{"exhibit":{"id":41,"title":"Gender Norms in Childhood Through Figures","description":"

This exhibit features a wide variety of figures, primarily originating from the 2000s and 2010s, that both reinforce and challenge gender norms<\/span>. <\/span><\/b>They include American Girl dolls, plushies, collectable figures, as well as a 3D printed figure.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the nature vs. nurture argument, gendered play is decidedly nurture based. Like most things, gendered play is taught by parents and society. Without interference, children do not have the comprehension ability to choose a \u201cgirl\u201d toy or a \u201cboy\u201d toy; they choose what seems the most interactive\/fun to them. While often viewed as nothing more than mere objects of entertainment, toys are also a reflection of the gender norms that America\u2019s youth are raised under. From the traditionally feminine American Girl dolls that encourage caring and confidence, to the stereotypically masculine Star Wars action figures that emphasize strength and justice, toys such as those displayed in this featured exhibit have reinforced the expectations of what it means to be a girl or a boy.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite that, these expectations are not wholly restrictive, nor are they deterministic of how children interact with their toys. A boy playing with an American Girl doll or a girl imagining herself as the hero of an adventurous tale is a perfect demonstration of how figures such as these can challenge the traditional boundaries associated with gender. Additionally, toys such as LEGO and 3D-printed figures exist outside of traditional gender expectations. By allowing children to develop their own characters, stories, and ways of play, these toys help challenge the notion that certain toys are gender exclusive. By examining these gender norms in childhood through the lens of figures, we can begin to consider how traditional gender expectations are both reinforced and challenged through play.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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In what ways do you think the figures featured in this exhibit reflect or challenge gender norms in America?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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Sources:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Caldera, Yvonne M., Aletha C. Huston, and Marion O\u2019Brien. \u201cSocial Interactions and Play Patterns of Parents and Toddlers with Feminine, Masculine, and Neutral Toys.\u201d <\/span>Child Development<\/span><\/i> 60, no. 1 (1989): 70\u201376. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2307\/1131072<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pope, Cydne. <\/span>The Social and Economic Consequences of Gendered Toys in America<\/span><\/i>. 2015. Student Research and Creative Works. University of Puget Sound. <\/span>https:\/\/jstor.org\/stable\/community.36513972<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sweet,<\/span> Elizabeth Valerie<\/span>. ,<\/span> 2013. \"Boy Builders and Pink Princesses: Gender, Toys, and Inequality Over the Twentieth Century.\" Order No. 3614279, University of California, Davis. <\/span><\/span>https:\/\/uis.idm.oclc.org\/login?url=https:\/\/www.proquest.com\/dissertations-theses\/boy-builders-pink-princesses-gender-toys\/docview\/1517101640\/se-2<\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>","credits":"Michael Keul, Alexia Slinger-Pollesch, Courtney Buman","featured":0,"public":1,"theme":"","theme_options":null,"slug":"gender-norms-through-figures","added":"2026-11-10 20:21:24","modified":"2026-11-10 20:32:44","owner_id":74,"use_summary_page":1,"cover_image_file_id":1034},"item":{"id":647,"item_type_id":null,"collection_id":10,"featured":0,"public":1,"added":"2026-10-29 20:39:10","modified":"2026-11-02 19:25:36","owner_id":69}}