Evidence indicating that sex-linked toy preferences exist in two nonhuman primate species support the hypothesis that developmental
sex differences such as those observed in children’s object preferences are shaped in part by inborn factors. If so, then
preferences for sex-linked toys may emerge in children before any self-awareness of gender identity and gender–congruent behavior.
In order to test this hypothesis, interest in a doll and a toy truck was measured in 30 infants ranging in age from 3 to 8 months
using eye-tracking technology that provides precise indicators of visual attention. Consistent with primary hypothesis, sex
differences in visual interest in sex-linked toys were found, such that girls showed a visual preference (d > 1.0) for the doll over the toy truck and boys compared to girls showed a greater number of visual fixations on the truck
(d = .78). Our findings suggest that the conceptual categories of “masculine” and “feminine” toys are preceded by sex differences
in the preferences for perceptual features associated with such objects. The existence of these innate preferences for object
features coupled with well-documented social influences may explain why toy preferences are one of the earliest known manifestations
of sex-linked social behavior.
Keywords Toy preferences - Infants - Eye-tracking - Sex differences
An erratum to this article can be found at
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10508-009-9581-8