FIRST Ladies
  • HOME
  • About
    • FAQ
    • History
  • Blogs
  • Promote
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Store

How Kids Toys Relate to STEM Inclusion

11/14/2023

0 Comments

 
Being a part of outreach, I go to all the community events and work with kids from the ages of 3 to 12. The events hosted by Vertigo (FTC 18523) range from driving our outreach bot Plowie to teaching kids chemistry, physics, and how to understand patterns. When young girls come to these events, they all engage and have fun with the lesson, but it makes me ask myself, “Why don’t they continue with STEM as they get older?”

Growing up, I loved to play with LEGO®s. But, like many young girls, I played with LEGO Friends instead of the original LEGO sets. Aside from every build set including at least one shade of pink, LEGO Friends pieces were larger, simpler. Instead of complex mechanisms like cars, spacecrafts, and robots, I was told to make gardens, restaurants, and shopping malls. But I cannot fault LEGO for all of this. LEGO did not tell me that I could only play with LEGO Friends, I can thank society for that. From an early age, girls are taught that STEM is a subject not meant for them, that they are not welcome to play with the “other” toys.

This stigma around embracing STEM is no secret. But companies have been improving throughout the years, and many stand out for having consistently been a positive influence. Barbie has tried to beat these stereotypes by having the Barbie doll become anything a girl could ever dream of becoming. Despite making multiple controversial Barbies in the past, Barbie has served as a strong role model for young girls by creating figures that work a variety of jobs. When I was still figuring out my interests, I could look to Barbie to feel like I could do anything. I could be a pilot, astronaut, architect, or even the president.

My involvement in robotics outreach has allowed me to understand that I wasn’t alone in my experience and it’s important to help girls understand that they can participate in STEM. Childhood experiences with toys like LEGO Friends, while enjoyable, underscored societal biases nudging girls away from the complexity of STEM. Despite these challenges, positive influences, exemplified by companies like Mattel’s Barbie, are breaking stereotypes and offering diverse role models. While the journey to eliminate gender bias in STEM continues, these strides indicate a hopeful future where young girls feel empowered to pursue any path they envision.


  • Written by Morgan H., Edited by Sofia S. (Team Vertigo - FTC 18523)
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Be a guest

    ​author!

    Do you want to be a guest blogger for FIRST Ladies? You can write about a topic of your choice!  Anyone can submit a blog, especially our Regional Partner teams! Please email us a Google Doc of the completed blog.  Thank you!
    ​

    Archives

    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    August 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    May 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    May 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • HOME
  • About
    • FAQ
    • History
  • Blogs
  • Promote
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Store