Elizabeth Sweet is a sociologist who studies gender and children’s toys. Her dissertation and postdoctoral research examine the gender definition and stereotyping of children’s toys over the 20th century to uncover the relationship between gendered toys and societal gender inequality. She has written on the topic of gender and toys for The Atlantic and the New York Times and her work has been featured in many national and international press outlets including the Melissa Harris-Perry Show, The Washington Post, and The Guardian. Dr. Sweet presented at a 2016 White House conference on gender and children’s toys and media and her work has also informed recent public policy debates in California and in Australia. Dr. Sweet received her B.A. in sociology with top honors from Oregon State University and she earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology at UC Davis. She is currently a lecturer in sociology at the University of California, Davis and at California State University, Sacramento.
Sub-specialites: Gender and children’s culture, Gender in childhood, Gender inequality, Gender and children’s toys
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Guys and Dolls No More
New York Times [December 21, 2012] -
Toys are More Divided By Gender Now Than They Were 50 Years Ago
The Atlantic [December 9, 2014] -
How Did Toys Get Stereotyped By Sex?
The New York Times Room For Debate [December 22, 2014] -
Beyond the Blue and Pink Toy Divide
TEDxUCDavisSalon [November 16, 2015] -
What do toys teach kids about gender roles?
MSNBC's Melissa Harris-Perry Show [December 14, 2014] -
Girls, Boys, Toys - And Gender
NPR's On Point [December 11, 2013] -
The Pinkification of Toys
WHYY's Radio Times [April 14, 2014] -
Gender Divides Toy Aisles
CNN Newsroom [December 24, 2012]