Gendered Toys?

Jennifer Scanlon offers a great view into the world of female board games that I had never heard of. Being a male, I grew up playing board games that relied less on gender, although I found that even candy land was pushing it. Throughout this course I have learned ways in which women grow up in a world that reinforces sexism, gender stereotypes and sexual norms; however, I had no idea that it even reached such a thing as board games. The distinction between "boy" toys and "girl" toys are obvious for even the writing on the box is made to attract a specific gender. Board games like Heart-Throb, The Dream Date Game, and Sweet Valley High serve to reinforce heterosexuality which our society has deemed as being normal. One way or another, the object of the game always relates boys but in ways that promote male privilege.

These board games make it the goal to somehow, someway end up with a guy by the end of the game; excluding a pursuit of a career, and intellectualism almost entirely. The games are not meant to stress and frustrate girls. After reading this article and putting some thought into it, I have come to the realization that almost all board games are aimed at one sex. Growing up I remember playing board games such as Battleship and Stratego, which both require strategy and craftiness in order to succeed. One may say these games are gender neutral, but when you really view the game you realize it involves everything boys are suppose to love: war and violence. In retrospect, the toy industry aims at attracting one sex over another with certain toys; it’s the undeniable truth.