TOY PREFERENCES IN CHILDREN; IMPACT OF GENDER AND CULTURE, AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Authors

  • Esra EMOLU Marmara University
  • Laura TAYLOR Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
  • K. Gamze ALÇEKİÇ YAMAN Marmara University, Ä°stanbul
  • Merve TEZEL Osmangazi Primary School,Ä°stanbul,

Abstract

Toy preferences in early childhood have an impact on and are reflective of gender socialisation which is considered as an indicator of, amongst other things, future life decisions.  This study is the pilot for the main study in which the extent to which culture affects Turkish and British children’s toy preferences together with a number of related variables will be investigated in a cross-cultural perspective.

         Socialisation is the process whereby the infant learns how to become a member of the society by adapting to the ways of the culture he/she lives in. Four agents of socialisation: family, school, peer groups and mass media guide him/her through the way.  

References

Blakemore O. J.E.,Centers R.; Characteristics of Boys’ and Girls’ Toys, Sex Roles, Vol. 53 Nos9/10 November 2005.

Cherney, I.D et al.; The Effects of Stereotyped Toys and Gender on Play Assessment inChildren Aged 18-47 Months, Educational Psychology, Vol 23, No.1, 2003.

Cherney I.D, Dempsey J.; Young children’s classification, stereotyping and play behaviour for gender neutral and ambiguous toys, Educational Psychology: An International Journal of Experimental Educational Psychology, July 2010.

Creswell, J.W (2007),Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing among qualitative approaches, 2nd ed, Thousand Oaks, CA.

Feinman, S. (1981). Why is cross-sex-role behavior more approved for girls than for boys? Astatus characteristic approach. Sex Roles, 7, 289-299.

Holland, Penny. (2003). We Don’t Play with Guns Here. War, Weapon and Superhero Play in the Early Years. McGraw-Hill.

Jadva V.,Hines M.,Golombok S.,Infants’ Preferences for Toys, Colors,and Shapes: SexDifferences and Similarities, Arch Sex Behav, 2010 39.

Martin, C. L. (1990). Attitudes about children with nontraditional and traditional gender roles Sex Roles, 22, 151-165.

Molu, F.E, Play, Toys and Gender Socialisation, Revista Educatia Plus, No. 2, November 2014.

Pirpir D., Er R., Kocak N.; Comparison of attitudes of parents having children in early childhood period related to play , World Conference on Educational Sciences 2009, Procedia

Ramazan O, Ozdemir A.; Child, Mother and Teacher Attitudes towards Toys, Egitim Bilmleri Arastirmalari Dergisi Vol 2, No.1 June 2012.

Sezen, I. Lego Oyuncaklarinda Toplumsal Cinsiyet Temsili (Gender Representation in Lego Toys), Atilim Dergisi Vol 2, No.1 2012.

Wood, E. (2002). The impact of parenting experience on gender stereotyped toy play of children. Sex Roles, 47.

Yıldırım, A., & Şimşek, H. (2008). Sosyal Bilimlerde Nitel Araştırma Yöntemleri (Qualitative Research Methods In Social Sciences), (6. Baskı) Ankara: Seçkin Yayıncılık.

Downloads

Published

2018-06-06