Bias in Children’s Media & Toys

This assignment explores how TV programming and toys might influence racial and gender bias in children. Students are being asked to explore the different types of messages about race and gender which can be communicated through TV shows and through children’s toy selection and preferences. For this assignment you will be asked to do the following:
Watch 2 children’s programs that are focused on the socialization and education of youth aged 9 to 12 years old and examine them for direct and/or indirect messages related to race and appropriate girl- versus boy-“behaviors, interests, actions, or hobbies.”
Your determination that a program contains behavior that might be portrayed as race (or ethnicity) specific can be based on the race/ethnicity of a single character or of the majority of the characters featured in the program.
Take note of/record which racial group or groups appear to be promoted during the show. Take note of/ and record the genders being promoted in the program and the behaviors, interests, or actions of all identified groups.
Programs that would be considered neutral, would have a similar number of children from majority and minority racial and/or gender groups represented. Neutral shows would also include “fictional” and/or non-human characters (i.e. cartoon character humans with non-traditional skin tones (i.e. blue, green, orange), or animals of any type, etc.).
Respond to the stated prompts discussed in the assignment information below.
Lastly, read the research article on children’s toy preferences. Read the research and make the connection between these preferences and possible race and gender bias.
From viewing the shows, what types of cultural messages about race and gender were present in each show? Again, you must clearly discuss the prompts for all shows which you watched
Type of program watched (Criterion#1): Clearly describe what type of TV show/program you watched. This includes the name of the show and the age of children it is intended to target. (Remember, you should be discussing programs targeted at children aged 9 to 12 years old)
Identification of Characters (Criterion#2):
For possible racial bias: Were the characters in each program identified by race or ethnicity? This can be direct or indirect identification (e.g. a person might classify the character as a specific race/ethnicity based on physical features or characteristics.) Were the featured children of one race/ethnicity or diverse racial and ethnic categories?
For possible gender bias: Were characters using male/female pronouns? Were most of the characters male/female or both equally?
Categorized Behavior (Criterion#3):
Racial Bias: If characters were identified (directly or indirectly) as members of a specific race/ethnicity, what were some of the behaviors, actions, traits, etc associated with the group or individual? Here you’re being asked to think about direct or indirect messages about race/ethnicity (e.g. what does this group do, what is this group like etc).
Gender Bias: If characters were identified using gendered terms, what were some of the behaviors, actions, traits, etc associated with each gender? Here you’re being asked to think about direct or indirect messages about gender (e.g. “what boys do” or “what girls do,” etc)
Neutral Characters (Criterion#4): Did the programs show any characters portrayed neutrally? What kind? This means identify any characters which appeared to be marketed to all racial groups, or genders OR were not explicitly race/gender specific.
Research on Toy Preferences (Criterion#5): According to the classic study by Clark & Clark (1947), which introduced the “doll technique” in the study of racial preferences/prejudice in children, Black children expressed significantly higher preferences for white dolls, while rejecting black dolls as desired play options. However, research conducted by Hraba & Grant (1970)Download Hraba & Grant (1970) did not replicate this finding. Specifically, Hraba & Grant (1970) found that both Black and White children (aged 4-7 years) expressed preferences for dolls that were their same race (i.e. Black children prefer black dolls, White children prefer white dolls).
In your response briefly try to explain this finding of same-race preferences in toys among children (i.e. What might be the reasons behind this preference?).
NOTE: This question is not asking for a summary of the research. You are being asked to use critical and logical thinking to explain why children might express this preference.
Responses that simply summarize the research findings will not receive credit for this prompt.
Make sure to properly cite and reference when referring to the findings of the study. Reference Information: Hraba, J., & Grant, G. (1970). Black is beautiful: A reexamination of racial preference and identification. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 16(3), 398-402.
Self-Categorization, Social Roles, and Identity (Criterion#6): How might the images seen in TV programs/media and the labeling of toys influence children’s racial and gender identities? Provide clear examples, information, and research from the relevant textbook chapter to support your response. You are being asked to use critical and logical thinking to make the connection between racial/gender representation in media and toys to racial and gender identity development in children.
Additional Assignment Requirements:
APA style citation and references are required for all information taken from any source, using the appropriate level of citation. References and reference heading must be in APA format. Web sources are prohibited. Individual Response Post PARTICIPATION DEADLINE DUE 10/12/22 BEFORE 1159PM (Due 10/16/22, BEFORE 1159PM EST)
Individual & Group Summaries, Due 10/16/22, BEFORE 1159PM EST
APA style in-text citation and reference is required. Appropriate level of citation is REQUIRED. References and reference heading must be in APA format. Students may not use websites, of any kind, as a primary source in their responses. Submissions that do not contain both APA style in-text citation and reference, using the appropriate level of citation, and/or which use websites of any kind as a primary source may receive a zero.
Discussion formatting must be:
APA style citation and references are required for all information taken from any source. Web sources are prohibited. Appropriate level of citation is required
Do NOT use bullets, numbering, headings etc.
Essay format required.
Submissions that do not contain both APA style in-text citation and reference, using the appropriate level of citation, and/or which use websites of any kind as a primary source may receive a zero.
Responses that do not meet the content and formatting requirements listed above will receive point deductions.
As stated in the syllabus and Obojobo modules on Avoiding Plagiarism, responses that do not contain BOTH in-text/narrative citations and references will be flagged for plagiarism and receive a zero.

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