Toys and Gender Socialization in the Toy Industry

Issues of Gender Socialization in the Toy Industry

Toys and Gender Socialization For this assignment you are to: ? - Wander down to the toy stores and toy departments and have a look around, ? - Peruse the flyers and catalogues for toys that are arriving in the local paper, ? - Watch the advertising for toys on TV ( a great excuse to watch cartoons), ? - Check a few toy manufacturers’ (Your childhood favourites?) and store websites. You are looking for issues of gender socialization in the toy industry. Provide an analysis of the store offerings, departments, mail-out flyers and catalogues within the context of gender. Here, you would look for, but not be limited to issues such as

1. How would two differing sociological perspectives see gender issues within the toy industry?

2. What are the colours used in packaging? Why are these colours used? ?

3.How are the stores/departments laid out? (spatial arrangement- key colours, themes) ?

4. What assumptions of gender are in the toys? ?

5. What assumptions of gender are pushed by the toy industry- in the stores, TV ads, websites, flyers and catalogues? ?

6.What kind of gendered ‘play’ is expected out of the toys?

7.Is age a factor in gender assumptions of toys? ?

8.Who buys these toys? ?

9.How does any of the above relate to adulthood? - It is expected that you will use the sociological terminology in your essay. Two or three examples of toys are important. ?- You are to only reference the textbook, classroom lectures and information, any toy websites you peruse, toy store experiences, and catalogues and fliers. No articles or other texts permitted. This is not a library assignment!