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Play: The Reproduction and Resistance of Dominant Gender Ideologies

Abstract This paper examines play and its impact on the resistance and reinforcement of gender ideologies. Using a social constructionist perspective, different types of play are considered to have different roles in the reproduction and reinforcement of gendered beliefs. Specifically two types of play are examined-unstructured and structured. Unstructured play tends to be guided by children themselves, whereas structured play, which includes media-related activities, is largely influenced by adult culture. It is argued that unstructured play may enable children to resist current gender ideologies, while structured play may be more conducive to reproducing gender stereotypes. The paper suggests the importance of recognizing the role that play may have in the social construction of gender. It is hoped that future empirical research will be conducted to compare specific contexts of play and their role in the reproduction and resistance of gender.