Boys, Girls and Toys - Oh My

It is apparent to anyone walking into a toy store or toy aisles at stores such as Toys ‘R Us or Walmart that there is an overwhelming amount of gendered packaging.  The packages that are intended for boys are usually blue, red, or green in color because marketers believe these colors are usually associated with boys.  In comparison, packages that are intended for girls are pink, purple, or light blue in color because these colors are usually associated with young girls.  It is evident that marketers are using colors to create a distinction between boys and girls products.  In addition, toys marketed for boys are usually guns, action figures, building blocks such as Legos, and video games.  Toys marketed for girls are usually dolls, playhouses, costumes, and baby dolls.  The gender roles of children seem to be determined at a young age based on what type of toys they should be playing with.  If we take a look at this first picture:

We can see the different marketing techniques used to target boys or girls.  The color and packaging should stand out to anyone walking down these aisles.  The types of toys are another marketing technique used.  Do marketers believe girls won’t build using Legos and boys won’t play house?  The marketers are trying to create a complete separation of boys’ vs. girls’ toys.     

          

Eventually, I Googled “boys’ vs. girls’ toys” and I found a series of toys that differ in their marketing to consumers.  The toys that stood out to me was the Nerf Guns pictured below.      

It should be apparent that the girl Nerf gun picture is targeting girls because of the use of feminine colors.  The colors include purple and teal, which feminize the product and make it acceptable for a girl to use.  In contrast, the second picture that targets boys is blue, orange, and gray in color.  The Nerf gun has a more masculine appearance to it as opposed to the first picture.  This is just another example of gendered packaging and marketing of toys to boys and girls. 

          

In the video posted, the young girl is complaining that girls’ toys are all dolls while boys get to play with superheroes.  The young girl argues that other girls just like her want to play with superheroes also.  I agree with her arguments that the products should be marketed gender neutral because both boys and girls should have access to play with the same toys regardless of gender.  Something has to be done to combat these stereotypical products and roles that marketers believe young boys and girls should assume at such a young age.  

Gender and the Military

Although I have not been involved in the military or personally know someone who has, sexuality and gender play a serious role in the military. When looking in the past, the military was male dominate with only a handful of women involved assuming the role of nurses or medics. Nowadays, the media has been influencing America through movies, commercials, and advertisements. Many movies show the struggle that men in military face and how they band together with their comrades to overcome, persevere, and win the battle. Typically, women are usually not involved in the action but remain on the sidelines hoping husbands and/or male family members will return from war. In addition, most of the commercials we see show males using new cutting-edge technology that aims to draw an interest from the audience. They discuss fighting for our country while other commercials stress the importance of earning a degree and how a military personnel can attain a successful military career and degree at the same time.

The military has been thought to be for males who has physical and psychological strengths to deal with the hardships of war.  Woman are not viewed as having the physical capabilities necessary for war. However, today woman are viewed as being just as successful in military as males. There has been a shift in the media, pushing for women to join the ranks especially for the army reserve. The military is now targeting all markets due to serious recruiting and retaining problem discussed in the article "Sexuality, Gender, and the US Military." This blog written by Melissa Trible, explains her personal thoughts on how the military can use different procedures when it comes to homosexuals in the military. Although it is now outdated due to the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy being repealed in 2011, the arguments regarding women are still valid. The one argument I thought could be used strongly today was when she said the military should allow female only combat units. This would allow any female volunteers who pass the physical tests to join a combat unit to gain experience and give the US armed forces greater flexibility in using its personnel.

Overall, the question of homosexual males and females in military is a serious problem. Procedures and policies must be created to allow all Americans an equal chance to fight for our country if they decide to do so.

Intelligence vs. Icon

            After reading the article “Not Just a Dumb Blonde,” it is reported that Marilyn Monroe was intelligent, contrary to many people’s belief.  Although Marilyn was photographed reading on the set, she was always thought of as being just “another dumb blonde.” She had many friends such as Capote and met novelist Bellow, who wrote that she “conducts herself like a philosopher.” She was more intelligent than her actions and mannerisms made her seem. Instead of being an intelligent blonde, she was an iconic figure for her sexual appeal.

            Some people believe Marilyn Monroe misrepresented herself in the public but I do not feel the same way. I do not think she “hid” her intelligence because I think America’s perception of her defined who she was in the media. America stereotyped her for being dumb because she was a blonde model. However, she could hold her own in a conversation with some of the intelligent people of that time. These individuals knew she was smart but unfortunately her appearance opened her to stereotypes because of what she was doing in the media. No matter how intelligent she was, Monroe embraced her role because it led to much success and fame throughout her career. She was popular for over 30 years and is still referred to as the first iconic woman of sexual appeal in America. For that reason, I believe Marilyn Monroe embraced the role even though she was completely different due to the success she encountered.

            When I think of a modern day celebrity who is hiding part of their intellect to secure greater success I think of Ken Jeong.  Jeong was a star in the Hangover series, playing the villain who apparently “kidnaps” Doug, is a drug addict, and appears nude in several scenes. Although he plays a comedic role, Jeong actually has an MDA. In the article “Ken Jeong: the crazy guy from the Hangover trilogy,” Jeong “started his career moonlighting as a stand up while training to be a doctor. He did his residency at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans and was seven years into a career as a physician when he was given his first feature role – as a frazzled maternity doctor in Judd Apatow's Knocked Up. He still holds a license to practice medicine and his wife, with whom he has five-year-old twin girls, is a GP.”  In addition, the article titled “How Ken Jeong Went from Doctor to ‘Hangover’ Villain Mr. Chow,” Jeong was often times referred to as Dr. Ken on set. Many of his fellow co-stars praise him for being really smart but yet so funny.

            Overall, Jeong is another celebrity who hides his intelligence because it may hinder his character’s development. If the public knew he was really a doctor, his roles would suffer. Therefore, in order in remain funny, Ken Jeong hides his intelligence for the sake of comedy.   

           

Source

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/dec/05/ken-jeong-crazy-guy-hangover-trilogy

http://www.mtv.com/news/1640917/how-ken-jeong-went-from-doctor-to-hangover-villain-mr-chow/