UAE- Are toy giants teaching our children how to bridge gender gaps

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) In recent years the multi-billion dollar toy-making giant Lego introduced a whole series of 'creative' women to its toy range - Research Institute - a change that took nearly 100 years to come. Initially marketed as gender-neutral 'construction toys' for all children Lego later diversified into gender segregated products and marketing. The new toy range a result of market demand and uproar now sees women engaged in technically and intellectually demanding jobs. A paleontologist an astronomer and a chemist dressed in practical baggy trousers and shirts rather than glam dresses add to the realism of the models.

And this comes at the right time marking a step in the right direction. The impact of toys on shaping and reinforcing stereotypes among children has been at the center of debate for a while now. Toyshops with segregated 'pink' girls' sections offering a choice of dolls cleaning & homemaking and crafts toys as against constructive and scientific toys for boys have become the norm. Without scientific role modeling and strong female characters to associate with there is very little possibility of girls seeing themselves in STEM roles and careers and developing into scientists and engineers. Similarly such stereotyping early on in the formative years can lead to boys being non-accepting of strong women figures or women in non-traditional intellectual roles classifying them as 'different'.

Another example of imminent change is the archetypical female stereotype 'Barbie' making it to the cover of TIME Magazine a coveted and serious place to be. Why you may ask? Because gender parity and diversity have now become critical to the health of communities and national economies and it is the collective global onus of corporations and nations to bring about this change. And the change is to cast not typecast women in scientific and intelligent roles as active contributing members of society not defined by their gender the color of their hair or skin or the size of their bodies.

But this has not always been the case. A few decades ago toys roles and careers were still gender-neutral. Then society reacted to the criticism of "ignoring women's needs" by creating a 'for-women' era mistaking gender segregation as the emancipation of women. The fallout was decades of heightened gender bias and gaps stereotyping what genders need want and are all about.

Reasons abound for inducting more women into STEM. So why aren't women joining these fields? Why are they hesitant to participate in building the products and the future they are part of? To start with the pigeonholing of girls in early years into 'pink girly soft' frameworks and the simultaneous typecasting of STEM careers as masculine and challenging both physically & intellectually serves as the first deterrent. For the select few who do make it through years of educational prejudice and workplace bias social restrictions family constraints and the constant challenge of 'proving' themselves leads to an eventual dropout form STEM careers. Apart from professions women could and should form start-ups around science and technology. However funding for women-led projects remains scarce as traditional venture capitalists eye women start-ups with caution and reluctance.

What can we do? Eradicating stereotyping and establishing gender parity needs to start from a young age if we need more women to choose STEM careers. Girls interpret and interact with STEM subjects in their own unique manner. Allowing them that space during formative education can lead to a lifelong love for these subjects. For parents and society the pink and blue patching & role stereotyping of children needs to stop. Providing an environment that lets them flourish as wholesome constructive individuals can pave the way for girls perceiving airplanes labs and construction sites as equal playing fields as salons homes and schools. Changing social perceptions through awareness initiatives supportive mentoring and direct women empowerment and capacity building interventions can also have a significant impact. Our highly acclaimed Women in STEM program includes components like training programs for women mentoring for women wishing to create their own Ventures as well as support from MKF alumni worldwide connecting the global community of women in STEM.

From pure economics to broader innovation more women architects scientists technologists and engineers can ensure gender-neutral product design defined by better utility creativity and relevance of use.

The writer is chairperson at the Meera Kaul Foundation. Views expressed by her are her own and do not reflect the newspaper's policy.