Family and Gender: A Study of Gendered Society in Canada

This paper explores the existence of gendered society in Canada through the lens of family and gender. It discusses the impact of marketing on children's toys and clothes, and the introduction of X option in Nova Scotia schools. Key terms include family values, policies, workplaces, and women's work.

Running head: GENDERED SOCIETY 1
Family and Gender
NAME
COURSE
UNIVERSITY/AFFILIATION

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Introduction
Family and gender has experienced tremendous changes over the recent years across the
world. For instance, in Canada, most of the families were extended-based before colonization.
Also, there was gender complementarity (Siltanen & Doucet, 2017). However, patriarchal
authority started during colonial period. For example, only men were allowed to own property in
Canada. Apart from property ownership, men were also favored politically. Besides, in early 19th
century, most of the industries were men-oriented (Mitchell, 2017). Though, women assisted to
carry out some activities such as harvesting. Moreover, although women were not allowed to
mine but they were some few exceptions in some countries such as England where they worked
in pits. Furthermore, women were required to take care of children as well as cleaning houses in
Canada. However, in early 20th century, industrialization triggered several changes in gender. For
example, the roles played by a father declined drastically (Mitchell, 2017). The main aim of this
paper is to show that gendered society is still existing today.
Key terms: Family values, policies, workplaces, women’s work.
Summary of Piece of News
Article 1: Children’s toys: The Backlash against Pink and Blue Branding.
This article has focused on how children’s toys has increased the gap between boys and
girls in the United Kingdom (Levinson, 2018). Parents are working around the clock to ensure
that their children are growing in a gender-neutral environment. In 1970’s, Mum Trabue never
realized the role of pink and blue colors. However, she realized their significance when her son
rejected children’s magazine under the ground that it was for girls rather than boys. Nonetheless,
she also realized how cloth manufacturing companies have contributed greatly to gendered

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society (Levinson, 2018). Afterwards, in 2012, she argued that children’s brands should consider
both genders especially in marketing as one of the members of Let Toys Be Toys campaign.
Apart from Trabue, Elizabeth Sweet from the United States said that the rate at which retailers
are marketing their toys basing on gender has increased greatly. According to Elizabeth Sweet,
the way in which the society viewed gender influenced children’s toys (Levinson, 2018).
Article 2: Nova Scotia Students will Soon be able to Mark their Gender as X at School
Currently, sex information is recorded from birth certificates. There is only two options F
and M for female and male respectively (Willick, 2019). Computer systems are used for storage
purposes. However, X option is expected to be introduced soon. Joanne Syms argues that
inclusive learning is one of the important aspects that contributes vastly to the overall success.
Grades 7-12 students will change their gender upon request. On the other hand, pre-primary kids
will be required to alter their gender only through their parent’s consent (Willick, 2019).
However, school can make informed decision in case the child and his parent have not agreed.
Kate Shewan claims that the change will impact positively as learning environment will be
enhanced.
Analysis
In the first article, Robin Levinson-King has discussed children’s toys in details. He has
expressed his concern on gendered society. Through marketing, retailers have increased gender
differences (Levinson, 2018). Hence, children believe that they are supposed to play with certain
toys. These toys are branded pink and blue. Apart from toys, clothes are also gendered. The
author has made several assumptions, for example, children’s decisions are only influenced by
marketing activities. I disagree with this assumption as parental guidance and media are equally

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important. Parents can assign different activities to their children, for example, girls may be
required to perform household chores while boys can be assigned work that requires more
physical energy. Besides, parents can encourage their sons and daughters to participate in
different sports (Donnelly et al., 2016). Parents also set family values which aids in shaping their
children’s behavior. Psychodynamic theory is one of the theories supporting parental influence.
It was developed by Freud who focuses on the roles played by parents to shape their children’s
behavior. Regarding gender development, Freud said that a boy child has an affection towards
her mother rather than his father. He further suggested that a child who has been brought up by
one parent is susceptible to gender disturbances. Hence, childhood experience is an important
aspect in gender development (Goldscheider, Bernhardt & Lappegård, 2015).
However, I agree with author’s idea that neutral approach can play vital roles on
gendered society. For instance, a Canadian based retailer included images of both a girl and a
boy in 2018’s Christmas catalogue (Levinson, 2018). The author further says that neutral
approach has not only been implemented in toys, but also in clothing. The ideas has been a
success as it has been reported that unisex clothing has received a major boast as its demand has
increased greatly. Neutral approaches have reduced discrimination at workplaces where a
particular gender was considered and given first priority (Goldscheider, Bernhardt & Lappegård,
2015). This approach has been adopted by most countries including the United States, for
example, gender-neutral bathrooms. Other than bathrooms, restrooms have also been considered
in states such as California (Donnelly et al., 2016). To implement gender-neutral approach
successfully, institutions and countries should set clear policies (Robinson & Richardson, 2015).
Moreover, I agree with the author that branding toys on occupation basis is much better.

