Applying concepts/theories from philosophy and social science to ethical issues in interpersonal, group, organizational, intercultural, and media communication.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Procedural rules about gendered toys
I saw this image with a post from Mighty Girls on my facebook feed today and considered our conversation about changes in cultural tradition. Very interesting development. McDonalds, I might have to give you credit. Thoughts?
Yeah my girlfriend was making a point the other day that I hadn't actually thought about before, it's how men have very nonchalant terms for each other and they are pretty neutral sounding like "guys" & "bros" & "pal" and so forth. Where as women have fewer ways of interacting with each other or being interacted with. A lot of the words used are princess, gal, sis, toots, hun, babe, and so on. Words that have been used and correlate with objectification and aren't really as communal as words used to talk to men. Tying it in with this, I think it's a step up for what was done before. Although I know that McDonalds still has the girl toys to be pretty pink. I would like to see what they do next.
I am having a hard time seeing how the words princess, gal, sis, toots, hun, and babe are used to objectify women. Princess might be used when a father or mother is referring to their daughter. When I use the term gals it is referring to a group of girls. My mom calls her sister sis. To me, toots, hun and babe are just words of endearment that can be used by either a man or a woman and are not gender specific. Maybe in some other culture these words are used to and correlate with objectification but for the culture I am apart of, they are not used for that purpose.
Also, can you expand upon the statement “women have fewer ways of interacting with each other or being interacted with”.
What my girlfriend was referring to was when men use those terms towards women they are not people who are close to them. I also commented to my girlfriend about the endearment thing and her response was that.
Oh and what I meant with the fewer ways of interacting between women was that a lot of the words used to describe woman, such as girl, toots, and hun all have the connotation someone semi-vulnerable and so forth. Other times specifically, like princess or babe, where it could mean that they need to be taken care of. That's kind of the gist I am getting at. I had a whole response and then it somehow deleted when I click of the page.
Also, the movie Tootsie is really really good. This is where the topic came from mainly.
I think it's sort of strange that it's taken THIS long for them to change it! Growing up, sometimes the "boy" toys were a lot cooler than the "girl" ones so I would want the "boy" toys like my brother, but my mom would always have trouble telling them that she needed two "boy" toys. I'm curious as to how their new ordering process will be. :)
Have you ever seen the clip of this little girl in the toystore? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CU040Hqbas
She's discussing why boys and girls should be in the same section, rather than being in two completely separate sections. It's completely ridiculous how certain colors or certain toys are designated for boys and girls. And I think it's also ridiculous how parents perpetuate these stereotypes today. Cultural norms have been changing, and we as a society should change with it.
Even though they may not refer to them as “boy or girl” toys, I would imagine that there are still lots of cues with the toys to signify that the My Little Pony toy is for girls and the Skylanders toy is for boys. Mostly the color put on the toy. For example, I would imagine that My Little Pony toys are pink and purple while the Skylander toys are blue and black. I am wondering if referring to them as the My Little Pony toy and the Skylanders toy makes any difference because of the strong cues that are associated with the toys themselves.
I would give McDonalds props for this change but sometimes I wonder why they dont just offer one toy that isn't necessarily gender specific - due to colors, stereotypical beliefs, etc. I understand that this might limit their options of toys that they are able to include in meals but it would avoid any sort of issues surrounding gender. I remember when I was younger and we would get McDonalds I always wanted to steal my brothers toys. I dont know if that was just because I wanted to take them from him or if it was because they appealed to me as well. I never really enjoyed getting a pony or something with my Happy Meal, it wasn't something that made me want it over any other sort of fast food. I think that if McDonalds is that concerned about their toys being gendered they should come up with a solution that allows for no concern at all.
Yeah my girlfriend was making a point the other day that I hadn't actually thought about before, it's how men have very nonchalant terms for each other and they are pretty neutral sounding like "guys" & "bros" & "pal" and so forth. Where as women have fewer ways of interacting with each other or being interacted with. A lot of the words used are princess, gal, sis, toots, hun, babe, and so on. Words that have been used and correlate with objectification and aren't really as communal as words used to talk to men. Tying it in with this, I think it's a step up for what was done before. Although I know that McDonalds still has the girl toys to be pretty pink. I would like to see what they do next.
ReplyDeleteI am having a hard time seeing how the words princess, gal, sis, toots, hun, and babe are used to objectify women. Princess might be used when a father or mother is referring to their daughter. When I use the term gals it is referring to a group of girls. My mom calls her sister sis. To me, toots, hun and babe are just words of endearment that can be used by either a man or a woman and are not gender specific. Maybe in some other culture these words are used to and correlate with objectification but for the culture I am apart of, they are not used for that purpose.
DeleteAlso, can you expand upon the statement “women have fewer ways of interacting with each other or being interacted with”.
What my girlfriend was referring to was when men use those terms towards women they are not people who are close to them. I also commented to my girlfriend about the endearment thing and her response was that.
DeleteOh and what I meant with the fewer ways of interacting between women was that a lot of the words used to describe woman, such as girl, toots, and hun all have the connotation someone semi-vulnerable and so forth. Other times specifically, like princess or babe, where it could mean that they need to be taken care of. That's kind of the gist I am getting at. I had a whole response and then it somehow deleted when I click of the page.
Also, the movie Tootsie is really really good. This is where the topic came from mainly.
I think it's sort of strange that it's taken THIS long for them to change it! Growing up, sometimes the "boy" toys were a lot cooler than the "girl" ones so I would want the "boy" toys like my brother, but my mom would always have trouble telling them that she needed two "boy" toys. I'm curious as to how their new ordering process will be. :)
ReplyDeleteHave you ever seen the clip of this little girl in the toystore? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CU040Hqbas
ReplyDeleteShe's discussing why boys and girls should be in the same section, rather than being in two completely separate sections. It's completely ridiculous how certain colors or certain toys are designated for boys and girls. And I think it's also ridiculous how parents perpetuate these stereotypes today. Cultural norms have been changing, and we as a society should change with it.
Even though they may not refer to them as “boy or girl” toys, I would imagine that there are still lots of cues with the toys to signify that the My Little Pony toy is for girls and the Skylanders toy is for boys. Mostly the color put on the toy. For example, I would imagine that My Little Pony toys are pink and purple while the Skylander toys are blue and black. I am wondering if referring to them as the My Little Pony toy and the Skylanders toy makes any difference because of the strong cues that are associated with the toys themselves.
ReplyDeleteI love my Skylanders....
ReplyDeleteand i had my little ponies as a child
ReplyDeleteI would give McDonalds props for this change but sometimes I wonder why they dont just offer one toy that isn't necessarily gender specific - due to colors, stereotypical beliefs, etc. I understand that this might limit their options of toys that they are able to include in meals but it would avoid any sort of issues surrounding gender. I remember when I was younger and we would get McDonalds I always wanted to steal my brothers toys. I dont know if that was just because I wanted to take them from him or if it was because they appealed to me as well. I never really enjoyed getting a pony or something with my Happy Meal, it wasn't something that made me want it over any other sort of fast food. I think that if McDonalds is that concerned about their toys being gendered they should come up with a solution that allows for no concern at all.
ReplyDelete