At five months, little boys, like girls of the same age, show more interest in dolls than in cars. What to question Christmas gifts?
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Trucks are for boys. The doll is for girls. These slightly sexist statements could go down the drain, at least for the first few months of babies' lives . Indeed, a study conducted by Paola Escudero of the Western University of Sydney challenged these traditional patterns.
The context: a blue and pink world
Is our society really fair? At first, no. Ethnic or social origins may favor (or on the contrary disadvantage) in some contexts one kind or the other. Overall, family and work patterns remain mostly of the traditional order. Women still do most of the household chores (while this may make men happy to participate) and do not generally perform the same duties as their male counterparts.
The distinction begins even from the youngest age. Little girls are given dolls and princess costumes, while boys are offered trucks and Lego.
This raises the question of what is natural and what is cultural. Vast problem. Previous studies suggest that, as early as six months, boys prefer roller toys, while girls are more likely to take care of a baby.
A propensity that would be (at least partially) of the innate , according to the results of a 2008 research conducted in the macaque. The males tested inherently preferred cars , while females had much more varied tastes.
However, an article published in 2013 in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology has thrown a bit of trouble. It implies that these preferences would not necessarily be observed from birth ...
Dolls, it's also for boys!