Has children's play changed according to the s*x roles they see modeled in society?

Question

Has children's play changed according to the s*x roles they see modeled in society?

Answer 1

No, it's more of what their parents push on them like girls can't play with bugs and cars and boys can't play with dolls.

Answer 2

I give you one example I think answers the question quite well.

Barbie.

When Barbie first came out, her voluptuous proportions were right at home in...  the home.

At the official Mattel site for Barbie collectors, you can view collections of Vintage Barbie accessories:

http://www.barbiecollector.com/showcase/...

The link takes you to the first series "800" and you can navigate through other series with the bar on the left.

As you look at the outfits and accessories, they break down into a couple distinct groups:

*Dress up*

Barbie in (X foreign country)

(Insert name of fairy tale/movie character)

Dinner at 8

Enchanted Evening

Cotton Casual

*Things that a well-rounded/progressive girl would do in those days... in high school...  and then usually give up after marriage & babies*

Candy striper

Cheerleader

Drum Majorette

Babysitter

Ballerina

There is a redeeming "Career Girl" and "American Airlines Stewardess", but not until 1965's "Miss Astronaut" does Barbie do anything that would even make a proper, conservative mother think for half a second "Is this want I want my daughter having as an example... a woman in space?"

Of course, the description of the outfit ( http://www.barbiecollector.com/showcase/... ) would set even the most traditional parents at ease.  It's not about the silly old "space" part so much, check out Barbie's golden-buckled bodice on her metallic silver spacesuit! It's an "out-of-this-world look!"

At the risk of sounding rant-y if I give more examples, I'll move on.

Now look at the Modern Barbies on the same site.  Even just looking at outfits for consistency, there are many more options.  We'll skip "Fashions" (which still has a redeeming "Power Pinstripe Suit" and "Secretary" look), and...  this site is laggy and a pain to navigate.

So let's do 2008.

http://www.barbiecollector.com/showcase/...

Barbie is now an artist and five superheroes (Batgirl, Batwoman, Catwoman, Superwoman and Wonder Woman).

That wasn't the best example but I know there's doctor and nurse Barbies, teacher Barbies, vet Barbies, all kinds of career Barbies...

The point is that over the last 50 years the power and freedom of women has increased, and although sometimes she's behind the times by a couple of years, Barbie is good proof of it.

Phew!  That took longer than I thought!  =P