amy gail's Profile

I think the parents that are raising the question of boys toys are right on the mark. And as an artist/social worker that studies gender/child development, I am saddened at the reality that parents are clueless as to the power of marketing and identity these days. This is a multi-multi-billion dollar industry that has spent decades studying how to manipulate and change the thinking of human beings. It is a refined brainwashing that we are all subjected to on a daily basis. Us older folks remember a time of life and tv, but now there is no separation between marketing reality and our own lives- they are surrounded on all fronts by messages with a monetary goal. Did you know that girl's self image peeks at 8 yrs old? That's great that your 4 yr old is happy imagining she's a beautiful princess, but when she has greater self awareness and sense of reality at 8yrs and realizes she isn't the most beautiful (or is), what then? The question we should concern ourselves with is what qualities and tools are we instilling in our daughters and sons that will give them the strength to thrive in a world where they will be bombarded constantly by messages, the goal of which is to make you feel unhappy with yourself and that they are not good enough unless they buy certain products and that beauty is the only quality that really matters for girl, and physical strength is the only quality that matters for boys. Its difficult if, as parents, we model an addiction to consumption and are always online looking for 'stuff" to make our own lives better. Its about looking at the big picture, not the moment. I am so saddened when I take my girl trick or treating on Halloween and every single girl is a princess. When I was growing up, there was always that one girl who had to be a princess, but everyone else had broader imaginations. Now, we've shrunk it to princesses. And what does a princess represent in play? Play is not irrelevant. Play is a major part of building our adult identity- it's about trying on roles and stretching out. how sad for these girls who feel the best thing they could ever be is a stupid, rich, boring princess. I dare say in real life, princesses must have the most boring, sad and repressed life. Why would we want our daughters idolizing that?