The White House on Wednesday held a symposium highlighting research that cautions against toys and children’s media that reinforce gender stereotypes.
“Research shows that children’s interests, ambitions, and skills can be shaped early on by the media they consume and the toys with which they play, potentially influencing everything from the subjects they choose to study to the careers they ultimately pursue,” a White House fact sheet read. “Consequently, those early experiences can affect not just their development and life choices, but the composition of our workforce and the strength of our economy for decades to come.”
The administration sent Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to President Obama, to the daylong conference to extoll the virtues of gender-neutral toys and education.
“I want all of our girls to get interested in science and technology and engineering and math,” Jarrett reportedly told the assembled academics, entrepreneurs, women advocates, toy company representatives and educators. “And I want our boys to think about teaching in our schools and help shaping the next generation of our young people.”
Speakers encouraged girls to take interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math industries, which “offer some of the highest-paying, most in-demand careers … yet women hold only 29 percent of STEM jobs,” the White House stated.
Katie Couric was one of the bigger names who attended the event titled Helping Children Explore, Learn, Dream without Limits: Breaking Down Gender Stereotypes in Media and Toys.”
