Aren't Dolls For Girls?

“Aren’t dolls for girls?” That’s what some may say. But, is it correct to imply that only girls can play with dolls? Without the push towards gender stereotypes, would our children know (or care) that dolls are for girls? If we tell a girl that she has to dance instead of playing baseball, she’ll be confused. When we follow up with baseball is for boys, we are putting emphasis on the fact that little girls have a specific reputation to live up to in terms of what they can and cannot do, while the same goes for little boys in playing with dolls, and is that okay to do?

Whether they know it or not, adults and parents play a pivotal role in what children feel comfortable doing and playing with. From a personal experience, at my preschool we have a boy student who frequently chooses to wear a dress at playtime. Rather than deter him from wearing “girl clothes,” we aim to create a space where he, and the rest of the students, feel comfortable playing with the toys they want to play with, rather than focusing on the gender stereotypes.

We frequently aren'taware of how much we reinforce stereotyping by complimenting boys and girls instereotypical ways, such as telling a girl they look like a princess. As a goal for parents and adults, it is important that we focus on encouraging children to be themselves, rather than attempting to categorize them stereotypically based on their gender.
            Rather than making remarks towards gender stereotypes, is there a way that we can make strides towards breaking stereotypes altogether, especially in children? If we as a generation eliminate these stereotypes towards children, will they, too grow up without knowing gender stereotypes? And with this, do we have the ability to eliminate gender stereotypes as a whole?