Fake Eyelashes

from: Tara

While browsing the toy store, I came across this photo of a child displayed on a poster which was hanging over one of the aisles. My first thought was that this little girl appeared to be five going on twenty-five. In regards to the socialization of gender in children, I believe this picture represents how society is pressuring females to grow up faster and to assume the role of the "stereotypical" woman. As a result of this pressure, girls become obsessed with beauty and feminine appearance at a ridiculously young age.

The message this poster is sending to young girls is that being gorgeous and caked with make-up is FUN! This idea is relayed to girls at a very young age. By the time these children are preteens, the advertisements have sent the message that beauty is essential and should be prioritized only behind breathing.

After gawking at this poster for a couple minutes, I went into the aisles labeled "Home & Dress up". In the dress-up aisle there were make-up kits, princess dresses, even wigs! I find it sad and unfortunate that the popular game of dress-up involves girls changing their appearance to look like someone they are not. In the home aisle, there were fake babies, and fake kitchens, and fake vacuums. I was not surprised to see that on the outside of all of these toy packages there were pictures of girls, not boys, performing all these tasks as a fun game. Maybe I am wrong, but I think most women can think of things that they would much rather do besides taking care of crying babies while cooking and cleaning their house. And yet, toy stores are sending
messages to little girls that these type of activities are fun and entertaining! It seems disturbing that the socialization of gender in children involves girls learning that they must perform all the tasks of the household while the boys are out playing with soldiers and cars.

P.S. After taking this picture, one of the employees at the toy store told my friend and me that we had to leave! Apparently, you are not allowed to take photographs in the store. I found this humorous. Maybe they do not want people to have evidence of how corrupt children's toys can be? :)