The company says it's toys are "build for boyhood". Don't girls have a right to play with the toys too? Shouldn't it say something like "build for childhood"?
2007-11-30 15:32:12 · 18 answers · asked by hotchickagirl422 3 in Social Science ➔ Gender Studies
Everyone seems to be saying "that's because girls don't play with tonka trucks!" But isn't it possible that ads like this, that clearly send a message that this toy is only intended for this specific gender, discourage kids of the other sex from playing with them? "built for boyhood?" They might as well say "this is for boys!"
So yes, I find it a little annoying.
I may be an anomaly, but as a girl, I sometimes enjoyed playing with trucks, robots, action figures. It made me uncomfortable when I got the sense that people considered these "boys" toys. so, though I wanted to, I was shy about playing with them.
2007-11-30 16:09:01 · answer #1 · answered by Priscilla B 5 · 4⤊ 9⤋
Not really. They are targeted to boys if their key demographic were girls they would be pink or something. Little girls prefer things with faces or something they can cuddle and I'm not being sexist they did a study. Anyway no one is gonna penalize a little girl for playing with a boys toy it's just a stupid commercial. I bought my little niece a Tonka truck for her last birthday and she liked it just the same. Besides I think people are starting to realize that girls like playing with cars too because Polly pocket came out with this hot wheel like play set for girls.
2007-11-30 16:19:24 · answer #2 · answered by nobody 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
They might just be appealing to the young-boy market. But, yes, there's no good reason for girls not to play with Tonka toys. I actually kind of liked that stuff when I was a kid.
2007-12-01 00:49:07 · answer #3 · answered by Rio Madeira 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's funny that you posted this question because I was thinking the same thing! I consider myself to be a pretty strong, independent woman and I want to raise any daughter I have to be the same way, growing up knowing she can pursue whatever career or endeavor she wants. I'd hate for her to think she couldn't have a career in say....construction...just because that's what society says. I don't consider myself to be a feminist, but my thought on this issue is clear: We as a society can't continue to raise little girls with only dolls, kitchen playsets, and makeup then wonder why they're not doing as good in science and math as boys. Some men might say boys are just naturally better at those subjects and I say b.s. If you look at the toys that are pushed on boys vs. girls, it's clear why girls might not be excelling in science or math. Boys are encouraged to play with things you BUILD while girls are encouraged to play with things you nurture or would do for people you love (like pretending to cook for heaven's sake). So, of course if a little boy has been exposed to toys that encourage a more scientific mindset, then they are going to be better prepared for those subjects. It makes me sick really. I don't think parents need to go overboard in the opposite direction (i.e. FORCING their little girls to play with "boy" toys) but some rational thinking needs to happen as well instead of just blindly buying what the commercials tell you to.
2007-11-30 19:45:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, this question sure separates the knee-jerk, ill informed and ideologically incoherent from the thoughtful answers.
Girls can play with the trucks if the want to. It is just that there are not as many girls that by a great statistically significant amount would want to. Some boys like toys that girls like.
Tonka is a company. How do you think your " should statement " would be received by them?
2007-11-30 16:37:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
The thing is, most toys aimed at girls are boring and useless. What else can you do with them besides pose them, look at them, dress and undress them, and brush their hair? These were the toys my girls soon put aside. If I had such a stupid and useless selection of toys when I was a child, I probably would have done the exact same thing. I don't remember toys being so segregated back then as they are today. There were toys aimed a boys and toys aimed at girls but for the most part, there was a huge selection of them that were fine for both. One of my favorite toys as a child were Legos and they were not aimed at boys like they are today. I knew a lot of girls who also played with them.
2007-11-30 16:20:00 · answer #6 · answered by RoVale 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Yes, I agree. I thought the same thing when I saw that commercial. As a former preschool teacher and now 1st grade teacher, I can verify that there are plenty of girls, especially young girls (about the age of the boys in the commercial) that LOVE playing with trucks.
I honestly don't mind who they market to, but I do find it a bit sexist to not only single out a sex, but to do it to children.
2007-11-30 16:53:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 5⤋
Oh gawd give me a break. Tonka toys are targeting boys - so what?! Should Barbie change their branding to include boy themes on everything?
2007-11-30 15:40:49 · answer #8 · answered by justntime2c 3 · 8⤊ 3⤋
tonkas market is boys simple as, just as there are other companies who target girls. Girls can play with the toys i sure they wont complain but it does not dispute the fact that it is boys that they are aiming for.
2007-11-30 15:38:02 · answer #9 · answered by Dan A 6 · 10⤊ 3⤋
Sexism starts at birth (pink blankets for the girls, blue for the boys...starts in the nursery at the hospital). This doesn't surprise me one bit. Every single message we get, especially at that young an age, is specifically geared to who society wants us to be, and is usually gender specific. Hopefully I can instill a little more freedom in my kids...teach them to challenge all these insane messages our media (not to mention relatives...grrr) bombard them with.
2007-11-30 17:10:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