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Can pre imposed gender stereotypes effect kids at such a young age?

Monday 22 May 2017


Archer loves cars. I mean LOVES them. Not just cars but trains, tractors, diggers. Anything with wheels. He has to carry one around with him at all times and believe me when I say it is quite literally all he wants to play with.

What a stereotypical boy, right?


That’s the comment I hear most from people when they see him play. ‘Oh he’s such a boy!’ – I’ve said it myself numerous times. It’s just one of those things that people say isn’t it. (Although I don’t really know why – if he didn’t like cars and instead wanted to dress as a princess 24/7 would he be any less of a boy?)

But it has got me thinking. Can the world and it’s pre-imposed gender stereotypes somehow effect our children right from the early baby stage? Without us even realising?

(I know this is pretty deep ponderings for a Monday morning, feel free to skip on to someone elses blog if its too much, too early, haha)

I think back to Lily as a baby and she had no interest in cars whatsoever. In fact she mostly wanted to play with dolls and prams. Still does now. So just like Archer, she's always been very stereotypical for her gender. Now I’m thinking about it I'm starting to question myself.. did I push Archer into liking cars? Did I offer him cars to play with, from an early age, without even realising, because it is a ‘boy thing?’ And same with Lily – did I automatically buy her dolls and prams and surround her with ‘girl things’ because she is female?

Actually, the answer is no. Both my children have had a diverse range of toys around them from the off. Lily had plenty of toy cars as a baby, along with slides and ramps for them. And she just wasn’t that interested. Just like now, Archer is surrounded by Lily’s dolls and prams and what not. And he just isn’t that interested either. They’ve both just naturally gravitated towards more gender specific toys. And that's okay.

But what’s not okay is if the world we live in has somehow had an effect on my children without me realising? I’m not entirely sure how. But I do wonder if maybe a lot of the programmes on kids tv show children playing with certain types of toys without us as adults even noticing? Same with adverts in between these programmes and even in the images or words in story books? Are gender stereotypes still much more at the forefront than we believe, and if so, is the world and these ingrained stereotypes brainwashing our children from babies!? (Woah deep!!!) Or is it just a complete coincidence on my children's behalf?


It does make you wonder doesn’t it! What are your thoughts? 



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13 comments :

  1. I was in John Lewis yesterday and I found myself getting so cross! There were very definite 'girl' and 'boy' sections. The 'girl section had dolls, pink tea sets and home cleaning play sets. The 'boy' section had Star Wars, cars and guns, all in black packaging. It looked so aggressive and unappealing. Needless to say, I didn't make a purchase from either section!

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    1. Oh I hate that! There's absolutely no need is there! x

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  2. I do sometimes wonder this, but to be fair Archie loves cars... hot wheels are his thing and he always loves to have one in his hand, but at the same time he loves playing babies with Isla, he also has a toy kitchen in his bedroom and loves playing with that. I think if they are surrounded by a variety of toys it gives them the choice to play with what they like. Isla had cars too and she liked playing with them but not as much as her dolls, but she always had the choice if that makes sense? x

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    1. Yep Archer is obsessed with hot wheels too! I guess as long as we make sure they have choice then no-one can say we're stereotyping our kids in any way xx

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  3. I absolutely loved cars as a child and equally loved dolls and prams! I think with girls they are likely to want to play with dolls as it is their motherly instincts. My daughter just plays with what she wants to play with :) I hadn't ever thought about the impact I had in her decisions. ox

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    1. Yes that's true! Lily loves lining up her toys and talking to them as if they are babies, they must get it from watching us a lot too! x

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  4. Parker is absolutely obsessed with vehicles, give him a digger or a train and he'll be amused for hours! On the flip side though he LOVES his baby doll, and will always be first in a tutu haha. Funny isn't it xx

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  5. I've been thinking the exact same thing & I really don't have anything to say about it :D my little brother loves playing with cars & stuff but he also likes to paint his nails & do makeup for me and my little sister :D

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  6. My daughter is a total tomboy despite me wanting her to be a girly girl like me... so I do see what you're saying but I think that even if you do gender stereotype, children will follow their own path anyway x

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  7. I have two boys and although one strongly prefers 'boys' toys the other is equally as happy with traditional 'girl' toys. Every child is different they should just be encouraged to play with the toys they love.

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  8. My oldest son hates the thought of dolls whereas my daughter is more than happy to play with cars and trains. My youngest will play with both! I think siblings play a massive role in toy choice

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  9. Every time I clothes shop for my daughter I always find her "section" is all flowers, princesses etc.

    Then what I need say a hoodie, just to pop on if she gets cold now the weather is warm, are only in the boy section. Girls 'must' wear cardigans and dresses.

    Really annoys me

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  10. My daughter loved dinosaurs from about the age of 4 and we found it so hard to buy clothes for her with dinos that weren't very obviously meant for boys. Other people would say "are you sure she wants a dinosaur book/toy/whatever?" Yes we are!

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