Wednesday, May 19, 2021

'Is it for a boy or a girl?' in "Gender in Science and Technology 2017 (e-book)"

2018, Fysiska institutionen, Lunds Universitet
82 Pages
Using television advertisements from Dexter’s Laboratory, Bob the Builder, and GoldieBlox, we investigate how traditional gender roles and stereotypes affect the presentation of technologically advanced/science themed toys for kids. We analyze initial observations and field notes noted by each researcher from subjective screen shots taken from each of the three advertisements. Within the past three decades, gender norms and stereotypes are still highly relied upon in how toys are presented to children through advertisements of toys. It still boils down to two options: girl toys or boys toys. Keywords: gender, science, technology, toys, advertisements, gender performativity, gender stereotypes, color.





Preschoolers' mathematical play and colour preferences: a new window into the development of gendered beliefs about math

94 Views11 Pages
In play, children often explore mathematical ideas that are vital for future learning. Children's play also reveals gender differences in both colour and toy preferences. The authors examined how gender-related colour preferences of 5-year-olds are related to preferences for math-specific games/toys and gendered beliefs about math. Spanish preschoolers (N = 143) completed a self-report measure of gendered beliefs about math. Children then indicated their favourite colour and were given five math-specific games/toys in that colour. Play times for each game/toy were recorded. Three findings emerged. First, girls preferred games/toys of particular colours (pink/purple) that differed from boys' preferences (blue/red). Second, play time with math games/ toys did not differ between girls and boys. Third, 5-year-olds of both genders thought that girls liked math more than boys did. This is the youngest age at which these gendered beliefs about math have been shown, and suggests new theorizing about stereotypes, gender, and math.

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