The suitability of the text
Currency: the timeliness of the information
The article “Gender Stereotypes of Children’s Toys: Investigating the Perspectives of Adults Who Have and Do Not Have Children” was published in 2015 and was neither revised nor updated. The information remains relevant to the issue of adults influence on the choice of toys because the findings are independent of the date of publication of the survey. Besides, they coincide with the results of the previous surveys.
Authority: the source of the information
The authors of the article are Kristy Boekee, a Bachelor of Science in occupational therapy, and the Associate Professor of Monash University, Ted Brown. According to the professors page on Monash universitys website, Brown is deeply involved in the topic due to the occupied positions in the academic and practical environment.
Accuracy: the reliability and tone of content
The authors do not indicate numerical evidence of their findings. For example, there is no proof of a distinction in the perception of gender-neutral toys by parents and non-parents. Nevertheless, the authors explain the causes of different and similar views on playthings by citing early researches.
Purpose: the reason the information exists
The article investigates the influence of gender stereotypes of toys on parents and non-parents. The essay should evaluate the adults impact on toys; therefore, the information is suitable for citing. Gender patterns affect adults; consequently, they also change their views on toys. There is no evidence of any form of bias in the survey.
Usefulness
The article contains relevant information for the essay question, as it explains how adults perceive childrens toys. This source could be used for the academic assignment since the data is published by trustworthy authors in a reliable journal and contains suitable information.
The summary of the text: the central argument, supporting claims, and evidence
The main argument of the paper is that there is no difference in the parents and non-parents perception of toys as masculine or feminine. Still, parents accept more toys as gender-neutral than adults without children. The results of the survey conducted among male and female parents and non-parents evidence that this difference in views does exist. The first claim that proves the statement is concerned with the suggestion that the experience of being a parent broadens the understanding of toys. This means that parents see more toys as suitable for both boys and girls. For example, parents know a ball as a neutral toy, while non-parents suggest it is more male and female or neutral. The second supporting claim is found in the citation of Idle et al. (1993) used in the article. The authors reckon that parents would prefer their children to use neutral toys than toys associated with the opposite sex. The education of the parents in the context of gender stereotypes proves their desire.
The persuasion to accept any of the points within the article
It is impossible to disagree with the authors of the paper that gender stereotypes guide which playthings should be used by boys and girls. At the same time, I did not believe that the points of view on the gender appropriateness of toys of people with and without children are not the same. The article persuaded me of the reasons why parents see more toys as gender-neutral rather than people who do not have children. In my opinion, it is fair that non-parents lack some experience that broadens views on suitability toys. Nevertheless, as time goes by, people become more liberal in their views. It is getting more and more popular not to determine a childs gender by the clichés. Thus, I suppose that if the survey is repeated five years later, the indicated difference will become smaller. Children are still treated with gender-based patterns of behavior. However, this tendency gradually eradicates with every new generation.
References
Idle, T., Wood, E., & Desmarais, S. (1993). Gender role socialization in toy play situations: Mothers and fathers with their sons and daughters. Sex Roles, 28(11/12), 679–691.
Boekee, K., & Brown, T. (2015). Gender Stereotypes of Children’s Toys: Investigating the Perspectives of Adults Who Have and Do Not Have Children. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 8(1), 97-107.