Boys should definitely be allowed to play with dolls. During childhood, male children witness both parents taking care of the children, cooking and cleaning. Playing with and caring for a doll prepares the boy for his obvious fatherhood duties. For a boy who only plays with male toys like trucks and guns, the boy is not developing his sense of caring, nurturing, or empathy. To deny any child the right to play with the toy of their choice out of fear of who they might become is to take away their right to find their own identity. Play is essential to children's development, and limiting choice of toys is detrimental to that development. Not allowing a certain type of toy would affect the child more negatively than allowing him to play with dolls. Additionally, society tells a boy that playing with female toys is wrong, resulting in early condescension toward females. It will not negatively affect the child, therefore, to become caring, respectful adults with a sense of empathy and self, boys should be allowed to play with dolls. In this era, both males and females perform household duties. Children observe and learn from their environment. A boy who watches his father take care of a child will want to imitate his father. Playing with a doll is simply following what he saw his father do. Removing the doll means taking away from that child the future of a father who looks after him (Gioia, 2010). Many men feel that their son playing with a doll is not teaching him to be tough and will have a negative impact on their future, when in reality the boy will learn to care and use his imagination by playing with dolls (Epand ). Females are often praised when they are kind and caring, while boys are not- making boys r...... middle of paper ......dering-toys-is-good-for-nobody /Troxell, J (2008). Real boys play with dolls. Motherhood, (151), 1-3. Retrieved from http://mothering.com/parenting/real-boys-play-with-dolls?page=0,0Vecchioni, H. (n.d.). The value of playing with dolls. Catalogs, retrieved from http://www.catalogs.com/info/children/the-value-of-playing-with-baby-dolls.htmlWitt, S.D. (n.d.). Parents' influence on children's socialization with respect to gender roles. Retrieved from http://cla.calpoly.edu/~bmori/syll/311syll/Witt.htmloodhouse, R. (2008). The value of playing with dolls for girls and boys. Helium, retrieved from http://www.helium.com/items/793069-the-value-of-playing-with-dolls-for-girls-and-boysZhumkhawala, S. (1997). Dolls, trucks and identities. Children's Advocate, Retrieved from http://www.4children.org/issues/1997/november_december/dolls_trucks_and_identity/