I’ve posted in the past about differences I’ve noticed in the language used in signs in the girls’ and boys’ clothing sections at Target, which seemed to reinforce the idea that boys are rough and rowdy while girls are sweet. Eric B. sent in another example that he recently saw in Target’s infants’ department. The store he went to had five aisles; each aisle had a set of large signs along the top. Three of the five were focused on boys, and they all emphasize activities:
So boys actively do things (they play, they learn to feed themselves, they discover) that merit adult attention and admiration. What about girls?
Oh, they sleep:
For other examples of how we reinforce the boys are active/girls are passive binary, see our posts on the binary in Lego City, in kids’ meal toys, and in magazines.
Comments 5
Michele Yulo — January 19, 2012
Great observations. Unfortunately, parents buy into it--you can't blame them--it's been so ingrained. Here is my post on the beginning of gender stereotyping. http://www.princessfreezone.com/pfz-blog/2011/9/12/rattles-and-the-beginning-of-gender-stereotyping.html
Lisa — January 20, 2012
Sure, the gender sterotyping is bad, but what about those sentances? "His little play is a must-see"? "When eating with his hands gets a big applause"? I'm not even sure what that means!
What I’m Reading – January 23rd | The Illusionists - a documentary by Elena Rossini — January 23, 2012
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Anonymous — February 6, 2012
Oh wow. I never paid attention to that stuff. I don't have kids AND most of the time when I have to buy baby things (baby showers, ick), I just look down at the stuff I want. =/
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