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as an American baby-boomer, there was a definite gender toy pattern

Jonathan Bailey

Well-Known Member
Some of this had to do with advertising in the old days. Some studies show that infants may naturally focus more on a toy that is stereotyped for their own gender. When shown a truck and a doll, baby boys will fixate on the truck more while baby girls will fixate on the doll more. So, some of this has to do with how the brain is wired in the womb with regard to self gender identity.


traditional toys for boys



1. toys resembling tools, animals and equipment for traditional male trades/occupations

2. toys resembling land vehicles, vessels, aircraft or spacecraft especially fast-moving ones

3. toys resembling guns and other weapons

4. toys resembling military equipment

5. toys resembling sports equipment for masculine sports

6. toys resembling figures of men in various male occupations: soldier, cop, hard-hat, cowboy, carpenter, fighter jet pilot, farmer, fireman, doctor

7. certain animal figures deemed especially masculine as large dogs, lions, tigers and wolves



traditional toys for girls


1. toys resembling the household equipment associated with female domestic life

2. dolls, mostly figures of females and infants

3. dollhouses and play furniture

4. certain animal figures deemed especially feminine as ponies, bunnies and kitty cats

5. toys resembling fancy decorator telephones

6. toys resembling beautiful female figures in fairy tales

7. toys resembling figures of women in various female occupations: school teacher, nurse, fashion model, nun, airline stewardess, telephone operator, librarian, office secretary
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
There was as well when I was growing up. However, because kids (even some other primates) do tend to gravitate towards toys of their gender I don't think it really needs to be enforced as rigidly. They can "cross play" for whatever reason and nothing comes of it. Or, as one psychologist wrote who tried to raise her kids in a gender neutral environment, they can use imagination to make them into toys of their gender (play table legs of a kitchen set being made into guns in this example). Kids take to and learn gendered behaviors far better than what many give them credit for, even without a parent of that sex. It's that deeply ingrained into us.
 

Jonathan Bailey

Well-Known Member
There was as well when I was growing up. However, because kids (even some other primates) do tend to gravitate towards toys of their gender I don't think it really needs to be enforced as rigidly. They can "cross play" for whatever reason and nothing comes of it. Or, as one psychologist wrote who tried to raise her kids in a gender neutral environment, they can use imagination to make them into toys of their gender (play table legs of a kitchen set being made into guns in this example). Kids take to and learn gendered behaviors far better than what many give them credit for, even without a parent of that sex. It's that deeply ingrained into us.

Also some parents often buy gender-specific toys for their children. There was no way my parents would buy me dolls. Of course, I never asked for them. At age nine I expressed interest in a Big Wheel.The advertisement in the catalog said it was for children up to age 10. My grandfather said it was for babies because he perceived it as a "tricycle".
 

SomeRandom

Still learning to be wise
Staff member
Premium Member
Some of this had to do with advertising in the old days. Some studies show that infants may naturally focus more on a toy that is stereotyped for their own gender. When shown a truck and a doll, baby boys will fixate on the truck more while baby girls will fixate on the doll more. So, some of this has to do with how the brain is wired in the womb with regard to self gender identity.


traditional toys for boys



1. toys resembling tools, animals and equipment for traditional male trades/occupations

2. toys resembling land vehicles, vessels, aircraft or spacecraft especially fast-moving ones

3. toys resembling guns and other weapons

4. toys resembling military equipment

5. toys resembling sports equipment for masculine sports

6. toys resembling figures of men in various male occupations: soldier, cop, hard-hat, cowboy, carpenter, fighter jet pilot, farmer, fireman, doctor

7. certain animal figures deemed especially masculine as large dogs, lions, tigers and wolves



traditional toys for girls


1. toys resembling the household equipment associated with female domestic life

2. dolls, mostly figures of females and infants

3. dollhouses and play furniture

4. certain animal figures deemed especially feminine as ponies, bunnies and kitty cats

5. toys resembling fancy decorator telephones

6. toys resembling beautiful female figures in fairy tales

7. toys resembling figures of women in various female occupations: school teacher, nurse, fashion model, nun, airline stewardess, telephone operator, librarian, office secretary
Meh I played with trucks and cars as a kid. My father was a rough and tumble mechanic. So I assume that’s where I got it from.
I also played with girly things from time to time. But the boys toys was always more appealing to me. :shrug: Never hurt me any. Though judgey people tried to get me to change. Screw those haters! Tomboy for life!
 

Guitar's Cry

Disciple of Pan
Boys have evolved instinctively knowing what a truck is, since these have been a feature of the male's natural environment for millennia.
 

