GENDER STEREOTYPES IN TOY SELECTION AND THEIR IMPACT ON EARLY CHILDHOOD SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Stereotip Gender dalam Pemilihan Mainan dan Dampaknya terhadap Perkembangan Sosial-Emosional Anak Usia Dini
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36456/incrementapedia.vol8.no1.a11543Keywords:
gender stereotypes, toy selection, social-emotional developmentAbstract
Gender stereotypes in toy selection for early childhood have been shown to influence children's socio-emotional development. Toys categorized by gender indirectly limit children's exploration space in optimally developing their social skills and emotional abilities. This study aims to synthesize empirical findings on the relationship between gender stereotypes in toy selection and their impact on early childhood socio-emotional development. The method used is a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) with reference to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The literature search was conducted through three databases, namely Scopus, Google Scholar, and ERIC, with a publication year range of 2018-2026. A total of 20 articles met all inclusion criteria and were analyzed using thematic synthesis reinforced by bibliometric analysis through the bibliometrix tool in RStudio. The results of the study indicate four main themes: gender stereotypes in toy selection are formed from a very early age; parents, teachers, and the media are the most influential agents of gender socialization; gender-based toys have a significant impact on children's empathy, emotional regulation, and social competence; and this phenomenon is reinforced by patriarchal values and gender bias in educational practices in Indonesia. These findings emphasize the importance of inclusive and gender-stereotype-free play environments to support optimal children's social-emotional development.
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