Learning Objective: Students will apply knowledge of gender stereotypes to the marketing strategies of toys.

Question: How does marketing reinforce gender stereotypes through children’s toys?

1. On the internet, find a large box store and locate the selection of toys in the children’s section  (e.g., Target, Walmart, or another store with a decent toy selection). Please state what store you searched, and provide the links to the toys that you are describing for the activity.

2. Take notes on 2 toys or games marketed to boys and 2 toys or games marketed to girls. Can you tell which are the girls’ toys and which are the boys’ toys?  If so, how? Pay attention to the location on the website (are the toys labeled for boys or for girls), packaging, color, and nature of the toy. How are the toys different? How are the toys similar? Find 2 gender neutral toys and compare them to the gender stereotypical toys. Where on the website are they located? Are there any differences in the way they are marketed?

3. Be sure to end with a conclusion.

4. For your assignment, you will write a 2 page narrative about what you observed. Make sure to start with an introduction that includes the store and links to the toys. Based on your notes, address the questions in #2 above. Please provide enough detail to be clear. You may attach photos. As stated in the grading rubric, write your activity in complete sentences with transitions, using appropriate sentence and paragraph structure. Avoid writing like a text message.