In the reading
about Mythologies written by Barthes, he unpacks how every day concepts can be
alternately interpreted. In the section devoted to discussing about toys I
found the concept of toys relating to adulthood most intriguing. The phrase
written, “French toys always mean something, and this something is always
entirely socialized, constituted by the myths or the techniques of modern adult
life” (Barthes p.53). Barthes goes on to discuss how society has created toys
to show little girls how to be good mothers with dolls and plastic cookware,
and toys for young boys of army men and science experiments. These toys signify
how young children will come to find there place in adulthood.
I always played with Barbies and my little kitchen
set, but never once did I think that would alter my view on how I would grow or
perceive myself. As a person there are social normalities placed around each
gender. Socially, I am supposed to stay home and clean the kitchen, fold the
laundry, vacuum the floors and have dinner on the table by five o’clock for
when my husband gets home from work. The man is supposed to be seen as the
supporter of the family; the one who essentially “brings home the bacon”. I
will however, argue that times have changed and are still changing. We have had
women in significant power roles the last couple of decades; as in Congress
members, CEO’s, and possibly the next president of the United States. These
positions could have nothing to do with the toys children were subjected to
while growing up, or they could have had everything to do with them.
Have you ever thought about why you wanted a toy
vacuum as a child? The answer is that you probably did not want a vacuum or a
GI Joe action figures. In our culture, parents set the standards of toys and
gender roles for their children. For example, when you’re first born you have
no idea about color, but your parents look at you and say, “Oh it’s a boy”,
then your room gets painted blue. Why does it get painted blue? Because the
social normality in color choice for boys is blue. In all reality, you have no
idea what color you like at a day old, what toys you prefer, what career choice
you want, or even how you identify yourself as a person. Your parents set the
standards right from birth. You are immediately put into a category of who the
people surrounding you want you to become. And toys are a contributing factor
to this right from the start.
It can be argued that children do have a choice in
what they subject themselves too. Which
is true, children can choice to subject themselves to certain sources of media
(television, music, internet) or play with certain toys. However, who do you
think monitors those shows and buys the toys? The parents hold all of the
power. By asserting this it confirms that parents have an agenda in how they
would like their children to be perceived. There is absolutely nothing wrong
with a young boy playing with a Barbie, but the parents might not want their
child to give off a signal that they’re not following the social normalities. This
is not to say that all parents make their children commit to specific gender
roles, but for the most part you do not see a little girl getting a dump truck
set for Christmas.
Times are always changing and this millennial
generation is setting a new set of higher standards. Equality is what we strive
for. Whether that is through buying our sons plastic pink kitchenware or by
asking your boss about the wage gap. We are redefining how gender is perceived
in world full of social normalities.
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