Mock Turtle

Oh my, did I say that!
Premium Member
When I were a lad, we (lads) played with rocks, and threw them at the plebs. The girls played with flowers, and crowned each other, whilst laughing at the stupid boys. And everything was natural then - so all was well with the world. :rolleyes:
 

Galateasdream

Active Member
Male and female brains are likely different in some ways, and across whole populations there's likely traits that are more typically male/female.

I'm not sure this is surprising ... :)
 

Jonathan Bailey

Well-Known Member
Boys have evolved instinctively knowing what a truck is, since these have been a feature of the male's natural environment for millennia.

Before trucks were motorized, they were drawn by animals. Any vehicle on wheels can be naturally connected with the male psyche. Boys and men are naturally drawn psychologically by mechanical motion, the faster the movement, the more intensely attentive is the male psyche. It's like natural predators that have prey-drive instinct. In primitive hunter-gatherer societies, men hunted: men pursued game for meat. Fellows like SPEED and power.
 
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Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
Male and female brains are likely different in some ways, and across whole populations there's likely traits that are more typically male/female.

I'm not sure this is surprising ... :)

Ordinarily, it wouldn't be that surprising, although in recent decades, our society has focused a great deal on issues related to gender, leading to confusion, misinformation, and mixed messages.
 

Galateasdream

Active Member
Ordinarily, it wouldn't be that surprising, although in recent decades, our society has focused a great deal on issues related to gender, leading to confusion, misinformation, and mixed messages.

True.
But it's also led to some great progress in understanding gender and more widespread good info too :)

It'll settle down soon enough, I expect. Gender issues are just part of the vogue of the moment, with some painful and difficult social readjustments happening.
 

shmogie

Well-Known Member
Some of this had to do with advertising in the old days. Some studies show that infants may naturally focus more on a toy that is stereotyped for their own gender. When shown a truck and a doll, baby boys will fixate on the truck more while baby girls will fixate on the doll more. So, some of this has to do with how the brain is wired in the womb with regard to self gender identity.


traditional toys for boys



1. toys resembling tools, animals and equipment for traditional male trades/occupations

2. toys resembling land vehicles, vessels, aircraft or spacecraft especially fast-moving ones

3. toys resembling guns and other weapons

4. toys resembling military equipment

5. toys resembling sports equipment for masculine sports

6. toys resembling figures of men in various male occupations: soldier, cop, hard-hat, cowboy, carpenter, fighter jet pilot, farmer, fireman, doctor

7. certain animal figures deemed especially masculine as large dogs, lions, tigers and wolves



traditional toys for girls


1. toys resembling the household equipment associated with female domestic life

2. dolls, mostly figures of females and infants

3. dollhouses and play furniture

4. certain animal figures deemed especially feminine as ponies, bunnies and kitty cats

5. toys resembling fancy decorator telephones

6. toys resembling beautiful female figures in fairy tales

7. toys resembling figures of women in various female occupations: school teacher, nurse, fashion model, nun, airline stewardess, telephone operator, librarian, office secretary
So ?
 

Jonathan Bailey

Well-Known Member
It depends on what one considers a "doll." I remember some boys had GI Joes back then, as well as other kinds of "action figures."

In 1973, I got a Big Jim camper set for Christmas complete with a figure of a man with falconry eagle and toy rowboat on top.

My grandfather insisted no sportsman kept an eagle in captivity for falconry.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Some of this had to do with advertising in the old days. Some studies show that infants may naturally focus more on a toy that is stereotyped for their own gender. When shown a truck and a doll, baby boys will fixate on the truck more while baby girls will fixate on the doll more. So, some of this has to do with how the brain is wired in the womb with regard to self gender identity.


traditional toys for boys



1. toys resembling tools, animals and equipment for traditional male trades/occupations

2. toys resembling land vehicles, vessels, aircraft or spacecraft especially fast-moving ones

3. toys resembling guns and other weapons

4. toys resembling military equipment

5. toys resembling sports equipment for masculine sports

6. toys resembling figures of men in various male occupations: soldier, cop, hard-hat, cowboy, carpenter, fighter jet pilot, farmer, fireman, doctor

7. certain animal figures deemed especially masculine as large dogs, lions, tigers and wolves



traditional toys for girls


1. toys resembling the household equipment associated with female domestic life

2. dolls, mostly figures of females and infants

3. dollhouses and play furniture

4. certain animal figures deemed especially feminine as ponies, bunnies and kitty cats

5. toys resembling fancy decorator telephones

6. toys resembling beautiful female figures in fairy tales

7. toys resembling figures of women in various female occupations: school teacher, nurse, fashion model, nun, airline stewardess, telephone operator, librarian, office secretary
Gi Joe's
Smash up derby
SSPs

Tin can Alley

Red Ryder BB gun. (Okay I got a crossman)

God those were the days.
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
I liked toy guns, swords especially, power rangers dress up, knight dress up, Bratz, animal figures and lots of books.
 
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