Toy Preferences in Two-Year-Olds

• In Event: Poster Session 08

Abstract

Gender-typed toy differences are among the largest in the psychological literature (Hyde, 2005; Weisgram, 2022). An extensive amount of research has been conducted with preschool children and older children; however relatively little research has been conducted with younger age groups such as toddlers (Zulous & Ruble, 2018). This developmental time period is of interest given that children begin identifying their own gender and the gender of others (often through superficial cues) between the ages of two and three and also children’s gender-typed color preferences increase significantly after the age of 2.5 (LoBue & Deloache, 2011). In addition, parental attitudes toward toys may have an especially prominent role in young children’s interest in toys (Weisgram & Bruun, 2018; Leaper & Bigler, 2018).

The present study examined gender-typed toy preferences in children between the ages of 2 and 3 years old via parent report. In an online survey, 133 parents (primarily mothers) reported their children’s interest in toys; this included 79 girls and 54 boys with a mean age of 2.56 years old. Parents were asked how likely their child would play with each of 16 gender-typed toys (6 masculine, 6 feminine, 4 neutral) from the POAT-PM measure of gender-typing (Hilliard & Liben, 2010), how likely they would be to purchase a similar toy, and how much they would encourage their child to play it. Parent and child demographics were also collected. We predicted that there would be a significant interaction between child gender and toy type. In addition, we predicted that this interaction would be more likely to be significant in older toddlers (2.5-3 years old) than younger toddlers (2-2.5 years old) as their concept of gender identity develops.
For each dependent variable (play, purchase, encourage), a 2 (child gender: male, female) x 2 (age group: younger, older) x 3 (toy type: masculine, feminine, neutral) repeated measures ANOVA was conducted. For how much they child would play with each toy, there was a significant interaction between toy type and toddler gender, F(1, 127) = 93.31, p<.05. Age group was not a significant factor. Parents indicated that boys would likely play more with masculine toys than feminine toys and girls would likely play more with feminine toys than masculine toys, p<.05.

For how likely they would purchase each item, there was a significant interaction between toy type and toddler gender, F(1, 127) = 32.32, p<.05. Age group was not a significant factor. Parents reported that they would purchase masculine toys for boys to a greater degree than feminine toys. There were no significant differences for girls. For how likely they would be to encourage their children to play with each item, there was a similar interaction, F(1, 127) = 7.66, p<.05. Parents reported that they would encourage masculine toys for boys to a greater degree than feminine toys. There were no significant differences for girls. These effects are primarily driven by parents reporting that they would be less likely to purchase or encourage feminine toys for boys.

Authors

• Erica Weisgram, University of Wisconsin -Stevens Point
  Presenting Author

• Margaret Broeren, The Ohio State University

• Allison Piette, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

• Cole Thorne, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point