Commercials involving toys has much more of a bad affect on younger children then meets the eye. They are enforcing a strong message, and stereotype, that boys can dream to be astronauts, and positions not likely possible. But girls are training to become something that will most likely happen, no matter what. For example, realistic, pooping and peeing baby dolls, with changeable diapers, barbie houses with washer and dryers. It almost seems like there are two very different messages being sent, boys are being trained by toys to chase their dreams. While girls are stuck playing with toys that will help them fill their positions as a “house mother”. Or their being taught that they have to live up to a plastic, 6 foot, 4 inch waisted plastic barbie doll. How is that message leaving a positive affect on the younger generation of children? It really isn’t. There honestly is a gender stereotype in the modern day toys, and something extremely disturbing about the commercials. It is not only steering children to a world of disappointment, but some of the commercials are just plain wrong! They also are defeating women, as the toys seem to be training young children into mothers, or something thats completely realistic, their teaching young women their is no point of dreaming.

For example the Oozinater, a toy gun that portrays the image of a sexual activity. The gun does not shoot water, it shoots white ooze. If that is not disturbing enough the subtitles read, “requires major pumping”. No wonder the young boys in this ad seem almost horrified to be shot by this white Ooze. Something clearly tells me that the makers of this new gun, didn’t completely think this one through. This is far to disturbing to be a children toy. Do parents really want their children playing with a gun that looks like it is shooting the resemblance of something that comes from a male part? Also certain shots in this ad tend to miss out on the showing of the actual gun, all thats visible is a young child horrified and completely grossed out to be shot by this white oozing slime! Not only is the commercial wrong, its sick, and horrifyingly disturbing.

Another example is the doll named ” baby alive“. This is a very realistic baby doll, it eats, drinks, and wets while moving its mouth. The newest version of the doll includes Wets and Wiggles , Sip and Slurp, Sip and Snooze, Pat and Burp, Baby Alive learns to potty, and baby go bye-bye. The point of all these dolls is to cross the line of realistic, and lifelike. I believe it is somewhat wrong to have such life like dolls, when young children are getting the idea that since their baby dolls are almost life like its easy to take care of babies. Not only that but it is also another stereotype, that little girls can play with dolls, to learn to fit into the motherhood in the future. They may also feel like their dolls are so real, that the real babies are the same as their dolls. The young children could harm or danger their brothers, sisters,  cousins, or any type of babies around them. When these types of commercials come onto the television little children are being fooled. Fooled into thinking that their toy dolls are so lifelike, they are able to take care of actual living breathing dolls. For example, dolls are becoming so realistic, there is now a swimming baby doll. She actually moves her feet and legs when put into water. What is this going to present in the future. Possibly deaths of live babies, because the makers of the dolls are making them so realistic. Young 4 or 5 year old children wouldn’t know the difference. How upsetting is the thought of your son or daughter thinking their able to make your new born child swim. It makes a person wonder if the toy commercials, and the toys being made, are really safe. The makers don’t seem to think these things through, this could result in horrifying events.

Barbie dream toy house is another example of a stereotype aimed at young girls. This house comes with a toy washer and dryer that makes noises. I never thought that in this century young children would be playing with toys that involve doing laundry. I take offense to the making of this toy, because again it seems as though it is trying to train girls to be ready for motherhood. When boys are dreaming to be knights in shinning armor. There is a definite stereotype between girls and boys, and toy commercials are promoting their barbie doll house’s, they should be scolded for doing so. Because it seems as though toys are promoting the back in the day thought, that men are better then women. The barbie dream toy house is following that thought to the fullest. It is saying little girls have no room to dream, because they will be to busy learning how to become a loving, nurturing mother. A mother that takes care of the children, cooks, and cleans, while staying at home. This toy along with toy companies should be shut down for promoting an ongoing stereotype that many believed to be erased. Both girls and boys should be pushed to strive for the stars. Not just let girls believe all they can do in life is change dirty diapers, while boys have every single opportunity in the book to become all they can be.

So in conclusion, it is a upsetting offending thing to realize that this message is being sent through toy commercials. I believe that if toy commercials should continue, both girls and boys should be encouraged to reach for the stars. If being a mother is something that happens along the way then thats wonderful. But children should not be discouraged and told that all they will ever be will stay at home mom’s who do laundry, and clean dirty diapers in a house of 10 screaming kids. This stereotype is offending, and buying their toys are only telling them that it is okay to put women down, and treat them as a second class. Therefore, toy advertising is wrong, humiliating, and should not be allowed.

Here is a link to the same discussion we are having in the forum.