Stunning, Shimmering, Iridescent: toys as the representation of gendered social actors

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to focus on toys which represent human beings (social actors) and communicate specific gendered meanings. We will make reference to the connection between material objects, images and textuality. Our main interest is in the potential social meanings which specifically differentiate girls’ and boys' toys and the values attached to these representations. Feminist research seems not to have given sufficient consideration to toys as an extremely important area in terms of representation. Our aim therefore is to start to expose and challenge sexist meanings and to put toys as communication on the feminist agenda.