"Take a 15-minute trip to a Big-Box store and you'll see the Girls' aisle dominated by pink toys" says Anne Mayoral in her article 'What is a "Girl Toy'?", published in MAKE magazine volume 41. According to her, most toymakers unintentionally send the message that girls cannot be good at math and science by rarely making toys directed to girls, that encourage play concerning these traditionally boyish subjects. Girls' whole lives can be determined by the toys they play with, she suggests. Her article primarily describes several ways in which toymakers and parents are trying to change this toy-making trend. In addition, she includes a thoughtful list of "STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math)" toys, that are good choices for girls.
       
          The author writes this informative article with compassion and a true belief in her subject. The author has direct experience in the sciences and technology as a rocket scientist, industrial designer and teacher in a hands-on STEAM program for girls. In this concise article she presents two solutions used by toymakers. One option is to make STEAM focused gender neutral toys, or STEAM toys, focused towards girls. She also presents her own personal immediate solution, "instead, the goal is to offer a variety of toys and a chance for hands-on discovery and making, either at home or in the local maker space, and then we let them choose for themselves". Without parents giving a label to girl and boy toys the children get a non-biased opinion on what to play with and who they are supposed to become.

          Even though this article is opinion based, with no scientific evidence, Mayoral's authoritative tone is strong and persuasive. Having no scientific evidence is okay because her professional expertise is evident by her credentials. It would have strengthened  the article however, to have included a personal narrative. What toys did she play with when she was a kid, and what was her parents opinion on gender based toys?  I personally agree with her suggestion, because I have an experience of my own. One of my summer camps involved a lot of woodworking and using power tools. Regardless of anyone's age or gender every camper had the same opportunities. What might come as a surprise to most, was that more boys, including me, participated in the knitting activity where as there were more girls participated in the welding activity.

          No one wants woman and girls to think they can't pursue careers in math and science just because when they grew up as kids they were deprived of these play opportunities. To make her point Mayoral quotes The National Institute for Play, "Play shapes our brains, creates our competencies and ballasts our emotions." I agree with her in every way possible and would add that boys should also not have limits placed on them and have  the freedom to choose what they want play with. She doesn't leave you hanging with her opinion alone, she provides a creative list of toys and projects that will help your daughter expand her imagination way beyond barbies and dollhouses.