Smith and Lloyd (1978) wanted to see how gender labeling would affect toy choice for children. In their study, the sample was made up of new mothers.  They were asked to play with a 6-month-old baby.  Even though the mothers did not know it, the baby that they were playing with was cross-dressed.  This means that if it was a boy, it was dressed as a girl and had a girl’s name.  If it was a girl, it was dressed as a boy and had a boy’s name. The mother and the child were put into a room that had a collection of “gendered” toys – like a football (male) and stuffed animals (female).  The interactions between the woman and the child were filmed. The researchers found in their observation that the mothers chose toys that matched their perception of the gender of the child.  They also were more active with the child when they thought it was a boy.

This study shows that the way that parents interact with a child may play a role in enculturation, teaching the child what is appropriate behavior in their culture.  In this case, which toys they should play with, and the accepted level of physical activity.

For more on the enculturation of gender, see the sociocultural arguments for gender identity in the development unit.