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I've been reading about the deep dive into the role of gender stereotypes in vintage toy advertising adn it's fascinating (and a little disturbing) how blatant the marketing was. It's wild to see ads explicitly pushing girls towards nurturing roles with dolls and miniature kitchen sets, while boys were funneled into action and adventure with toy soldiers and construction toys.
What's interesting is how deeply these stereotypes became ingrained and how long it took (and is still taking!) to undo them. Did this kind of advertising truly influence career choices later in life, or was it just a reflection of existing societal norms? I'm curious if anyone else has come across especially egregious or surprisingly progressive examples from that era. It makes you wonder about the long-term impact on how children viewed their potential.