- Are gender stereotypes on your holiday wishlist this year?
Nope, but we'll all be getting some anyway.
(guitar music)
What's up, everyone?
Laci Green here.
When I was a kid, I had a lot of "girl toys."
Who remembers Baby Born?
It was that doll cries, it needs to be fed, craps,
and basically does everything
that now scares me about children.
I had Polly Pocket, Easy-Bake Oven.
That thing was rad 'cause what child wouldn't
wanna mix questionable powders into water
and turn it into cake?
No child. That's who.
Which is why even when I was nine,
it was weird to me that Easy-Bake Oven was a "girl thing."
Stepping into the toy aisle in my 20s is still weird.
It's super high-tech, but it's also like,
"Wait, did I step back in time?" The girl aisle, pink and purple, princesses and dress up,
futuristic cooking and crafting and baby stuff.
It's like Little House on the Prairie meets the Jetsons.
The implication is that girls should learn domestic skills and look good presumably so their prince charming
can save them. On the boy aisle, blue and black, action figures
and superheroes, guns and trucks and building blocks.
Boy toys emphasize being active and powerful,
if not a little violent.
The gender stereotypes come on pretty strong
in the toy aisle, but they can also be felt
in every aspect of our lives. They inform anything from the clothes we wear
to the emotions we're allowed to express to the interests, college majors, and careers
that we're encouraged to pursue.
They're our reflection of our culture's ideas about the "appropriate" roles and behaviors
for men versus women.
Now, these ideas are imposed on babies
when their brains are so undeveloped
they can't even process what's being nailed
into their adorable, mushy heads. And here's why it matters.
For decades, scientists have been studying
the influence of gender stereotypes on kids.
One big finding is that it limits children's beliefs
about what they can achieve,
which is kind of a no-brainer, right?
If all the science kids have "for boys" written on the box
and all the famous scientists on TV are men
and all my science teachers are men,
why should it be any surprise that I'm less likely
to see myself as a scientist?
We also know that gender stereotypes
promote shaming and bullying of children that don't conform.
I've seen adults shame kids,
and I probably did it myself at some point growing up too.
I mean, sadly, kids learn intolerant attitudes
and bully their peers who don't wear the right clothes
or play with the right toys.
Gender stereotypes also limit children's development.
Boy activities like building and construction
teach spatial skills and problem-solving
while girl activities like art and theater
encourage fine motor development, social skills,
and emotional intelligence.
Scientists have found that by emphasizing skills
based on sex, it sets a precedent for inequalities
in education and careers down the road.
So here's an idea.
Any kid can play with Elsa dolls, science kits, creepy furbys, and even Easy-Bake ovens,
and the world won't implode.
And we can all take part in five easy steps. One, allow and encourage kids to play freely
even if their desired toy is in the wrong aisle.
Two, don't shame or insult kids for not conforming.
Three, talk to kids about stereotypes.
Teach them to be critical and aware.
Four, manufacturers, toy stores, and book publishers,
can you stop labeling items as "for girls" or "for boys,"
please and thanks. And, five, advertisers could depict boys and girls
using a variety of toys.
I mean, look, if they really wanna make more dollars,
why not double the market?
That's all I'm saying. Have a very happy holiday and new year, everyone.
Good luck on your finals if you're taking them,
and we will be back after the winter break.
Until then, stay braless.
Heya! Comment time.
Michael Altawil said, "Can we please talk about the trope
"in YA novels where the female protagonist
"that she can't ever say flat out, 'I'm horny,'
"Instead, she says stuff like, 'I have this mysterious fire
"in my body, and I have no idea where it's coming from.' "or 'I have an unquenchable thirst
"that can only be cured by my lover.'"
It's funny 'cause it's so true.
Why can't we just admit that young women have sexual urges too?
It's the 21st century, people. Come on.
Kayla G said something to the effect of,
"I assumed Dumbledore was gay from his relationship
"with Grindelwald so it was sort of established in the books
"even if it wasn't explicitly said."
See, I didn't make that assumption
or pick up on that at all,
which is why I think it would've been powerful for it to be acknowledged instead.
And I'll leave y'all on this note for your holiday break.
Danica DeCosto said, "They didn't have time for sex.
"They were too busy fighting monsters and Voldemort
"and all that. And if anyone was getting any action,
"it was probably that douche, Malfoy."
(guitar music)