Recently there was been much debate and published studies on whether or not girls are just biologically ‘wired’ to prefer pink, and boys blue.
I do not dispute this research, yet I think the impact of socializing girls into pink, goes a lot further than just the eye’s pigment preference. For instance, most toys that cater to young girls promote very stereotypical female values. You have dolls, tea sets, vanity’s, easy bake ovens, princess wear, ect. While boys play with more science and engineering oriented toys.
Surely this is no surprise to anyone who has ever stepped into a toy store aisle, yet I think it is important to discuss.
I recently read an article titled "Girls Learn Math Anxiety from Teachers," that touched on the fact that girls may learn to be uneasy about math from their female teachers who have anxiety about the subject. I am unsure if I agree with this research, I feel more information needs to be gathered. However if it is true, we have a big problem. Women need to feel confident in their math and science abilities, but this can be challenging considering we have been conditioned to think and feel otherwise.
There is a stigma placed on girls to not be interested in math or science because those are ‘boy subjects’, and rather to focus on reading, which is traditionally where females thrive. Yet, I can’t help but think this is due to what females are exposed to and brought up to think acceptable, beginning as early as the easy bake oven days.
An interesting Web site I stumbled upon from the United Kingdom is called Pinkstinks. The sites core message is as follows:
“Pinkstinks argument is that while toys for boys encompass every avenue imaginable - construction; science; adventure; role play; physical and educational – in the so-called ‘pink alleys’ of toy stores choices for girls are much more limited – and limiting.”
I tend to agree with this message, because the toy choices for young females are far more limiting and often lack serious educational value. For instance looking at the microscope section of the Toys r Us catalog, says enough. There are three microscopes and three telescopes, and the pink ones (aka the girl ones) both have the LOWEST magnification. That sends a pretty big message about the general perception of girls and science; even from the Toys R Us age.
Observe the colors and the magnification levels (the pink microscope is 600, while the red is 900, and the black is 1200) ...coincidence? Probably Not...
I am not saying that we should burn everything colored pink, yet I believe that there should be more promotion for females to have an interest in science at an early age, as well as EQUALITY in these gender colored toys.
Until Next Post,
G.
