The Influence of Society on Gender Roles

If you go to the toy section of many stores, there will be a section for girls with mostly pink packaging that includes dolls, princess-themed toys, cooking sets, or beauty and fashion related toys. There will also be a section for boys with mostly blue and darker colored packaging that includes trucks, dinosaurs, toy guns, and army figures. This is an example of how society shapes gender roles and how children can be influenced as they develop.

Some parents may feel uncomfortable buying their son a doll or buying their daughter army figures - although I do feel that these lines are starting to fade in our modern society. For instance, stores are now starting to arrange their toys by type instead of gender. This will allow children to choose more freely based on their interests. I feel it is important not to set limits for our children based on society’s demands. Toys can have a major impact on how a child views the world and how he or she starts to realize their place in society.

What do you think?