"No, she thought, putting together some of the pictures he had cut out - a refrigerator, a mowing machine, a gentleman in an evening dress-children never forget"
From To The Light House by Virginia Woolf (62)

Hidden Sexism?

According to a study done at Oregon State University, there is "invisible sexism"  everywhere.  Although this may or may not be true, the study presents an interesting concept.  The developers of the study, Jiang Hu and Jennifer Watkins, suggest that this "invisible sexism" reaches as far as colors and children's toys. 

The basis behind the "invisible sexism" in colors came from a poll that Hu and Watkins developed.  Colors associated with girls included pink (95%), yellow (49%), and white (38%).  Other female colors included purple, red, and light green.  While colors associated with boys were blue (95%), red (53%), and green (53%).  Other male colors included black, gray, and brown. 

Children's toys are also classified as "sexist" because "40% of the respondents said they would buy a toy truck or car as a gift for a little boy.  60% answered they would buy a doll as a gift for a little girl."  Hu and Watkins state that the toys a child receives will influence his concept of responsibilities.

Hu and Watkins also state,  that "more importantly, the majority of the gifts for boys included activity and/or violence-oriented toys such as Lego's, games, sporting goods, sling shots, and guns.  The gift list for girls included gifts such as stuffed animals, dress up outfits, toy houses, kitchen sets, and medicine kits.  This again shows how the stereotypical gender roles are introduced to children by the toys they interact with, which as introduced by adults."