Gender stereotyping of children's toys: A comparison of parents and nonparents

Parents and nonparents were compared to examine differences in the use of gender stereotyping to classify children's toys. Gender-stereotyping was also examined based on the age of the child. Parents and nonparents were sampled from a predominantly white, middle and upper middle class population. Subjects rated the appropriateness of 206 toys for use by girls and/or boys and were in general agreement regarding toys identified as gender-stereotyped. In general, feminine toys were stereotyped more than masculine toys although parents were more gender neutral in their ratings of toys than nonparents. Comparisons across mothers and fathers suggest that interactions with children may influence parental perceptions of gender-appropriateness differentially for mothers and fathers and is partly dependent on the sex of the child(ren). Finally it appears that while toys are gender stereotyped for all age groups, there is more flexibility in gender stereotyping of toys for infants and toddlers.