The Games Children Play

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In the article noted in this activity, the authors point out that most introductory
sociology textbooks identify the main socialization agents as family, peers,
schools, media, work, and religion. [W]hat is far less often
acknowledged is the contribution that children’s toys and games play in representing
and reinforcing dominant conceptions of ‘appropriate’ social identities found
in social discourse and in institutional arrangements.” Toys and games can
allow us to experience the subtleties of race, class, gender, and political
socialization that are embedded in play. Sometimes players may challenge and
subvert these images and messages at the delight or disgust of other players.

The Games Children Play

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What toys did you have as a child that you think of as agents of socialization?

How did you use toys to understand relationships, or prepare for new ones?

What specific theoretical perspectives on socialization from this week’s reading
(symbolic interactionist, functionalist and/or conflict theoretical
perspectives) best help you understand your childhood toys as agents of
socialization and why?

Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Further the dialogue by
providing more information and clarification and/or include perspectives from
outside scholarly sources shared in the discussion forum by classmates and/or
the instructor.

The Games Children Play

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