Should children's toys be gendered?

Traditionally, toymakers market their products to either girls or boys. The toy industry presents dolls and dresses as being girls’ toys, while cars and construction tools are for boys. In recent years, advocates have highlighted the presence of harmful gender stereotypes in such marketing tactics. Considering our society’s ongoing discussion of gender identity, should children’s toys continue to be gendered?

Yes, toys should be gendered

Girls and boys are different. By creating gender-specific toys, manufacturers simply cater to their differences.

Gender-specific toys accurately cater to their demographic

Gender-specific toys are harmless because they appeal to natural differences between girls and boys.

Gender-neutral toys would threaten traditional gender roles

If we stop producing gender-specific toys, children will not have toys that appeal to their differing societal roles.

The absence of gendered toys would threaten the toy industry

The production of gender-specific toys lends irreplaceable support to the economy.

No, toys should not be gendered

Gendered toys reinforce stereotypes and harm childhood development.

Gendered toys reinforce harmful stereotypes

Gender-specific toys encourage children to internalize harmful notions about gender identity.

Gender-specific toys harm childhood development

By prescribing certain toys to only one gender, we limit children's holistic development.

Gender-specific toys are a relic of corporate greed

Toymakers created a lucrative industry by aggressively distinguishing between girls' and boys' toys.
Explore this question in a whole new way.
This page was last edited on Tuesday, 15 Sep 2020 at 07:22 UTC