Throughout the world, boys and girls prefer to play with different types of toys.
Throughout
the
world
,
boys
and
girls
prefer
to
play
with
different
types
of
toys
.
Boys typically like to play with cars and trucks, while girls typically choose to play with dolls.
Boys
typically
like
to
play
with
cars
and
trucks
,
while
girls
typically
choose
to
play
with
dolls
.
Why is this?
Why
is
this
?
A traditional sociological explanation is that boys and girls are socialized and encouraged to play with different types of toys by their parents, peers, and the "society".
A
traditional
sociological
explanation
is
that
boys
and
girls
are
socialized
and
encouraged
to
play
with
different
types
of
toys
by
their
parents
,
peers
,
and
the
``
society
''
.
Growing scientific evidence suggests, however, that boys' and girls' toy preferences may have a biological origin.
Growing
scientific
evidence
suggests
,
however
,
that
boys
'
and
girls
'
toy
preferences
may
have
a
biological
origin
.
In 2002, Gerianne M. Alexander of Texas A & M University and Melissa Hines of City University in London surprised the scientific world by showing that monkeys showed the same sex typical toy preferences as humans.
In
2002
,
Gerianne
M.
Alexander
of
Texas
A
&
M
University
and
Melissa
Hines
of
City
University
in
London
surprised
the
scientific
world
by
showing
that
monkeys
showed
the
same
sex
typical
toy
preferences
as
humans
.
In the study, Alexander and Hines gave two masculine toys (a ball and a police car), two feminine toys (a soft doll and a cooking pot), and two neutral toys (a picture book and a stuffed dog) to 44 male and 44 female monkeys.
In
the
study
,
Alexander
and
Hines
gave
two
masculine
toys
(
a
ball
and
a
police
car
)
,
two
feminine
toys
(
a
soft
doll
and
a
cooking
pot
)
,
and
two
neutral
toys
(
a
picture
book
and
a
stuffed
dog
)
to
44
male
and
44
female
monkeys
.
They then assessed the monkeys' preference for each toy by measuring how much time they spent with each.
They
then
assessed
the
monkeys
'
preference
for
each
toy
by
measuring
how
much
time
they
spent
with
each
.
Their data showed that male monkeys showed significantly greater interest in the masculine toys, and the female monkeys showed significantly greater interest in the feminine toys.
Their
data
showed
that
male
monkeys
showed
significantly
greater
interest
in
the
masculine
toys
,
and
the
female
monkeys
showed
significantly
greater
interest
in
the
feminine
toys
.
The two sexes did not differ in their preference for the neutral toys.
The
two
sexes
did
not
differ
in
their
preference
for
the
neutral
toys
.
If children' s toy preferences were largely formed by gender socialization, as traditional sociologists' claim, in which their parents give "gender appropriate" toys to boys and girls, how can these male and female monkeys have the same preferences as boys and girls?
If
children
'
s
toy
preferences
were
largely
formed
by
gender
socialization
,
as
traditional
sociologists
'
claim
,
in
which
their
parents
give
``
gender
appropriate
''
toys
to
boys
and
girls
,
how
can
these
male
and
female
monkeys
have
the
same
preferences
as
boys
and
girls
?
They were never socialized by humans, and they had never seen these toys before in their lives.
They
were
never
socialized
by
humans
,
and
they
had
never
seen
these
toys
before
in
their
lives
.
Throughout the world, boys and girls prefer to play with different types of toys. Boys typically like to play with cars and trucks, while girls typically choose to play with dolls. Why is this? A traditional sociological explanation is that boys and girls are socialized and encouraged to play with different types of toys by their parents, peers, and the "society". Growing scientific evidence suggests, however, that boys' and girls' toy preferences may have a biological origin.  In 2002, Gerianne M. Alexander of Texas A & M University and Melissa Hines of City University in London surprised the scientific world by showing that monkeys showed the same sex typical toy preferences as humans. In the study, Alexander and Hines gave two masculine toys (a ball and a police car), two feminine toys (a soft doll and a cooking pot), and two neutral toys (a picture book and a stuffed dog) to 44 male and 44 female monkeys. They then assessed the monkeys' preference for each toy by measuring how much time they spent with each. Their data showed that male monkeys showed significantly greater interest in the masculine toys, and the female monkeys showed significantly greater interest in the feminine toys. The two sexes did not differ in their preference for the neutral toys.  If children' s toy preferences were largely formed by gender socialization, as traditional sociologists' claim, in which their parents give "gender appropriate" toys to boys and girls, how can these male and female monkeys have the same preferences as boys and girls? They were never socialized by humans, and they had never seen these toys before in their lives.