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Furthermore, I also agree that signs included in different products such as toys can restrict
children from using such products.
Similarly, in the second news, Frances Willick has expressed great concern regarding
gender. Through his work, it can be concluded that gender is not only evident in marketing sector
but also in schools. Introduction of X option in Nova Scotia will enhance gendered society. All
the students will be included rather than having two options (Willick, 2019). There are several
assumptions in this news, for example, gender is assumed to be an important aspect when
determining success. I refute this assumption because inclusive learning cannot be enhanced with
gender. On my views, gender in school has increased diversity among students, hence reducing
co-operation and unity. It has also increased discrimination among students (Pedro, Gilreath,
Jackson & Esqueda, 2017). Also, it is assumed that the school will make an informed decision in
case there is a misunderstanding between children and their parents. I refute this claims as the
school decision will affect either children or their parents.
However, I agree with Shewan on the issue of misgendered. It can lower student’s morale
and sometimes they can skip classes as a result (Latham, Hogan, Lynch & Gregory, 2016).
Therefore, teachers must ensure that they have taken care of transgender students while teaching.
The best way of dealing with the situation is doing away with boy-girl seating arrangement. Non-
binary students often feel stressed (Day, Brumer & Russell, 2018). Hence, students can be
arranged by using current grades. Apart from seating arrangement, students should also be
allowed to use their preferred names. I support this idea as students will feel comfortable other
than birthday names which they may not be interested. Moreover, I like the idea that teachers
should accept all members of a class especially transgender students. This is because failing to
accept the transgender students may make them feel isolated (Willick, 2019). They should be

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protected from any violence. Other than violence, they should also be protected from any kind of
harassment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this paper has revealed that gendered society is still existing today. This
fact has been supported by BBC and CBC news written by Robin Levinson-King and Frances
Willick respectively. The following key terms have been used in this paper; family values,
policies, workplaces and women’s work. Other than terms, Psychodynamic theory, which
focuses on early childhood experience, has also been used. Robin Levinson-King has expressed
his concern on gendered society. Through marketing, retailers have increased gender differences.
Hence, children believe that they are supposed to play with certain toys. Apart from toys, clothes
are also gendered. Similarly, in the second news, Frances Willick has expressed that gender is
also evident in schools. Introduction of X option in Nova Scotia will enhance gendered society.
All the students will be included rather than having two options for male and female.

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References
Day, J. K., Brumer, A. P., & Russell, S. T. (2018). Safe schools? Transgender youth’s school
experiences and perceptions of school climate. Journal of youth and adolescence, 47(8),
1731-1742.
Donnelly, K., Twenge, J. M., Clark, M. A., Shaikh, S. K., Beiler, A., & Carter, N. T.
(2016). Attitudes toward women’s work and family roles in the United States, 1976–
2013. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 40(1), 41-54.
Goldscheider, F., Bernhardt, E., & Lappegård, T. (2015). The gender revolution: A framework
for understanding changing family and demographic behavior. Population and
Development Review, 41(2), 207-239.
Latham, N. Y., Hogan, S., Lynch, D., & Gregory, L. L. P. (2016). Transgender Individuals in
Schools: Lingering Issues.
Levinson, R., K. (2018). Children’s toys: The Backlash against Pink and Blue Branding. BBC
News. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46613032
Mitchell, B. A. (2017). Family matters: An introduction to family sociology in Canada. Canadian
Scholars’ Press.
Pedro, K. D. T., Gilreath, T. D., Jackson, C., & Esqueda, M. C. (2017). Substance use among
transgender students in California public middle and high schools. Journal of school
health, 87(5), 303-309.

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Robinson, V., & Richardson, D. (Eds.). (2015). Introducing gender and women's studies.
Macmillan International Higher Education.
Siltanen, J., & Doucet, A. (2017). Gender Relations in Canada: Intersectionalities and Social
Changes. Oxford University Press.
Willick, F. (2019). Nova Scotia students will soon be able to mark their gender as x at school.
CBC News. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/gender-x-nova-
scotia-schools-1.5048344

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