© Cas Holman 2011
Biological and Social
Because sexism is very prevalent in today’s society, it is important that companies are aware before marketing their products. Yes, some products are just designed for men and women, but for children unaware of their true interests at a younger age, toys should be gender neutral and give both girls and boys an equal chance to enjoy them; “Because of cultural influences, men typically show a greater interest in how computers work while women are more interested in using computers to do some task. The result is fewer women in computer-related fields and women at a disadvantage in a world that’s increasingly wired”(O’Neil 1998). Rigamajig targets girls and boys at a young age in schools and at home to provide multiple learning environments and opportunities for these kids to go pursue their true interests. The social influence from a gender-neutral toy begins the end of sexism in children and teenagers. With successful marketing and reviews, toys like the Rigamajig end this oppression.
Cultural and Economic/ Political
Because Rigamajig not only provides educational value, but also assists the end of child sexism, it has political, cultural, and economic influence. For political, cultural and economical, women are viewed as less equal than men. According to The Harvard Political Review, “Women are more likely to be single parents, depend on welfare, and, because they live longer, on Social Security, so it should be no surprise then that women as a whole are more in favor of social programs and larger government in general” (Alvarenga 2005). With assumptions like these, young girls grow up assuming their only roles are to do feminine things like cook, clean, and raise children. Something as simple as a Rigamajig can encourage girls to partake in subjects and activities they find interesting. Cultural expectations can change once girls find confidence and speak their voices about how they feel and what they want. Because young children look up to their elders, topics such as sexism complicate the culture, politics, and economy are taken very seriously, especially when kids follow the beliefs and actions from their peers, elders, and celebrities. Rigamajig users get the chance to fight against these stereotypes and change the expectations from society.
Educational
The Rigamajig product presents itself in many classrooms and fosters subjects that include science, technology, mathematics, engineering, art, and social-emotional development (Darell Hammond 2015). This toy has classroom users as well as children enjoying their product in the comfort of their own home. Because Rigamajig has such a high educational value, it helps users get classroom education in all environments. The educational value from Rigamajig includes a variety of S.T.E.M. subjects that provide elementary learners with higher education. Many educators encourage the use of Rigamajig as well as incorporate in class activities that can be continued when the students head home (Darell Hammond 2015).
