Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Kids playing in a toy kitchen
Kids playing in a toy kitchen - Credit: Photo: FamVeldman/DepositPhotos
Business
Ingrid van Engelshoven
Ministry of Education Culture and Science
toy
text book
emancipation
sexism
gender
gender stereotype
stereotype
Thursday, 26 September 2019 - 09:11
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Gender bias in toys, books scrutinized by Dutch Education Ministry

Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven of Education, Culture and Science is calling on toy manufacturers to "examine" the gender role-confirming toys in their collection. She is also talking with publishers about stereotyping in text books, AD reports.

In a TED talk last December, the Minister already spoke about gender stereotyping, starting at an early age. Toys aimed at girls are of a "caring" nature. Toys aimed at boys are focused on adventure. According to the Minister, women are unintentionally trapped by gender stereotypes - only work part time jobs if you're raising a family. And due to the financial dependence this creates, women are sometimes also unable to leave a relationship if they want to.

Other EU countries are also taking a hard look at role-confirming toys. From next year, toy stores in France will no longer be allowed to have sections aimed specifically at boys or specifically at girls. They will also not be allowed to advertise by gender, and store staff can no longer ask parents whether something is for a boy or a girl.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Schiphol to compensate passengers who missed flights due to long lines
  • Utrecht to appeal court decision allowing abortion protesters at a city clinic
  • Radboud University researchers may have a vaccine that fights the spread of malaria
  • Transavia blacklists passenger who AirDropped plane crash photo before flight
  • Dutch farmers group calls off "hardest demonstrations" in goodwill gesture to Cabinet
  • Online Rembrandt museum selling Night Watch NFTs in fundraiser

Top stories

  • Schiphol to compensate passengers who missed flights due to long lines
  • Dutch farmers group calls off "hardest demonstrations" in goodwill gesture to Cabinet
  • Code Yellow in Netherlands as thermometers top 30 degrees Celsius
  • Renting out rooms simplified in Eindhoven to help students
  • Hundreds protest against anti-LGBTQIA+ violence in Amsterdam
  • Robbers target Ajax captain Dusan Tadic outside of his Amsterdam home

© 2012-2022, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content