How Do We Define Gender?

How Can We Be Gender Neutral And Not Gender Bias?

In Miles Of Aisles Of Sexism, Sudie Hofmann clearly demonstrated how the toys manufacturing companies produce the products to deepen the segregation of their young females and males consumers. The toys for the boys focus on “patriotism and superiority” p.30. Boys’ toys are war toys, 3-D dino adventure, word games and board games. Even at a very young age, the girls are brainwashed that they have to play with the trendy toys; Barbies and of course Kent, make-up, vanity and mirrors, hair brushes and products, and nails kits as well.

I remember when I was growing up, the toys that among my siblings and my friends play with were: jump ropes, Hop Scots, bikes, bean bags, Chinese Jacks, and Chess. We didn’t have Barbie or Kent. I do not recall my brothers had any of the double-shooter water guns or machine guns. We played a lot Hide-and-Seek and Duck-Duck-Goose.

In my classroom, I set up a lot of gender neutral toys and activities for my boys and girls. I have girls’ dresses and I have boys and girls Aloha shirts. I have cooking aprons for the chefs and either gender is welcome to make the meals for his/her friends. In the Block area, I always invite anyone to join us to make a house for the zoo animals or farm animals. And at the outdoor area, all the equipments are suitable for all the gender to have fun and to explore. All the activities are gender neutral to everyone. But I do have to say that the girls are less fond of throwing, catching or kicking the balls.

As an educator, we need to be aware of the toys gender bias and we need to educate our families. The toys companies create this gigantic gender segregation and it is up to us and our families to make the gender neutral choices for our children and the next generation.

In “Where Are The Game Girls?” Ann Pelo did a survey of what boys like to play and what girls like to play. Again the article concludes boys and girls have a lot of common interests. It seemed the outdoor activities are more gender neutral. Why can the games manufacturing companies do more research on the children’s interests and create a game that is more like game kids? Is it because there are more male consumers than females consumers when purchasing the electronic games? Will the toys companies listen to the consumers’ wants and create more toys that both genders can enjoy?

After I read “Playing With Gender”, I want to know: How many of us when doing our observations of our children in regarding to gender bias that our interpretations are fogged up by our own social and political contexts? I was amazed that how our upbringing and our past experiences had such great influence on our way to define gender identity. I was labeled as a Tom-boy as I never liked to play dolls and in fact I had never own one. I enjoyed all the active so called boys’ games. But after I read this eye-opening article, I tell myself: I was just different and I was just an athletic child.