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Culture

It Is Not So Pink And Blue: Stereotypes In Gifting

Vanessa Silva
Rachel Johnson
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at WVU chapter.

We are living in a society that is working extremely hard to end gender stereotypes and close the pay gap, yet we are the same society that supports pink gifts for girls and blue gifting for boys. This is an idea that is engraved in children’s minds from the second they are born. Literally. From the moment a child is born, they are put in pink or blue little outfits. Although extremely cute, it is the very beginning of gender identity imposition. But babies are boxed and categorized under gender roles before taking their first breath. This has been spread through the popularization of baby showers and gender reveals. The entire world finds out who they are supposed to be before they do.

 

 

A walk down a department store toy aisle will prove the clear gender divide I am talking about: princesses and dolls for the girls, superheroes and vehicles for the boys. This holiday season has proven no different. Markets continue to impose their sexist beliefs on children who have yet to understand gender roles. As shown, we continue to engrave in girls that their full potential is in the kitchen, representing their need to be calm and delicate, while we push boys for futures in STEM.

 

 

You Are What You Wear

The problem is not only with toys, but it has unfortunately spread to literally everything around us. The easiest and most common form of gender stereotyping is through clothes, whether directly or indirectly. If you are not convinced, stand in the middle of the children’s aisle. On one side, boys have symbols of cars, animals, where the girls are being told to be princesses, daddy’s little girl, anything but symbols of strength, but rather symbols of dependence. 

 

 

Stereotypes are Age-blind 

The real problem with gender stereotype gifting is not the fact itself, but the fact that this becomes a life-long tradition carried out through adulthood. Just because we have grown up with these stereotypes being engraved in our identity, it does not mean it is too late to break them. With Christmas just around the corner and last-minute shopping happening, it is the perfect season to fall for gender-stereotypical gifting. However, it is important to point out that although a lot more obvious in children, stereotypical gifting is carried out through adulthood. When buying gifts for your mom, sister, grandmother, aunts and all-female acquaintances, I challenge you to gift outside of the stereotypical jewelry, makeup or kitchen accessories. When shopping for your dad, brothers, uncles and male acquaintances, I challenge you to step outside of the typical sports, tools or car-related gifts. 

 

 

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Edited by Sydney Keener

Vanessa is a Venezuelan student at West Virginia University. She is majoring in Political Science, concentrating in International Relations, and minoring in Criminology. Outside of Her Campus, Vanessa serves as secretary for the International Student Organization, is a general member of the Student Government Organization and works as the event assistant at Brownfield’s office on campus. After graduation, Vanessa hopes to attend law school and graduate in Human Rights and International Law, and dreams of one day opening her own law-firm that specializes equal access to legal advice for all.
Rachel is a graduate student at WVU majoring in journalism with minors in Appalachian studies, history and political science. In addition to writing for Her Campus, she is also a publicity intern for Arts and Entertainment and a news intern for Univerisity Relations. She is from Princeton, West Virginia and loves her state and its beautiful mountains. She is passionate about many things including dogs, musicals and the Mountaineers.