http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CU040Hqbas&feature=related
The first
toy I ever consciously asked for was a Barbie doll. Despite being boy (which I
still am) the idea of a boy being too boyish for a Barbie doll never crossed
the minds of my parents, and I received the bombshell the 3rd of
June 1993. My father played with his sisters as a child, and they would often
dress him up and play with Barbies. So the idea to my father of his own son
playing with a Barbie doll never really bothered him. To my Mother, I believe
the fact that her son was playing ‘undress’ with a Barbie rather than
‘dress-up’ was just a knock in the head. My parents saw nothing wrong with
allowing their son to want something not typically advertised to boys. In
comparison to Riley in the youtube video ‘Riley on Marketing’ I may not have
been such a pioneer, although I believe I have shared the same idea that any
kid should be able to play with any toy they desire.
Riley does
a fantastic job breaking down the stereotypes of the marketing tactics with in
the toy industry. I must admit, her vocabulary isn’t very vast, although she’s
only four! I have faith in the youth of tomorrow if they are able to define and
see through marketing ploys in the manner, which Riley exercised. The sheer observations
of the color of the boxes between girl and boy toys are the biggest difference
between the isles of the toy stores. Riley does a good job proclaiming that
boys at times want girls toys [Holla!] and girls want boy toys.
I for one
proclaim that generations after our own will be able to see differences in such
obvious market ploys. Although, I believe its up to our generation to make sure
that the youth of tomorrow are given equal access to toys which they desire despite typical gender roles.
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